Have you ever heard of NAC?
It stands for N-Acetyl Cysteine.
Cysteine is deemed as a non-essential amino acid…
Because your body can produce it on its own.
On the other hand cysteine is often considered semi-essential
Due to the fact that modern lifestyle factors can result in depleted cysteine levels.
It’s crucial in many metabolic processes.
Namely; detoxification, respiratory conditions, brain health and fertility.
As well as being a building block for protein.
NAC is the supplemental form of cysteine, a precursor to the most potent antioxidant -
Glutathione!
Glutathione is made from the amino acids; cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid.
It’s produced in the liver.
Therefore any liver condition could result in depleted cysteine levels.
People with HIV or AIDs are also at risk of being deficient in cysteine.
Additionally, environmental toxins and medication can all reduce liver and kidney function.
This means that your body could have difficulty clearing out waste products.
Resulting in an increased need to supplement to support health and wellbeing.
Other than vitamin C and glutathione, NAC can be consumed to boost overall health.
That’s because detoxification is vital to keep the body clean and functioning smoothly.
In this article we’ll explore the benefits of NAC and whether it’s a good idea to consume it daily as part of a healthy lifestyle routine.
Alcohol, NAC & Sleep: Is It A Danger?
Firstly, many people like to drink alcohol in the evening to relax. Yet the CDC reports excessive alcohol intake costs the economy $249 billion per year. Mainly due to hangovers reducing productivity. Therefore finding ways to reduce hangovers is important for both health and wealth. Thankfully NAC has your back! NAC is good for hangovers. One randomised double-blind and placebo-controlled study discovered that NAC can reduce or even eliminate symptoms. A dose of just 600mg is sufficient to reduce the symptoms of hangxiety, and 1200mg can reduce nausea and headaches .
Many people drink alcohol to help them sleep. That’s because it slows down the production of glutamate, the excitatory neurotransmitter. Interestingly glutamate can turn into GABA, which is the flip side of glutamate and makes you feel sleepy. NAC can help with addiction and substance use disorde r. That’s because glutamate dysregulation plays a part in these conditions. NAC can also help improve airway function, which can help people fall (and stay) asleep easily. One study found that oral NAC helps people with sleep apnoea because it increases glutathione production.
In Short, You Might Like The Health Benefits Of NAC…
Because NAC can:
- ● Promote sleep
- ● Increase productivity
- ● Get rid of a hangover
- ● Help treat substance use disorders
- ● Help treat sleep apnoea
NAC Benefits For Your Brain
NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) plays an essential role in brain development and nerve growth. It protects against damage caused by toxins and free radicals. As well as helping improve memory, focus, attention, and mood. NAC is useful in maintaining healthy levels of glutamate, a chemical that helps relay messages between nerve cells in the brain. It does this by replenishing levels of glutathione, the master antioxidant. Which in turn, may protect against the development of some neurological diseases.
People with brain-related disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, anxiety disorder, bipolar, OCD or schizophrenia can reduce symptoms by consuming NAC daily. NAC helps your brain by helping it detoxify. As well as regulating important behaviour-altering hormones like dopamine. Dopamine is important for that feel-good factor. That’s why it’s a key focus for people making social media apps and video games. If they can make you feel happy when you use their app, then you’ll use it more. The same goes for substance abuse. By balancing out the production of dopamine. Life simply feels better.
To Recap, NAC Is Good For Your Brain
Because NAC can:
- ● Boost levels of dopamine
- ● Balance the glutamate pathway
- ● Calm your mind
- ● Help detoxify the brain
Grow Luscious Locks In No Time
Many people wonder how NAC works for hair growth? In effect, it’s similar to other aspects of NACs health benefits. It removes free radicals and toxins that prevent healthy tissue growth. Additionally, your hair is literally an extension of your nerves, and NAC promotes nerve growth. Super sensitive nerve endings wrap around each hair bulb inside the hair follicle . It’s important to make sure that your hair follicles are kept clean and clear, that’s why many suggest a scalp detox to boost hair growth
In one study, 1200mg oral NAC was taken daily, to discover how a patient with trichoteiromania (a condition where people rub the hair off their scalp) might improve. The outcome was fantastic as consuming NAC daily resulted in complete regrowth of hair in the affected area in just 16 weeks. Another study in 100 patients with alopecia found that there was reduced hair loss and increased hair growth with daily supplementation of NAC.
NAC Can Help With Hair Growth & Reduced Hair Loss
Because NAC can:
- ● Help regrow nerves
- ● Detoxify the scalp
- ● Remove free radicals and toxins blocking follicles
- ● Grow back hair in patients with alopecia and trichoteiromania
Can you take NAC long-term?
Some consider cysteine an amino acid that makes the difference between life and death. The synthesis of cysteine can be made worse with B6, folate or B12 deficiency. That's because there are many compounds required for the production of cysteine. Cysteine is also used in the production of taurine, which is required to have a healthy central nervous system. So there are many reasons to consume NAC daily.
NAC is known to be safe, with a low incidence of side effects and no apparent toxicity, even when taken for long periods. However, there’s a lack of clinical studies that have examined the effects of taking NAC over prolonged periods of time. The most common side effect of taking NAC is gastrointestinal discomfort (e.g. nausea and diarrhoea). This usually subsides within 1-2 weeks after starting treatment with NAC.
Dosage: How Much NAC Daily?
While there is no specific daily dosage for NAC, our manufacturer recommends one tablet three times a day or as recommended by your medical practitioner. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or taking any medication, then it’s important to consult your medical practitioner before taking any supplements.
In Conclusion
Whether you choose NAC for sleep, brain health, or to boost your immune system, NAC can do wonders for overall health. The reason that all of these body systems are impacted by the supplementation of NAC is due to the fact that it’s present in every cell of the body. Additionally, your whole body is interconnected and what happens in one area of the body can impact other areas. Finally, NAC is required in the production of the master antioxidant - glutathione, making it an excellent detoxification agent for the body.
Written by Rowanna Watson, who has a passion for natural health. Rowanna is an expert in all areas of holistic health, plant-based nutrition, detoxification Written by best-selling author and integrative nutrition health coach and personal development.
Water for Health Ltd began trading in 2007 with the goal of positively affecting the lives of many. We still retain that mission because we believe that proper hydration and nutrition can make a massive difference to people’s health and quality of life. Click here to find out more.
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