Glutathione
Posted By Carlo at
10:02 AM on Sunday, October 21, 2007 |
My BlogsiteCampus Lifestyle
Everyone’s taking GlutathioneBy: Hanna Cortez and Carlo Andrew Ayson
Glutathione, in Science, is a collective term typically used to refer tripeptide L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine in both its reduced and dimeric forms. But in our country where being brown is ugly and being white is close to perfection, Glutathione is the newly found solution for Filipinos who go behind the adage that white is indeed, beautiful.
Contradictory to our common knowledge, Glutathione is present in the diet in amounts usually less than 100 milligrams daily. It is widely found in all forms of life and plays an essential role in the health of organisms, particularly aerobic organisms. In animals and human beings, Glutathione’s reduced form plays vital roles in the body and helps much in catalysis, metabolism, signal, transduction, gene expression and apoptosis.
Overlooking the Science, however, Glutathione for Filipinos is simply skin whitener. But no, don’t be fooled by all advertisements and endorsements emphasizing its major side effect – yes. In fact, Glutathione has more to bring than making your skin glow in the Sun and in dark.
Not merely whiteningMuch more to a whiter skin as an effect, Glutathione’s main biological functions are indispensable, from merely repairing your DNA to the regression of induced human cancer. Moreover, test from abroad reveals that the effect of glutathione strongly merits “potential anti-tumor agent in humans”. As an anti-oxidant, Glutathione suggests activities of detoxification and may have beneficial effects on sperm motility and in the protection against noise-induced hearing loss. Preliminary evidences depicts Glutathione as a useful attribute to the management of some cancers, diabetes, lung disorders, noise-induced hearing loss, male infertility and to help prevent ameliorate various toxicities. It may also have some anti-viral activity. Glutathione is an orphan drug for the treatment of cachexia, an AIDS associated disease.
However, despite manufacturing of Glutathione’s reduced form, its usage as a vitamin supplement hasn’t been well established. This is because studies show that glutathione levels do not increase following its oral administration on human being, while in fact in animals, experiments have been no problems. In addition, most studies have not observed glutathione’s circulation on the body after its intake. These therefore suggest further studies and development must take place.
Like all glitters…But like all the food we take, more or less of Glutathione is ghastly. Because it is being taken naturally (contrary to what we know about Glutathione as some sort of supplement), its deficiency causes problems such as; troubles with coordination, cell damage, mental disorders, bursting of Red Blood Cells malfunctioning of White Blood Cells, and degeneration of Nerve Tissues. Within the cell, glutathione deficiency has been associated with a variety of condition including some forms of cancer, alcohol induced liver diseases, AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), and worst, death.
On the brighter side, medical studies already verify prescribed Glutathione’s therapeutic uses such cure and prevention of antioxidant actions, cancer, cataracts, liver diseases
and muscular degeneration. Glutathione’s biological functions go on well from recycling Vitamins C and E, blocking free radical damage, being the facilitator to the transport of amino acids and detoxification of some harmful compounds.
Not considered herbal medicine, Glutathione is generally considered to be free of side-effects. However whitening in fact comes to realization just during its increased dosage. Experts even say that Glutathione intake “has been widely heralded for its importance for good health and long life. Glutathione in increased dose posts a remarkable good’ side effect such as skin whitening”.
Brown is still beautifulAside from our western colonizers brought about by Spaniards, Americans, and even Japanese (who are predominantly white), the persuasion of beauty enhancement endorsements, black-is-not-hot stereotypes and even media put the Filipino nation not to be proud of their original color, to the point of taking away even our own race being Filipinos.
Sociology and psychology hands being brown (or black), as a color of being “inferior”, Filipinos, having come from the nation of “kayumanggi”, are greatly affected by the “inferiority complex” that if given the choice between being white and brown, statistics always supports white will certainly be mightier.
Despite the continuous discharge of pills, supplements, and enhancements to encompass a fair looking skin, isn’t it that what matters most is not the good looks but the inherent beauty we see, not on a person’s whiteness but that beauty that goes within his or her physical appearance? After all, we are still Filipinos, brown and proud.
Will we bow to the cross?
Posted By Carlo at
10:00 AM on |
My BlogsiteIt is undeniable that religion plays a very crucial and hence big role in influencing our each and every life. It has become one of the most important factor in our daily experiences, dictating not only part of our spiritual faith but also making the society’s structure follow its system through God’s wisdom.
However, in principle, religion should not affect our country’s political system, or the state specifically. This is being guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. Section 6 of the fundamental law of the land states that “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable”. Simply put, the Church shall not interfere with the state and vice- versa.
But that doesn’t mean religion and politics can’t go on together. The earliest civilization before the birth of Christ proved this postulate true. Long before Catholicism (and other established religions) appeared, early societies already have their own religion. In fact, religion was the most dominant influencing factor of the early tribes of Egypt and the like’s everyday lives. Their laws, customs, norms and behaviors are subject to morality of their faith, meaning there is almost no thin line between politics and religion.
Oriental Empires were ruled by the monarchs, or the Kings. The connection between faith and government became clearer because during those times, these Monarchs, are the once who thought by themselves as “Gods”. As a result, people ambiguously followed the Monarch and his government and at the same time worshipped his moral doctrines.
In addition, succeeding eras came to connect religion with politics. Hebrews (or the Jews) held a theocratic conception of the state. Theocratic, is that form of government by the authority of the gods. Even non-Catholic religions possess this kind of correlation. For instance, the present day Iranian government sets up and executes religious regulations and gives sanctions when violated, such as women must cover their hair. This actually is a fact coming from a lady Iranian’s mouth.
Relating that in our present situation, in reality, do you think our political system is being influenced by the religions that we have now? And, is our political society and system today that manipulative that religion can be the base factor in our political progress? Just a sure example is when we had our express right to democracy done, which is by the 2007 national elections. With all the religious groups endorsing candidates as their bets, are we pretty much sure that those candidates will be our country’s bridge to salvation? And, with a former priest winning a post in a provincial election, will that mean we will expect a lot more persons from the church running for the next elections and be part of our political structure? The main question actually is, is it wrong when we say yes to these questions?
