Important Antioxidant Amino Acids
The amino acids cysteine and glutathione also act as antioxidants. Cysteine is often supplemented as N-acetyl-cysteine; the body can use cysteine to make glutathione which is the key ingredient in the antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase, which is itself dependent on selenium. This enzyme helps to detoxify the body, protecting against car exhaust, carcinogens, infections, excessive alcohol and toxic metals. White meat, tuna, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, onions and garlic are particularly rich in cysteine and glutathione and have been shown to boost the immune system as well as increase antioxidant power.
Glutathione is not a vitamin, but deserves attention as it is perhaps the most important antioxidant within cells and has proven to be highly cancer-protective. It is like a protein, made out of three amino acids; as well as being an antioxidant in its own right, it is also part of key antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase. It can also recycle vitamin C, thereby multiplying its ability to promote your health. Glutathione plays a major role in detoxifying the body and counteracting the harmful effects of carcinogens, especially oxidants and radiation, as well as protecting DNA and cell growth. It is a highly effective all- round anti-ageing, anti-degeneration, anti-cancer agent.
Recent studies indicate that glutathione may have an important role to play in both the prevention and treatment of cancer, as it helps to kill cancer cells by improving the body’s natural immunity. Glutathione is normally made in the body from the amino acid cysteine which is found in a variety of foods, especially garlic. Supplementing it on its own is mildly effective, but the problem is that the glutathione sacrifices itself to protect the body from oxidants. Glutathione is already included in several chemotherapy drugs.
The recent discovery that glutathione is effectively recycled by anthocyanidins, found in grapes, berries and beetroot, led to a new anti-cancer approach of combining glutathione with anthocyanidins, thereby substantially increasing the power of this key antioxidant. Human trials are now under way, using a supplement called Recancostat Compositum, available in Germany, and early results are encouraging. One trial involves 11 people with advanced colorectal cancer, who had completed two chemotherapy treatments and were given little chance of survival. Three died early in the trial. Of the remaining eight, four have shown remarkable improvement. All are continuing with this potentially important therapy, which has proven to be non-toxic.
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