Street Sweeper For The Body
I've been taking N-A-C on and off for more than three years, and it's helped a great deal with alleviating sinus congestion. I'm not a scientist, but I've read up a bit on N-A-C, and I'll attempt a brief overview. N-A-C supplements provide the body with extra amounts of L-cysteine, a precursor to a substance called Glutathione. In other words, taking N-A-C gives us more L-cysteine, which then gives us more Glutathione. Glutathione is a critical substance in our body, maintaining our body's antioxidant defenses in the face of everyday assaults. Acting as an antioxidant, it detoxifies and provides intracellular defense against oxidative stress. Think of Glutathione as a street sweeper for our body. It is a major supporter of our liver and lungs. (So, why not simply skip the L-cysteine and just take Glutathione supplements instead? The reason is that Glutathione is not well digested by the body.) Our body's supply of Glutathione may need a boost for several reasons, including alcohol consumption, acetaminophen use, chronic disease, physiological and physical stress, inadequate diet and environmental toxins. N-A-C is preferred to cysteine, or cystine, as a supplement because of its stability and solubility. After having tried a few different brands N-A-C supplements, I've settled on Jarrow Formulas sustained release version. The pill is 1/3 quick release and 2/3 sustained release. This does two things: First, it provides the body with more consistent, sustained levels of L-cysteine through the day and night. Second, it doesn't unsettle my stomach like the other quick release N-A-C tablets I have used. Ideally, the pill should be taken in between meals. I take one pill about an hour after breakfast and another pill before bed. The extra boost of Glutathione provided by N-A-C has a noticeable effect on reducing my sinus congestion during cold and allergy season. It's apparent within a few days of beginning the supplement that I can breathe easier and have less difficulty with my allergies -- especially dust. For example, within a week of using N-A-C I was able to discontinue my nightly use of nasal strips for congestion relief. I also notice a difference when I'm jogging or playing soccer. I seem to be able to pull more air deeper into my lungs, improving my stamina
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