Can I open the NOW Glutathione capsule and mix the powder into a smoothie?

Yes, you can easily pull the two halves of the vegetarian capsule apart and stir the powder into a cold smoothie, unsweetened applesauce, or citrus juice. However, keep in mind that pure reduced glutathione and alpha lipoic acid have a natural, pungent sulfur taste and aroma. Mixing it into citrus juice or a tart fruit smoothie helps mask the natural flavor, but swallowing the capsule whole remains the easiest option.

Why does NOW combine Glutathione with Milk Thistle and Alpha Lipoic Acid?

This trio forms a complete antioxidant defense team. Glutathione provides direct intracellular fuel and binds toxins in the liver. Alpha Lipoic Acid acts as a metabolic recharge agent that converts used glutathione back into its active reduced state. Milk Thistle supplies standardized silymarin to fortify liver cell membranes against incoming waste. Together, they deliver far greater benefits than taking plain glutathione by itself.

Why does my bottle of NOW Glutathione have a slight sulfur aroma?

A mild sulfur or earthy scent when you unseal the bottle is completely normal and expected. Both Glutathione and Alpha Lipoic Acid are naturally rich in sulfur atoms, which give these molecules their unique free-radical binding ability. A slight sulfur smell is positive proof that the ingredients are active, potent, and biologically unoxidized.

Will taking this capsule break an intermittent fast?

No. A single vegetable capsule contains virtually zero calories, zero sugars, and zero fat. When swallowed with plain water during your fasting window, it will not trigger an insulin spike or break autophagy. In fact, taking it in a fasted state ensures optimal intestinal uptake without competition from dietary food proteins.

How does NOW Foods ensure this formula is free from heavy metals?

NOW Foods tests every incoming batch of raw botanicals and active compounds in its own ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analytical laboratories. Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), technicians analyze materials down to parts-per-billion levels for lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury, ensuring total compliance with California Proposition 65 and USP safety benchmarks.

Glutathione 500mg - 30 Veg Caps

by NOW FOODS

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UPC: 733739001757: # N0175

NOW Foods Glutathione 500 mg Veg Capsules with Milk Thistle & Alpha Lipoic Acid

Product Overview & Quick Specs Snapshot

NOW Glutathione 500 mg provides a high-potency dose of pure, active "reduced form" glutathione (chemical formula: C₁₀H₁₇N₃O₆S) in easy-to-take vegetarian capsules. Known as the human body's master antioxidant, glutathione is your liver's primary tool for clearing out metabolic waste and neutralizing daily cellular stress [1, 4]. To ensure maximum biological defense, NOW fortifies every capsule with standardized Milk Thistle extract and Alpha Lipoic Acid to keep your liver cells protected and your natural antioxidant pathways running at peak strength [2, 3].

Quick Specs Snapshot

✓ Active Form & Potency: 500 mg of biologically active Reduced Glutathione (GSH), fortified with 100 mg Milk Thistle Extract (standardized to 80% Silymarin flavonoids) and 50 mg Alpha Lipoic Acid per single vegetable capsule.
✓ Primary Cellular Target: Liver cells (hepatocytes), cellular mitochondria, and the body's natural Phase II liver detox pathways [1, 2].
✓ Supply & Value Math: 30 full servings per bottle (a complete 1-month daily routine) packaged in an eco-friendly 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) bottle, backed by VitaNet®, LLC everyday discount pricing.
✓ Formulation Purity: Non-GMO, vegan/vegetarian, and certified free of wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, and sesame.

Buyer's Guide & Active Form Comparison

Why the Active Reduced Form & Tri-Nutrient Blend Matters

Glutathione only works as an active antioxidant when it is in its reduced state (GSH). Cheap mass-market brands often cut corners with unstable, oxidized glutathione powder that has already lost its electron-donating power before you swallow it [1]. Even worse, standard single-ingredient formulas burn out quickly once inside the body. NOW solves this by pairing 500 mg of Reduced Glutathione with two proven botanical and metabolic partners: Milk Thistle Extract (standardized to 80% silymarin) to shield liver tissue and Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) to constantly recharge spent glutathione back into active service [2, 3].

Is This Formula Right for You?

