The role of a healthy thyroid is of vital importance in multiple aspects of human health. Any form of thyroid unbalance can disrupt its function and quickly manifest symptoms such as a fatigue, changes in metabolism and weight gain, constipation, and even dry skin. Many people suffer from thyroid conditions, such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, which are conventionally treated with prescription medication. In the past several years, medical professionals are paying more and more attention to natural alternatives, which carry countless health benefits beyond only managing your thyroid. Today, we talk about one of these alternatives known as the body’s master antioxidant - Glutathione.

The function of your Thyroid

The thyroid is a relatively small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits low on the front of the neck. The thyroid is of vital importance and affects the performance of organs such as the brain, liver, heart, kidneys, as well as skin. A healthy thyroid gland is able to produce an optimal amount of thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), the production of which is directed by TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). Basically, thyroid hormones heavily impact important aspects of normal bodily functions, including liver detoxification, metabolism & body weight, muscle strength, menstrual cycles, cholesterol levels, heart-rate & breathing, sexual function, central and peripheral nervous systems, and even mood. Some studies indicate that the lack of balance in thyroid hormones could even lead to depression.

Under normal circumstances, the TSH levels will remain adequate, (between 0.4 and 2.0 mIU/L for most people) and your thyroid will produce just the right amount of its powerful hormones needed to maintain health. However, in cases   disease, injuries, or another disabling factors, the production of thyroid hormones will be compromised. When it comes to thyroid conditions, there are two main medical conditions: hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism Vs. Hyperthyroidism

In cases of hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland becomes underactive, which can significantly slow down all the functions directly affected by its hormones, and can be triggered by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. By contrast, suffering from hyperthyroidism means having an overactive thyroid producing an excessive amount of hormones, which is the case with Graves’ disease.

When it comes to treatment of thyroid conditions, the primary objective is restoring optimal blood levels, as well as thyroid hormone levels. While the traditional approach to thyroid disorders involves often heavy therapy in the form of prescribed medication, boosting glutathione levels is a natural, safe, and above all effective way of dealing with thyroid issues.

Why Glutathione?

Glutathione is a molecule containing three amino acids of vital importance: cysteine, glycine, and glutamine. It is known in the medical industry as the body’s "master antioxidant" responsible for the detoxification of every cell in the human body. and What enables glutathione to stand out from all the other antioxidants is its ability to affect cellular regeneration in the liver each time it fills up with free radicals. Once regenerated, glutathione can continue to combat free radicals, which are yielded by both environmental and lifestyle factors including the consumption of alcohol, processed foods, exposure to pollution, chemicals, and even sunshine.

The predominant role of glutathione is participating in an organism’s primary defense - the immune system, due to the fact that every cell in our body needs to fight off approximately 10,000 free radicals every single day. Glutathione has the ability to neutralize free radicals, working on a cellular basis to maintain the health of the cells and fight off numerous diseases and infections. One of glutathione’s dominant weapons is its sulfur content, which is able to capture and filter out any toxins in the body, such as pesticides, radiation, and heavy metals. Basically, keeping our glutathione levels high means preserving healthy cellular mitochondria.

Although our bodies are able to produce glutathione naturally, as we age, this process declines. To make matters worse, the inevitable aging process isn’t the only enemy glutathione has to face, as we are constantly exposed to various toxins and chemicals in our daily lives. In order to avoid a glutathione deficiency as we age and the health risks that ensue, proper supplementation is advised, such as Amandean’s Reduced Liposomal Glutathione.

Glutathione and Thyroid Health

Glutathione has a remarkable role when it comes to one of the most important processes regarding thyroid gland: The conversion of T4 into metabolically active T3, responsible for the majority of thyroid activities. Glutathione is considered to be irreplaceable in the process of this conversion, due to its antioxidative and detoxifying powers.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease which triggers false alarms causing the body to attack the thyroid gland. In cases of Hashimoto’s, the immune system perceives thyroid proteins as harmful, releasing antibodies in its defense. These antibodies, known as lymphocytes, enter the thyroid and start attacking the tissue, blood vessels, as well as cells. Studies have found that people suffering from Hashimoto’s lack glutathione. Furthermore, glutathione deficiency may result in loss of immune tolerance and the increase of oxidative stress, causing a further development of the disease.

Lacking glutathione leads to poor immune function, which may have immune system attacks as a result. In this case, the immune system sends antibodies to attack the TPO enzyme (used in thyroid protein synthesis), which results in Hashimoto’s.

Graves’ disease, often the underlying cause of hyperthyroidism, is also an autoimmune disease, causing the immune system to attack healthy tissue. Studies on Graves’ disease have shown the significant importance of glutathione when it comes to fighting off free radicals and neutralizing oxidative stress, which may trigger or intensify manifestations of hyperthyroidism.

Glutathione is without a doubt an essential nutrient which should be monitored especially for those at risk for or currently managing thyroid conditions. Glutathione must be kept at adequate levels as we age in order to maintain a healthy immune system and deter the onset of thyroid conditions. Read more about what adding a glutathione supplement can do for you and your health in our online shop.