Glutathione vs. Ashwagandha

Menopause and the Antioxidants That Can Save Your Sanity

When I was a young blooming teen I used to hear about free radicals and antioxidants at home. I thought free radicals sounded like a group of rebellious hippies fighting for some noble cause. Turns out, they’re the little molecular troublemakers inside our bodies, causing chaos and making us age faster. And antioxidants? They’re the superheroes charging in to save the day, less Wonder Woman, more kale smoothie.

I learned all this thanks to my dad, who was an avid natural health enthusiast. He believed that food was medicine and that everything we ate should be packed with nutrients to keep those pesky free radicals in check. When I was 13, my dad had a terrible accident and became paraplegic. The doctors prescribed an intense amount of meds, each with side effects worse than the last. It wasn’t long before he turned to a naturopath at the veterans hospital, and suddenly, my teenage years were filled with dinner-table discussions about antioxidants, detoxing, and why processed foods were the devil. Did I listen? Of course not! I was a teenager. But somehow, those lessons stuck, and now, in this fabulous hormonal phase of life called menopause, I couldn’t be more grateful for those impactful table conversations with him. They set the stage for the life I want and frankly need to live now.

Why Should You Care About Free Radicals?

Free radicals are our cells freaking out and literally trying to ruin your life. These unstable molecules damage our cells, speed up aging, and contribute to inflammation, which, by the way, makes hot flashes, joint pain, and brain fog even worse. Where do they come from? Oh, just from breathing in the polluted air we normally live in, the ever harmful sun rays we soak in daily, eating processed foods, improper management of stress, and that glass (or three) of wine we reward ourselves with at the end of the day.

Now, before you start panic-googling, take a deep breath. The solution is simple: antioxidants. These little warriors neutralize free radicals and help our bodies heal. And the best part? They’re found in some of the tastiest foods and supplements on the planet. Let’s talk about the superheros of the antioxidant world.

Glutathione: The Antioxidant

Glutathione is the Queen of antioxidants. It’s powerful, essential, and running the show behind the scenes. It helps detox the liver, boosts the immune system, and fights oxidative stress like royalty. Glutathione is naturally produced by the body and is found in nearly every cell. It plays a major role in detoxification. Because our glutathione levels naturally drop as we age, especially during menopause, when our bodies are in desperate need of it, we have no choice but to turn to healthy whole foods. We can take Glutathione in supplement form but they need to be cycled as they can down regulate natural production.

How to get more of it?

We can start by eating sulfur-rich foods like garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts all the makings for a perfect wintertime green soup. Or we can take a liposomal glutathione supplement if you want maximum absorption. This comes in the form of a liquid or soft gel and is considered more bioavailable. Avoid too much alcohol and processed foods, which can deplete glutathione faster than a sale at Sephora depletes your bank account.

Ashwagandha: The Chill Pill You Need (But Natural)

I’d love to introduce you to the herb known as Ashwagandha. If Glutathione is the queen antioxidant then this potent plant is King. Commonly used in Ayruvedic medicine, this herb has been classified as an adaptogen offering benefits from its leaves all the way down to its bulbous root. It has been used for centuries to relieve anxiety giving a boost to your mood and an overall sense of well being.

What can it do for you?

Ashwagandha has multiple pharmlogical properties such as it can reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) which alleviates stress, anxiety, and depression. It helps with brain fog and memory because we’ve all walked into a room and forgotten why. It supports thyroid function, which is crucial since menopause can throw that out of balance too. Also it improves sleep which will help the body adapt to stress and balance hormones. It has been shown to have many more beneficial effects such as it is neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antimicrobial, and antitumor just to name a few. All of these things we desperately need especially when our hormones are throwing toddler worthy tantrums.

How to use it?

You can find this herb in powder form and easily add it into your diet. Take it as a supplement or brew it into tea. Add it to smoothies if you’re feeling fancy. Just don’t expect it to work overnight as it needs time to work its actual magic. It is recommended to cycle this herb every three months as it may cause damage to the liver and the thyroid gland without a short break. I am trying a gummy version made from Ashwagandha powder equivalent to 1200 mg. I’ll update my finding after 1 month. Fingers crossed.

Side note, Ashwagandha should not be combined with some medications so please ask your doctor or naturopath to assist you.

Other Antioxidants You Should Befriend

Ginseng - This is the a second in line to Ashwagandha and more commonly known and perhaps overlooked. Its benefits are on the other end of the spectrum as it’s known for energy and cognitive support. While it can be taken with other antioxidants, it too requires a break to maintain its effectiveness.

Vitamin C- Not just for cold season! It boosts collagen (bye-bye wrinkles), fights inflammation, and helps absorb iron which we need more of during menopause. So eat your citrus fruits, bell peppers, and strawberries like they are going out of style and watch how your skin will glow.

Vitamin E- Great for your skin and hormone balance. Find it in nuts, seeds, avocados and basically, all the good stuff.

Resveratrol- Found in red wine, but let’s be real, eating grapes or taking a supplement is the healthier option (I know, I am mad about it too).

CoQ10- Helps with energy production and heart health, two things we need when menopause makes us feel like sloths.

Final Thoughts: Aging Like a Boss to achieve Perimenopausitivity

Managing Peri and Menopause is a wild ride. And while aging is inevitable ( boh) we can slow down the physical signs by loading up on these power player antioxidants. We can combat the worst symptoms and keep our skin glowing and fresh from the inside out. And maybe just maybe avoid yelling at strangers in traffic. After all, anything is possible!

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