Turns out that the production of your body's most important antioxidant can be hindered by a Vitamin D deficiency.
Have you ever heard of "Glutathione"? Unless you're a health nut, you may have not come across this antioxidant in your day-to-day life. Glutathione is made up of amino acids and is considered to be the most powerful antioxidant in the body, meaning that it plays a huge role in immune system function, protecting healthy cells from free-radical damage, fighting and preventing cancer, and helping the body to detoxify.
Throughout the pandemic, nutrient researchers have been keeping an eye on how Glutathione levels may affect susceptibility to Covid-19.
Several studies have been published and researchers are now being led to believe that Glutathione plays a crucial role in fighting off Covid and preventing serious complications and death.
In fact, the study referenced above asserts that Glutathione deficiency "may be the most likely cause of serious manifestations and death in Covid-19 patients". Click the image of the study to read more.
Guess what?! There is a relationship and/or connection between Vitamin D levels and Glutathione levels!
Scientists and researchers don't understand the relationship completely, but your body's Vitamin D levels and Glutathione levels may depend on each other.
This study published in 2014 in Clinical Endocrinology observed that those participants that had higher levels of Vitamin D tended to also have higher levels of Glutathione.
this connection between Vitamin D and Glutathione reminds me of the connection between Vitamin D and inflammation. We know there is a connection between low Vitamin D levels and high levels of inflammation, we just don't necessarily know which comes first. Does inflammation deplete Vitamin D stores or does low Vitamin D levels make the body susceptible to inflammation, or maybe are both true?
Nevertheless, we know that Vitamin D and Glutathione work synergistically to protect the body from harm and that you should do everything in your power to maintain high levels of both in your body.
In addition to optimizing your Vitamin D levels, to help your body make Glutathione you can make sure you are eating cruciferous vegetables (think Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, etc.) and avoid exposure to toxins and alcohol consumption.