What To Avoid When Taking Glutathione?

Written by Angie Arriesgado
featured image for blog post on what to avoid when taking glutathione

Thinking about adding glutathione to your daily routine? Great choice! Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant, but to get the most out of it, there are a few things you should steer clear of. In this blog post, we’ll go over what to avoid when taking our Liposomal Glutathione & Vitamin C to ensure you reap all its wonderful benefits.

Here’s what to avoid when taking glutathione:

Follow these tips to ensure you’re using your glutathione supplement effectively:

#1 – Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol when taking glutathione

As an antioxidant, glutathione can neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, preventing cellular damage and oxidative stress. 1 However, habits like drinking alcohol and smoking can deplete your glutathione levels, making it harder for your body to combat free radicals. 

Alcohol consumption generates toxic byproducts that increase oxidative stress, damaging cells and tissues. Similarly, smoking introduces harmful chemicals that produce free radicals, leading to further oxidative stress and inflammation.2

If you’re taking glutathione supplements, it’s best to cut back or quit these habits to maximize the benefits.

#2 – Avoid high doses without medical supervision 

More isn’t always better. Excessive glutathione can cause adverse effects, especially with a high detox load, as it detoxifies heavy metals and other harmful substances in the liver.3

For reference, the recommended daily serving size for our liquid Liposomal Glutathione & Vitamin C is 10 ml (contains 500 mg of Liposomal Glutathione and 1,000 mg of Vitamin C). While some glutathione studies use doses far higher than 500 mg, we would suggest only doing so upon the advice of your doctor.  

#3 – Avoid eating a poor diet

A poor diet can reduce glutathione’s effectiveness and weaken your immunity. Processed foods, excessive sugar, and unhealthy fats can deplete glutathione levels and increase oxidative stress.4

To counter this, focus on eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables. They provide essential nutrients that support your body’s natural glutathione production, which boosts immunity and helps fight off infections.5

#4 – Avoid prolonged sun exposure

Prolonged sunlight exposure can degrade glutathione levels in the skin, reducing its effectiveness as an antioxidant and diminishing its skin health benefits. When going outside during the day, use sunscreen and protective clothing to minimize UV exposure, especially in the summer.

These precautions help glutathione protect your skin and prevent cellular damage from the sun.

#5 – Avoid combining glutathione with certain medications 

Glutathione can interact with certain medications, particularly chemotherapy drugs. In particular, glutathione might reduce the effectiveness of the treatment by protecting cancer cells from oxidative damage intended by the therapy.6

Remember to consult your doctor to avoid these potential interactions and ensure safe glutathione supplementation. 

liposomal glutathione and vitamin c with some oranges

Who shouldn’t take glutathione?

While glutathione supplements have many benefits, it may not be suitable for everyone. For instance, there isn’t enough research to confirm the safety of glutathione supplements for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

When’s the best time to take glutathione?

Our Liposomal Glutathione & Vitamin C can be taken with or without food. Since it’s in liquid form, make sure to shake it well before using. You can also split the dose throughout the day. Find what works best for you and stick to a routine.

How much glutathione to take daily?

For our Liposomal Glutathione & Vitamin C, you may start with a lower dose of 5 ml (1 teaspoon) for a few days, then increase to the standard 10 ml (2 teaspoons). This gradual approach helps manage detoxification by slowly cleaning out accumulated substances like heavy metals from the cells. We recommend this slower process to avoid overwhelming your system.

What are the possible side effects?

While glutathione is generally safe, some people might experience side effects, especially at the start of the detox process. You may feel a bit light-headed after taking a dose, but this usually goes away after a few days. If you experience an allergic reaction, stop taking the supplement and consult your doctor.

Conclusion

By understanding what to avoid when taking glutathione, you can fully benefit from everything this antioxidant has to offer. Remember to maintain a healthy lifestyle, be cautious with certain medications, and follow recommended doses.


References:

  1. Sinha, R., et al. “Oral Supplementation with Liposomal Glutathione Elevates Body Stores of Glutathione and Markers of Immune Function.” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 72, no. 1, 1 Jan. 2018, pp. 105–111, https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2017.132. ‌ ↩︎
  2. Wu, Defeng, and Arthur I. Cederbaum. “Alcohol, Oxidative Stress, and Free Radical Damage.” Alcohol Research & Health, vol. 27, no. 4, 2003, pp. 277–284, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6668865/.‌ ↩︎
  3. Sears, Margaret E. “Chelation: Harnessing and Enhancing Heavy Metal Detoxification—a Review.” The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2013, 2013, pp. 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/219840. ‌ ↩︎
  4. Jiang, Shuai, et al. “Dietary Regulation of Oxidative Stress in Chronic Metabolic Diseases.” Foods, vol. 10, no. 8, 11 Aug. 2021, p. 1854, https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10081854.‌ ↩︎
  5. Silvagno, Francesca, et al. “The Role of Glutathione in Protecting against the Severe Inflammatory Response Triggered by COVID-19.” Antioxidants, vol. 9, no. 7, 16 July 2020, https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9070624.‌ ↩︎
  6. Nunes, Sofia, and Jacinta Serpa. “Glutathione in Ovarian Cancer: A Double-Edged Sword.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 19, no. 7, 26 June 2018, p. 1882, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19071882. ‌ ↩︎

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