Zeekie
Equinox
- Joined
- May 18, 2024
- Posts
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I've been experimenting with different supplements in my base stack, which currently includes D3+K2, Magnesium + Ashwagandha, Vitamin E, and Creatine Monohydrate. One of the extras I tried recently was Glutathione.
Now, I'm black, and I'm not particularly unhappy about it. It definitely has its issues, but I like to think my occasional shortcomings are just the universe nerfing me a bit so it stays fair for the rest of y'all. All that said, who wouldn’t want their skin to be a little less dark and more golden-brown? It’s a common desire, especially among South Asians and other Black folks. Glutathione is often recommended as a "solution" for skin lightening due to its supposed anti-melanin properties. Since I was already spending more than average on supplements, I figured why not and gave it a shot for 1.5 months
IT DIDN'T DO SHIT. Not shocking, but still disappointing.
In theory, glutathione works by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin production. Issue with that is: glutathione is a tripeptide (made of glutamine, cysteine, and glycine), and once it enters your digestive system, it gets broken down into those individual amino acids. By the time your body absorbs anything, it's not really glutathione anymore, it's just some random amino acids floating around.
Unless you're getting it via IV (which comes with its own serious liver risks and must be monitored by a medical professional, in fact it's often used during cancer treatment), or you're old enough that your gut can’t break peptides down efficiently, oral glutathione is basically useless, especially if you’re under 30. Even megadosing (which I tried) doesn't make a difference. All you're really doing is giving your kidneys and liver extra work.
Save your money indiancel and blackcels.
Now, I'm black, and I'm not particularly unhappy about it. It definitely has its issues, but I like to think my occasional shortcomings are just the universe nerfing me a bit so it stays fair for the rest of y'all. All that said, who wouldn’t want their skin to be a little less dark and more golden-brown? It’s a common desire, especially among South Asians and other Black folks. Glutathione is often recommended as a "solution" for skin lightening due to its supposed anti-melanin properties. Since I was already spending more than average on supplements, I figured why not and gave it a shot for 1.5 months
IT DIDN'T DO SHIT. Not shocking, but still disappointing.
In theory, glutathione works by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin production. Issue with that is: glutathione is a tripeptide (made of glutamine, cysteine, and glycine), and once it enters your digestive system, it gets broken down into those individual amino acids. By the time your body absorbs anything, it's not really glutathione anymore, it's just some random amino acids floating around.
Unless you're getting it via IV (which comes with its own serious liver risks and must be monitored by a medical professional, in fact it's often used during cancer treatment), or you're old enough that your gut can’t break peptides down efficiently, oral glutathione is basically useless, especially if you’re under 30. Even megadosing (which I tried) doesn't make a difference. All you're really doing is giving your kidneys and liver extra work.
Save your money indiancel and blackcels.