Ideal For Shoppers Who:

✓ Want targeted nutritional support for everyday liver cleansing, healthy bile flow, and natural waste elimination [1, 2].
✓ Seek total-body cellular antioxidant defense to support radiant skin tone, bright complexion vitality, and healthy aging [1, 4].
✓ Prefer the convenience and savings of a comprehensive 3-in-1 formula (Glutathione + Milk Thistle + ALA) in a single daily capsule.

Consider Another Option If:

✘ You have a known allergy or sensitivity to plants in the Asteraceae or daisy family (such as ragweed or marigolds), which are related to Milk Thistle.
✘ You are an expectant or nursing mother, where high-dose antioxidant therapy should always be approved first by your OB-GYN physician.
✘ You are looking specifically for a standalone, single-ingredient amino acid powder to mix into high-volume sports drinks.

Risk-Free VitaNet® Guarantee: Every purchase is backed by our unconditional 100% money-back guarantee—even on opened bottles, with return shipping covered by us—so you can evaluate your personal energy, skin glow, and digestive comfort completely risk-free.

How Glutathione Works: Liver Detox & Cellular Defense

Glutathione is a tiny molecule made from three simple amino acid building blocks: glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. Scientists call it the "master antioxidant" because it lives inside every single cell of your body, working around the clock to disarm reactive free radicals and protect your DNA from oxidative breakdown [1, 4].

1. The Liver's Phase II Waste-Disposal System

Your liver works like a biological waste treatment plant. In the first step (Phase I), your liver enzymes break down incoming chemicals, food preservatives, and pollutants. But this step creates aggressive intermediate free radicals. In the second step (Phase II conjugation), Reduced Glutathione acts like a biological trash handle. It binds directly to these dangerous toxins, rendering them water-soluble so your kidneys and digestive system can wash them out of your body safely [1, 2].

2. The Continuous Recycling Loop (Alpha Lipoic Acid)

When a glutathione molecule catches a free radical, it becomes "used up" (oxidized into GSSG). Instead of throwing it away, your body relies on Alpha Lipoic Acid (chemical formula: C₈H₁₄O₂S₂) to donate fresh electrons [3]. ALA acts like a biological battery charger: it re-activates spent glutathione back into its working reduced state, allowing a single molecule of glutathione to neutralize dozens of free radicals over and over again [3, 4].

3. The Milk Thistle (Silymarin) Liver Shield

Milk Thistle contains a concentrated blend of bioflavonoids known as silymarin. Silymarin acts like an armored shield across the outer membrane of your liver cells (hepatocytes) [2, 5]. It helps block unwanted compounds from entering the cell interior, while encouraging the cell's natural RNA machinery to synthesize new proteins and repair tissue structure [2, 5].

Daily Dosing, Timing & Nutrient Synergy Protocol

Optimal Timing & Empty Stomach Protocol

The recommended adult usage is 1 vegetable capsule daily, taken preferably on an empty stomach with a full 8-ounce glass of water (chemical formula: H₂O). Intestinal peptide transporters (PEPT1 and PEPT2) absorb small amino acid chains into the bloodstream [1]. Taking your capsule 30 to 45 minutes before breakfast or at least 2 hours after a heavy meal ensures dietary food proteins will not compete for these absorption gates, maximizing the amount of intact glutathione entering your circulation [1]. If you have a very sensitive stomach, you may take it with a light piece of fruit without sacrificing results.

Circadian Routine & Best Time of Day

Take your single capsule first thing in the morning. Morning administration matches your liver's natural diurnal cleansing rhythm, giving your cells a robust antioxidant shield to handle daylight oxidative stressors, sunlight exposure, and daily metabolic demands [1, 4].

Smart Synergies & Spacing Rules

✓ Nutrient Partners: Pairs exceptionally well with Vitamin C (500 mg to 1,000 mg), Selenium, and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). Vitamin C helps sustain circulating glutathione levels in red blood cells, while Selenium provides the raw material needed to manufacture the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase [1, 4].
✘ Mineral & Heat Spacing: Because Alpha Lipoic Acid has natural metal-binding properties, take this capsule at least 2 hours away from high-dose iron or copper supplements. Never wash down capsules with boiling hot tea or coffee, as excessive heat can degrade delicate peptide bonds.

Timeline of What to Expect

Week 1: Rapid intestinal uptake of reduced glutathione and alpha lipoic acid. Early cellular replenishment begins inside circulating red blood cells and hepatic tissues [1].

