Top 10 Benefits of N-Acetyl Cysteine

by Dr. Nick Zyrowski February 10, 2022

As of late, NAC (N-acetylcysteine) has become a hot button of controversy. Many people have become worried that this once readily available supplement will get removed from the public altogether. So why is there so much talk around NAC right now?

For one thing, NAC has been used for many years by health professionals and people who want to better their health. It is an effective supplement, and it is also inexpensive. That creates a win for almost everyone, except perhaps large pharmaceutical companies that won’t make money from you staying healthy. So, what are the benefits of NAC? Let’s look at what this powerful supplement brings to the table.


1. Replenishes Glutathione Levels

You may not have heard much about glutathione, but it is a powerful antioxidant that can get found in every cell in the body. Unlike most other antioxidants, this one can get produced in the liver.

Glutathione is crucial because it is involved in many processes in the body. It supports the immune system, breaks down free radicals that cause cancer, and helps the gallbladder and liver process fats. Glutathione also assists with apoptosis, which is when unwanted cells die. Studies have linked low glutathione levels to increased instances of disease, so you can see why you need this vital antioxidant in your body.

2. Boosts the Immune System

For the past two years and counting, many of us have gotten all sorts of information about viruses. We must realize that viruses have been around for centuries, and they will continue. Instead of living in a state of fear and panic, what we can do is help boost our immune function so that it can do what it got designed to do, which is fight off these viruses.

NAC helps the immune system because it kills viral cells and can block the replication of these cells. That is true for all viruses, not only the one we hear about most often today. People who get the flu may benefit from taking NAC. It can shorten the lifespan of the virus and make it less potent.

Another way it boosts the immune system is by improving gut health. We learn more every day about how immune health is related to the health of our gut. NAC has been shown to strengthen gut health, which leads to a healthy immune system.

3. Detoxes Liver and Kidneys

NAC helps the detox process. It may surprise you to know that physicians have used NAC in emergency rooms for people who have overdosed on acetaminophen. They give it in IV form for fast absorption to keep the medicine from damaging the liver and kidneys.

You can take NAC in supplement form to help detox from toxins you get from the environment. Imagine all the chemicals we get exposed to every day. During the pandemic, many of us have used tons of chemicals to clean everything. We have used them on our skin to kill germs. Many of these are harmful to our bodies, and we use them all the time. These can deplete our glutathione stores, so replenishing that with NAC can give you the detoxification benefits.

4. Helps Brain Function

Some studies show that NAC helps with brain function relating to memory and learning ability. It works by regulating the brain neurotransmitter glutamate, which is involved in these brain functions. Ongoing research also shows promise for patients who have Alzheimer’s disease. It helps to slow cognitive loss, which is the hallmark of the disease.

5. Decreases Psychiatric Symptoms

We need a certain amount of glutamate in the brain for healthy brain function. The problem is that excess glutamate levels in the brain, at the same time as low levels of glutathione, can increase mental health conditions.

People living with bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and even generalized depression could benefit from taking NAC. In many mental health issues, the brain is unhealthy and inflamed and becomes unable to detox when that happens.

6. Helps with Addiction

Research shows that taking NAC can reduce addictive behaviors. When we think of people who have addictions, we often exclude ourselves. We assume people who rely on alcohol and drugs have addiction issues. In truth, most of us have some form of addictive tendency. It may be an addiction to television, sugar, or food.

Sometimes relying on willpower alone is not enough. NAC may help you with any addictive issue you may face, and it does it in a natural way. It can also ease the symptoms of giving up these addictions by decreasing withdrawals. It helps with cravings, so you don’t constantly deal with the urge to go back to an unhealthy habit.

7. Helps Keep Blood Sugar Stable

So many people today have gotten a diagnosis of prediabetes. We know that high blood sugar puts us at risk for type 2 diabetes. The studies show that NAC decreases inflammation in fat cells, which improves insulin resistance.

That means your insulin receptors will remain healthy and intact. They will remove sugar from the blood and keep insulin levels at normal limits.

8. Reduces Heart Disease Risk

One of the top reasons people die today is heart disease. Oxidative damage to heart tissue causes all sorts of heart problems. Taking NAC can reduce reactive oxygen stress and cardiac fibrosis. That means a significant improvement in cardiac function.

It improves the production of nitric oxide in the body as well. Nitric oxide helps your veins dilate, which will increase blood flow. Problems with blood flow is an issue many of us have as we age.

9. May Improve Fertility

Many couples who want to have a baby get affected by fertility problems. Infertility can often get caused by insufficient antioxidant levels. These levels get lowered by oxidative stress. Since NAC helps with oxidative stress, it can improve fertility.

In women, polycystic ovary syndrome can interrupt the ovulation cycle. Women who take NAC may see improvements in their fertility as well.

10. Improves Lung Health

We mentioned earlier that many of us have had fears regarding the current virus everyone keeps talking about, especially in the media. The main concern stems from the damage it seems to do to the lungs. One of the most incredible factors regarding NAC is the ability to fight lung damage. It not only replenishes those glutathione levels in the lungs, but it also helps decrease lung inflammation. It loosens the mucus present in the airway, which helps to keep the lungs clear.

NAC can also help people with asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder). It stands to reason that it can also decrease the severity of any virus that affects the lungs. Some viruses cause severe inflammation in the lungs, and the studies show that taking NAC can help with any respiratory issues. It also helps keep the lungs from declining when a virus invades. Research showed that NAC prevented ventilated- associated pneumonia. We know that getting put on a ventilator is one of the fears of the current virus.

Beneficial for Natural Health

Many of us would benefit from implementing NAC in our healthcare routines. It is an inexpensive dietary supplement that can get used safely every day. NAC has been around for years, and many people have found tremendous success when taking it for the issues we’ve mentioned.

There is a reason so many functional medical professionals recommend taking it. You won’t hear about NAC from most medical doctors or pharmaceutical companies. The reason is that NAC is cheap and won’t make money for these big corporations. These organizations don’t make a profit when you stay healthy.

These days, health is a top priority for most of us. Adding NAC to your daily vitamins can improve your overall wellness and protect your immune system. When buying NAC, make sure to get a quality, pharmaceutical-grade supplement for best results. With all the crucial roles NAC plays, you owe it to yourself to try this incredible supplement and boost your immune health today!

References :

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Dr. Nick Zyrowski
Dr. Nick Zyrowski