Summer Sun and Supplements

Are you immune-ready for the fall season? If not, summer is a great time to build up your immune system. Take more vitamin D, get more sun, get more sleep, and get more exercise. Stress is usually minimized and most people generally have more time to improve their supplement nutrition. 

NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) is a supplement form of cysteine, one of the essential amino acids your body needs. Most high-protein foods like meats, cheeses, and yogurt contain cysteine. NAC has many health benefits. Your body can produce it, so it is called “conditionally essential”, but if your dietary intake of serine or methionine are low, that is a problem.

NAC is important for replenishing your body’s most potent antioxidant, glutathione and is important for a healthy brain and so many more vital functions.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) and Glutathione

Glutathione is one of the body’s most important natural antioxidants, which protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. These are produced during normal metabolism and can increase because of illness, pollution, smoking, or aging. Over time, too much free radical damage, known as oxidative stress, may contribute to inflammation and many chronic health conditions.

Glutathione is often called the body’s “master antioxidant” because it helps protect nearly every cell. It supports the immune system, helps the liver remove toxins, and plays an important role in keeping cells healthy. When the body is under stress from illness, infection, or exposure to toxins, glutathione levels can become depleted.

NAC provides the body with cysteine, an amino acid needed to make glutathione. By increasing glutathione levels, NAC helps the body restore its natural defenses against oxidative stress. For this reason, doctors use NAC as a lifesaving treatment for acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose, where it helps prevent serious liver damage by quickly replenishing glutathione.

Researchers are also studying NAC as a supplement for a variety of conditions involving inflammation and oxidative stress, including lung disease, heart disease, and some neurological disorders. While results have been encouraging in some studies, more research is needed to confirm its benefits for many of these uses. Overall, NAC supports the body’s ability to protect itself by helping maintain healthy levels of glutathione.

Lest we forget, the FDA and CDC made it very difficult for people to get NAC during COVID. Why? Because it is so effective, that’s why. It should definitely be part of your summer tuneup!