Why February is Tough On Your Immune System
You may have already started daydreaming about the springtime sun warming your face, but in North America, February is the coldest month of the year, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Not only is the bitter chill uncomfortable, it can also increase your chances of getting sick.
In a recent study, researchers discovered that cold weather can lower your immunity in the nose and reduce your immune system’s ability to protect you against microbial and viral assaults.*
And with this winter’s ‘tripledemic’ of airborne invaders threatening your health, this is no time to let down your defenses!
A diet filled with immunity-boosting fruits and vegetables is a good start, but February calls for advanced reinforcements, and nutritional supplements can help. And no – those fizzy vitamin C, D and zinc tablets won’t do.
There’s one nutrient you’re probably not familiar, but need to know about: NAC.
As one research study put it, NAC has been shown to “boost the immune system, suppress viral replication, and reduce inflammation”.*
NAC is the Immune-Boosting Powerhouse You Need Right Now
N-acetyl cysteine – commonly known as NAC – has been a popular nutritional supplement used for respiratory health for almost 60 years.
Recognized as a natural but powerful “toxin trapper”, it is used in hospitals to purge the body of certain harmful chemicals, such as illuminating dyes used for medical procedures.
In low to moderate dose supplement form, NAC has been linked to a wide range of health benefits, from immune system and respiratory health, to cognition and detoxing of everyday environmental chemicals.
For healthy lungs and a strong respiratory system, NAC has largely been considered to be one of the top lung health supplements, because it can help loosen buildup in air passageways.
How NAC Helps Enhance Your Natural Immunity
NAC is the supplement form of cysteine, the amino acid precursor to glutathione – the principal antioxidant in the body and one of the only antioxidants you produce naturally to protect against free radicals and inflammation.
So, NAC’s superpower is that it replenishes glutathione. It’s essential for fighting oxidative stress (cellular corrosion) and an unsung hero that promotes your natural defenses by protecting immune cells.
Immune cells produce compounds that are your body’s first responders when a viral threat is detected. Researchers have discovered high levels of oxidation in the immune cells of immune-compromised individuals, which is a direct result of low levels of glutathione.*
NAC is powerful indeed! And your immune response is not alone in benefiting from maintaining high levels.
Immunity Support and More: 5 Science-Backed Benefits of NAC
NAC may be widely regarded as one of the best supplements for respiratory health. But it’s also an all-star, age-defying nutrient that supports healthy aging in many ways:
- Helps Improve Lung Function
Many studies have been conducted on the effects of daily 600 mg NAC supplementation. One study indicated that its anti-oxidative benefits helped slow the progression of COPD, a chronic pulmonary condition.*
- Promotes Natural Detoxification
NAC acts as a toxin eliminator to support optimal liver and kidney function, your body’s detox organs. And by supporting healthy lungs, which are your built-in “air purifier”, it also helps to get rid of environmental impurities that can harm healthy cells.
- Boosts Endurance
NAC has been shown to help improve athletic performance, which is why it’s popular among active individuals and athletes who want to take their respiratory rate to higher levels of intensity.***
- Fights Inflammation
Oxidative stress and inflammation go hand in hand, and both are implicated in many age-related issues that affect human health. By replenishing your body’s #1 antioxidant, glutathione, NAC plays an active role in your ability to fight inflammation and resist cellular rusting.*
- Helps Improve Brain Power
Maintaining strong memory and cognition as you age is key to living life to the fullest. Studies show that taking 600 mg of NAC daily can help support brain health, including memory and learning capacity.*
For a high-quality NAC supplement with clinically backed doses, trust Body Kitchen Mega NAC + Quercetin. Not only is it formulated with clinically backed amounts of high-quality NAC, it delivers a double-antioxidant punch with the plant pigment, quercetin.
All supplements should be consumed as part of a healthy, balanced diet. But to give your immune system an advantage this sneezin’ season AND fighting body-wide oxidation and inflammation, this best-selling NAC formula can’t be beat!