Weeks 3–4: Cumulative tissue saturation. Clinical studies demonstrate marked increases in whole-blood glutathione reserves and optimal natural killer (NK) cell activity, alongside noticeable skin clarity and steady metabolic vitality [1, 2].

Months 2–3+: Long-term Phase II detox equilibrium, sustained mitochondrial vitality, and deep cellular defense against environmental oxidants [1, 4].

Physical Capsule Profile & Clean Excipients Demystified

Capsule Size & Easy Swallowability

NOW Glutathione 500 mg is encapsulated in a standard two-piece vegetable capsule (Size "0", measuring approximately 21 mm in length). The smooth plant-derived cellulose shell glides easily down your throat with a single sip of water, eliminating the uncomfortable gag reflex often triggered by hard, chalky compressed tablets.

Natural Aroma, Taste & Color Markers

When you open the bottle, you may notice a distinctive, faintly earthy or sulfur-like aroma. This is completely normal and proof of quality. Glutathione contains natural sulfur-bearing cysteine, and Alpha Lipoic Acid contains two sulfur molecules. This mild aroma is the hallmark of genuine, biologically active sulfur antioxidants. When swallowed whole, the capsule has zero taste. The powder inside has a light, speckled tan-to-beige tone due to the natural golden-brown color of real Milk Thistle seed extract.

Other Ingredients Demystified

Every excipient listed on the label serves a clean, functional purpose:

✓ Hypromellose (cellulose capsule): A 100% vegetarian capsule shell crafted from natural plant fibers. It dissolves in stomach fluid in under 5 minutes without animal gelatin.
✓ Microcrystalline Cellulose: Purified plant fiber used to ensure each capsule contains the exact uniform amount of active ingredients.
✓ Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source): A natural plant-based lubricant that prevents fine botanical powders from clinging to manufacturing machinery.
✓ Silicon Dioxide: A natural mineral compound that absorbs ambient moisture to prevent powder clumping and safeguard nutrient potency.

Bottle Storage & Environmental Protection

Store your bottle tightly capped in a cool, dry cupboard away from direct heat, sunlight, and bathroom humidity. Each bottle (SKU 0175, 0176) is crafted from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin, keeping plastic out of landfills while protecting light-sensitive antioxidants from UV exposure.

NOW Foods Laboratory Testing & Strict Contaminant Standards

Do not gamble your health on cheap big box store supplements. Mass-market retail shelves and discount online websites are flooded with private-label vitamins produced by low-cost contract packagers who skip critical screening. Independent lab audits routinely discover that discount antioxidants are adulterated with cheap fillers, degraded by oxidation, or contaminated with industrial chemicals. NOW Foods sets the gold standard for purity with internal testing that exceeds FDA requirements:

✓ ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited Laboratories: NOW maintains state-of-the-art analytical testing facilities where in-house scientists run over 19,000 to 31,000 individual safety, purity, and potency assays every single month.
✓ ICP-MS Heavy Metal Testing (Parts-Per-Billion Precision): Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), every raw material lot is screened for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury down to parts-per-billion (ppb) thresholds, easily beating California Proposition 65 and USP safety limits.
✓ HPLC Molecular Identification & Potency Verification: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) verifies that each capsule provides authentic, unoxidized reduced-form glutathione (GSH) and confirms 80% silymarin flavonoid standardization in Milk Thistle.
✓ Microbiological Pathogen Bio-Screening: Every single production batch is cultured to guarantee the total absence of dangerous pathogens, including Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, alongside strict yeast and mold parameters.
✓ Audited cGMP Manufacturing: Facilities are independently audited and certified by UL Solutions and maintain an "A-rated" Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) registration through the Natural Products Association (NPA).

Supplement Facts & Retailer Verification

Supplement Facts

Serving Size: 1 Veg Capsule

Servings Per Container: 30

Description	Amount per Serving	% Daily Value
Glutathione (Reduced Form)	500 mg	**
Milk Thistle Extract (Silybum marianum) (Fruit/Seeds) (Standardized to 80 mg Silymarin Flavonoids - equivalent 80%)	100 mg	**
Alpha Lipoic Acid	50 mg	**

** Daily Value not established.

Other Ingredients: Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source) and Silicon Dioxide.

Allergen Declaration: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.

Safety Caution: For adults only. Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.

Natural color variation may occur in this product. Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients. Store in a cool, dry place after opening. Family owned since 1968. SKU 0175, 0176: This bottle is made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin.