Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/800850
Abby's Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 2| Page 71 D glucarate (also found in fruits and vegetables) can render the enzyme inactive and prevent this buildup. • Gluthathione conjugation is the process in which glutathione, another sulfur-containing molecule, is added to estrogen for easy excretion. Foods such as avocado, walnuts and asparagus are rich in glutathione, and vitamin C stimulates the body to produce more of it. Glutathione depletion can be due to a lack of the essential nutrients and amino acids (found in fresh organic fruits, vegetables, fish and meats) that are needed to synthesize it. Glutathione deserves special mention as a crucial detoxifier because it also behaves as an antioxidant in Phase I. Glutathione neutralizes the free radicals produced in the Phase I reactions, and combines with them to produce water- soluble compounds that can be excreted. Glutathione is also needed for the detoxification of alcohol. Studies have shown that even a small amount of alcohol intake can increase estrogen levels in the blood because alcohol competes for the available glutathione, preventing estrogen excretion. Smoking is also known to deplete glutathione levels, as do chronically stressful conditions such as infections or inflammatory disorders. Sex Hormone- Binding Globulin To regulate sex hormones, the liver also produces special proteins (binding globulins) that "chaperone" the hormone molecules throughout the body. If the hormone level is too high, the protein also inactivates the body's own hormone production as part of its chaperoning duty. Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is stimulated by estrogen in the blood stream. However, as the body produces more SHBG, it is more attracted to testosterone than it is to estrogens. In the case of women who have been treated only with estrogens after a hysterectomy, it is therefore predictable that testosterone activity is limited due to the increase in SHBG stimulated by this overbalance of estrogen. A consequence of this is a decrease in sexual interest, mental zest, and the body's ability to maintain muscle mass.