The power of NAC
Immune health is at the forefront of our minds this year. We know that a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables, including all the colours of the rainbow, can help support our immune health. Nature naturally provides us with an abundance of key micronutrients to support our body’s ability to protect us from foreign invaders. Unfortunately, access to a variety of fruits and vegetables is not always possible or easy.
Fortunately, there are several key supplements that can support our immune system, especially when fresh fruits and vegetables are scarce. Traditional heavy hitters like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and probiotics work to build our body’s first lines of immune defense. By supporting our skin, gut, and immune health, they have become an integral part of our supplement regimens. Antivirals like oregano help fight off nasty critters, keeping us safe, and are increasingly common in most medicine cabinets.
What is NAC?
Less known, but just as important as the above supplements, is NAC or N-acetyl-L-cysteine. NAC is the supplemented form of cysteine, a semi-essential amino acid that we must consume through our diet. Poultry products and legumes are rich in natural cysteine, and our bodies can also make cysteine through other amino acids.
Supplemented NAC is traditionally sourced from duck feathers, though vegan versions are just as effective and increasingly available. NAC is fast becoming an immune system darling due to its high antioxidant capacity. NAC is necessary to aid in the making of glutathione, one of our body’s most important antioxidants, which helps support immune health.
What makes NAC so special is its ability to support lung and bronchial health. Acting as both an antioxidant and an expectorant, it can relieve respiratory issues by loosening mucus while reducing inflammation in the lungs.
Health First® NAC offers 500 mg in supplement form of this powerful antioxidant. It is an entirely vegan formula, derived from non-GMO and gluten-free corn. Like all Health First® products, it is also free of GMOs, artificial colours, and flavours.