Swine virus and Glutathione

Two posts tonight.
Here is a small piece of nutritional information about influenza.
First, the swine flu is a type A Influenza. Death from influenza usually occurs from inflammation at the lungs caused by the virus that causes fluid to accumulate in the lungs progressing into pneumonia. So is it possible to decrease lung inflammation to prevent pneumonia?
Yes.
According to the Dept. of Biochemistry at Emory University Glutathione, a type of antioxidant has both in vitro and in vivo anti-influenza activity. And oxidative stress that causes low glutathione levels in the oral, nasal, upper airways may enhance suseptibility to influenza infection. In another study it was shown that glutathione was found to down-regulate influenza's ability to replacate in the presence of glutathione in host cells.
This in my mind, could be an explanation of why people in Mexico could be falling fatally ill to influenza and not in the US.
Mexico City has some of the worst air pollution in the world. Air pollution causes oxidative stress in our bodies and lungs. Oxidative stress causes free radical in our bodies. Glutathione, known as the "Master Antioxidant" neutralizes free radicals. It also is an important detoxifier for our liver. So people who are perpetually exposed to air pollution tend to have lower glutathione levels circulating in their bodies. Just a thought.
So how make sure you have enough glutathione in your body?
Undenatured Whey Protein.
It is relatively inexpensive, and effective for increasing lung glutathione. But, undenatured whey must not be put in a blender to make a smoothie (breaks the fragile bonds) and is very specific. Most whey protein powders are not undenatured.
I will go over some other antioxidants and delivery systems for combating influenza (and anything that causes oxidative stress for that matter) in the coming days. Unless this is beyond boring to my dear readers. I will ask my sister. She is a good meter for how I am doing on my blog....