Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Lucaxx Freire on Unsplash Researchers from the University of California (UCLA) have discovered that adults that spend more time sitting in the day had greater thinning of the medial temporal lobe, the area of the brain that is important for making new memories. …
?: @culturekitty Beets are a powerful superfood. Its reddish-brown betalains are powerful antioxidants that protect the walls of arteries. Trimethylglycine detoxifies homocysteine; elevated homocysteine is implicated in clogged arteries. The natural nitrates create nitric oxide, responsible for healthy blood flow, heart and circulatory health, and …
NAC, N-Acetyl Cysteine, is an amino acid that has powerful antioxidant properties. Clinical studies have proved its benefit for a variety of health purposes including the support of the liver and kidneys, respiratory health, and immune system function. However, many are unfamiliar with this amino acid and its potential.
NAC stimulates production of the amino acids cysteine and glutathione. And, because of this, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, it works as a scavenger to remove free radicals in the body. We live in an increasingly polluted environment, loaded with toxins; the soil we grow our food in is often nutrient-depleted and many consume processed, factory-made foods supplying scant nutrients. Ironically, our bodies wind up requiring even more vitamins and minerals to effectively metabolize nutrient-depleted foods. For these reasons, according to Archana Gogna, MS, CNS, MBA of InVite® Health, healthcare professionals are advising their patients to being taking safe, reliably-made high quality nutritional supplements to fill nutritional deficits in their diet caused by free radicals.
Jerry Hickey, R.Ph reports, “In the lining of the lungs, you have this tiny, little hair called microvilli. They’re actually a remnant of bacteria, believe it or not. Inside your lungs, you also have a thin layer of mucousy-fluid that helps move dust particles and other things that don’t belong inside of the lungs. This hair and fluid must be rich in antioxidants to protect the lung lining. Otherwise, if you inhaled smoke from a fire, it would destroy your lung tissue.”
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes research that showed using NAC reduced flare-ups of both chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2010. NAC has been used as a mucous-thiner to break down mucous in the body, as well.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, doctors gave NAC through an IV to people who have overdosed on acetaminophen (Tylenol), to help prevent or reduce liver and kidney damage. Acetaminophen poisoning can also happen at lower doses if someone drinks alcohol or takes medications that may damage the liver on a regular basis. In another 6-month study, people who took 600mg of NAC two times a day had fewer flu symptoms than those who took a placebo.
Jerry Hickey, R.Ph explains, “NAC is good in the winter because it provides your immune system with the energy that it needs. The University of Genoa in Italy published their findings in the European Respiratory Journal about this, using almost 300 people over the age of 65 from 20 Italian medical centers. When they gave the participants NAC over the winter, it improved their immune function and strongly improved their resistance. This is because NAC energized their immune cells (white blood cells). Jule like the lungs have to be soaked and rich in antioxidants like NAC, your white blood cells do too so they can kill viruses and bacteria.”
When you take NAC, you protect your immune system from its own chemical weapons, so it can continue to fight against bacteria and viruses and be energized. It has more energy to do its job.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash Why are you so tired? Because the power-plants inside your cells are old and wrinkly! Within each of your trillions of cells (with a few exceptions) there are tiny power plants called mitochondria. Some cells have a few hundred …
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash As the weather starts to get colder and the days start to feel shorter, cold and flu season slowly begins to creep up on us. Here are some tips and information by Jerry Hickey, R. Ph. How is the …
Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR) is an absorbable form of the amino acid L-Carnitine, a naturally occurring amino acid that is synthesized in the liver and kidney. Like L-Carnitine, ALCAR produces energy in the mitochondria of the cell. Because it participates in energy metabolism, it can be supportive in healthy brain development, visual memory and overall focus. Simply, your body uses ALCAR to turn fat into energy.
Carnitine is found in high concentrations in certain foods like red meat and milk. But for those who do not consume the healthy 60-180 mg per day of Carnitine, including vegans, dietary supplementation of Carnitine (its active form) may be needed. Many clinical studies have shown benefits in athletes using Carnitine for improved performance. Other benefits have been shown for anti-aging, heart health, blood sugar health, and infertility.
Depression is a mental disorder that causes individuals to experiences a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, distrubed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. According to Harvard Health, some or all of the triggers and brain changes of depression may impair cognition, or thinking skills, including the ability to pay attention, memory, decision making, information processing, and executive functions (like returning phone calls).
Additional information –
European researchers reviewed a number of studies testing the effects of ALCAR (N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine) on depression. The reason, according to the researchers, is that a deficiency in brain ALCAR activity appears to play a role in the risk of developing depression. In nine randomized control trials, ALCAR was far better than placebo for improving and reducing symptoms of depression.
In three trials where ALCAR was compared to prescription antidepressants, ALCAR had similar effectiveness to the drugs for reducing depressive symptoms; it it much safer than commonly used drugs like antidepressants and has been shown to work faster. ALCAR was most effective in treating depression in older adults.
The study is published in the October 25th. 2017 issue of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine by researchers from the Neuroscience Institute, Aging Branch in Padova, Italy who worked in conjunction with researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at Kings College, London along with a number of additional academic research institutions.