How to Strengthen Your Immune System in the Most Effective Way

If you were to search for ways to strengthen your immune system, you would find some pretty similar information across your top results. Almost all of them encourage the following in some way:

There is a lot more to add to this list, but you get the picture. Are they wrong suggestions? No! In reality, all of these things will provide you with some health benefits. But what we are about to show you in this article will take things a step further. So much so that you will strengthen your immune system in a way you never thought.

Glutathione – the Body’s Master Antioxidant

During our eating periods throughout each day, we ingest, on average, 20 amino acids. These amino acids are compounds that perform vital roles in the body, such as building proteins and for the synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain. Three of these amino acids, in particular, are necessary for boosting the immune system. They are glutamate, glycine, and cysteine. Together, they help the body create glutathione (GSH), its master antioxidant. Two of them, glutamate and glycine, are easy to find in just about any diet. For example, your next grilled hamburger and French fry meal will provide your daily supply of glutamate and glycine. However, the third amino acid in this formula is problematic to attain when it really shouldn’t be. Why?

Cysteine – the Missing Link

Cysteine comes from whey. Theoretically, it should be easy to find because whey protein is available in just about every health food store and online. Here's the rub though, just because it's whey protein, it doesn't mean the cysteine is formulated correctly – in a bonded form. What's the issue?

Before I answer that, we need to understand what bonded cysteine is. It is the combination of two cysteine molecules connected by a bridge called a disulfide (two sulfur molecules) bond. Ultimately, a single molecule of cysteine needs to end up in each cell in the body, but it first needs to survive the stomach’s acids. It cannot survive as a single molecule. This bond of the sulfur molecules is essential because it allows for the bonded cysteine's survival through the acids, the small intestines, and the bloodstream. After this intense trek, it is then transported through the cell wall of each cell, the disulfide bond disconnects, causing them to become a single molecule. The single cysteine molecule can now connect with a glutamate molecule and a glycine molecule to form glutathione — a truly amazing process.
* When two cysteine molecules are joined together, the spelling changes to cystine.

Whey Protein – the Real Issue

Because of the popularity and availability of whey protein, it’s hard to decipher, which will be the best for you. One thing is for sure, though, the products will at least provide you with nutritional value. While this is very important, there is one crucial aspect that they won’t offer - physiological value. I mentioned earlier about the importance of cystine remaining intact to survive the stomach acid. This process is what provides the physiological value. Why is it that these whey protein products don’t provide this value?

It’s because of the manufacturing process. Have you noticed on most dairy products these days the word ultra-pasteurized? The method includes boiling milk for 2-5 seconds at 275 degrees (135 degrees Celsius), the required temperature to kill spores in milk. Unfortunately, these high temperatures destroy the sulfur bridge that connects the two cysteine molecules. Cysteine molecules will never survive stomach acid going solo. Because of this, how can you choose the proper whey protein?

It would be best to look for undenatured whey protein, one that hasn’t been affected by these harsh temperatures. An easy way to differentiate undenatured whey protein from the large mass of whey protein is this. If the product does not mention anything about GSH or bonded cysteine, you know it is not for you.

A Judicial System within Our Body

You may find this somewhat funny, but in reality, it's true. If you break it down, we do have a judicial system in our body. How so? If you take a multivitamin every day, your levels of the antioxidants, Vitamin C and E, are very high. And if you were to take at least 10 grams of undenatured whey protein every day to provide the needed cysteine, you would maintain a high level of GSH as well. The Vitamin C and E act like police officers; they arrest the criminals, the oxyradical cells (caused by breathing in oxygen), and deliver them to the GSH molecules. After dropping off the victims, the Vitamin C and E become recharged by the GSH allowing them to go back and find more radical cells. These radical cells are missing an electron, which is the reason for them being radical or unstable. The GSH then acts as judge and jury, providing the decision, a sentence that includes a shock or charge, by giving them an electron. For example, when GSH encounters the most destructive oxyradical, a positively-charged hydroxyl radical (OH), it gives it an electron, or donates a hydrogen atom, causing this unstable molecule to become H₂O. In essence, GSH becomes a hydrogen donor in this situation. The water then departs from the body via the urine. Do you know what you call this? Natural detoxification caused by a boosted immune system. What a fantastic process!

Boost Your Glutathione

In the study of epigenetic science (the study of how environmental influences or other processes modify the traits we inherited from our biological parents without changing the DNA sequence), researchers have learned to turn specific genes in the body on and off. One of those genes is called Nrf2. When it's switched on, your antioxidants will work much better. How can you activate this gene? By including sulforaphane in your diet. When it's coupled with selenium, it helps to strengthen your antioxidant defenses. Taking whey protein by itself with the vitamins mentioned above will undoubtedly boost your immune system. However, adding sulforaphane and selenium to your diet, the glutathione will deliver even better results. Your body will be ready to defend anything that comes in its way. And this is so beneficial, especially today, as we collectively endure living this global pandemic.

Conclusion

Even though there are so many recommendations available to show you how to strengthen your immune system, it is pretty straightforward. Ensure that you include cysteine, sulforaphane, selenium, and a multivitamin that contains Vitamins C and E in your daily diet. These essential items, along with exercise, proper sleep, and a healthy diet, will ensure that you have a boosted immune system, ready to take on anything that comes in its way.

References for This Article:

Gutman, J. (2008). Glutathione: Your Key to Health. Montreal, Canada. Kudo.ca Communications Inc.

Somersall, A. C., Bounous, G. (2001) Breakthrough in Cell-Defense: An Amazing Health Discovery for the 21^st Century. Toronto, Canada. GOLDENeight Publishers.

Gutman, J. (2018, February 22,) Nrf2 and Glutathione
[Video file] Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/drjimmygutman/videos/1674926669233900/