CONNECT WITH US
 |
HEALTH PODCAST
3rd Hand Smoke Everyone knows about second-hand smoke, but third-hand smoke? Learn more in today's featured podcast. (18:05) |
| Here is today's Daily Health Tip you requested! If you'd like to forward this email, unsubscribe, or manage your subscription, click here.
Today's Daily Health Tip
NAC – Protecting You Against Toxins
by Jennifer Good   As part of our featured weekly ingredient, we like to highlight new and possibly lesser heard of natural herbs and nutraceuticals that are known to naturally improve your health. This week we turn the spotlight on N-acetyl-cysteine, an antioxidant produced by the body and commonly referred to as NAC for short. NAC plays a role in detoxification and can neutralize free radicals that damage DNA and healthy cells. It is one of the most powerful antioxidants known to man.
NAC is great for dissolving and loosening mucus, so it is commonly used for chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hay fever, and respiratory disorders such as cystic fibrosis and COPD. It is also used for treating some forms of epilepsy; ear infections; complications of kidney dialysis; chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); and an autoimmune disorder called Sjogren's syndrome.
It is also used to treat or prevent more familiar conditions such as preventing sports injury complications; radiation treatment; increasing immunity to flu and H1N1 (swine) flu; as a hangover remedy; and for detoxifying heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium.
One study done on rats showed that rats with a NAC diet had less cellular damage from cancer-causing substances and fewer carcinogen-induced lung, colon, and bladder tumors compared to rats fed on a normal diet. Other studies showed that NAC slows tumors and metastasis.1
One of its biggest benefits to city dwellers is its ability to protect against toxic aldehydes that enter the body through cigarette smoke and pollution. This fact alone should make it a mandatory addition to your supplement routine for urban dwellers and smokers.
Lastly, one of the keys to a healthy immune system and for cancer prevention is to maintain high levels of glutathione in the body. Your body produces its own glutathione, but bad diet, pollution, toxins, medications, stress, aging, infection, and much more all deplete your levels of glutathione. Unfortunately, supplementing with glutathione doesn't really help. Fortunately, there are alternatives. Supplementation with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) has been proven to substantially raise the body's glutathione levels.
Suffice to say this antioxidant packs a big punch! For more about this and other types of antioxidants, click here.
Study Source:
(1) De Flora S, Cesarone CF, Balansky RM, et al. "Chemopreventive properties and mechanisms of N-Acetylcysteine. The experimental background." J Cell Biochem Suppl. 1995;22:33-41. Reference Link
Other References:
-- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Reference Link
-- WebMD: Reference Link
Liked this health tip? Pass it along to someone else who might enjoy it as well! Forward this email to a Friend!
Find more great topics on natural health @ JonBarron.org!
Health Topics | Detox Program | Health Articles | Programs | Podcasts
|
No comments:
Post a Comment