Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise due to poor dietary intake and lack of exercise. This disease puts people at risk of developing additional medical issues and also severely impacts the body’s primary detoxifying organ.
The liver is a very important organ and it is critical to nearly all biological functions in the body. But factors including air pollution, toxins from food and skin care products and alcohol can disrupt its function.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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Today we are going to discuss NAC. This is a supplement that I find myself speaking with customers about for so many different utilizations when it comes to overall health benefits. So, let’s discuss exactly what NAC is and all of the different clinical ways NAC has been studied (and is currently being studied).
What exactly is NAC?
NAC, or N-Acetyl-Cysteine, is a modified version of the amino acid Cysteine. NAC helps to replenish inter-cellular levels of one of our most powerful antioxidants, Glutathione. By helping to restore Glutathione levels, NAC allows our cells to fend off oxidative stress and free radicals. It’s common for many to think of NAC in the support of liver health; Glutathione plays an essential and critical role in terms of being able to help those little hepatocytes (liver cells) to fend off all of the different toxins that we are exposed to.
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Health Benefits of NAC
NAC has been shown to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. For example, being exposed to different bacterial or viral infections can cause a cytokine storm; this is when the immune system gets thrown “out of whack” and you get this really big surge of inflammatory cytokines that the body cannot handle. NAC has been shown to suppress this “storm”. In one very recent clinical trial sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NAC was used to fight the COVID-19 virus by boosting a type of cell in your immune system that attacked infections. The study’s researchers believe that if they give patients high dose IV NAC when they are in clinical care units like the ICU, it can help them so much that they would be moved out of the ICU or even taken off of their ventilators. This is an active study.†
A separate research report released in April 2020 in the journal Medical Hypotheses discussed NAC and the prevention of COVID-19 associated cytokine storm. This amino acid has also been studied as a benefit for diabetics, as studies have shown it can help improve insulin sensitivity.†
NAC has been shown to be able to fight off the stomach infection that is brought on by H. Pylori. H. Pylori is the most common bacterial infection in the stomach that is directly causative to peptic and duadinal ulsers. NAC has been shown to inhibit the growth of H. Pylori by reducing the production of the inflammatory cytokines.† Learn more about H. Pylori by clicking here!
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We are all exposed to many different and damaging factors everyday. This excess build up of these factors can really throw off our body’s detoxification system. Here’s what you have to know.
Your liver has hundreds of important jobs and is extremely resilient in order to deal with things like toxins and bacteria. In today’s episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. explains its function and important nutrients to maintain a healthy liver.
You enjoyed your summer – you grabbed a few glasses of wine on the weekend, hung out all day in the sun at the beach, and followed a not-so-healthy diet of burgers and french fries. What can you do to reset your body and get back to following a healthy lifestyle? Turn to healthy foods that can support liver detoxification.
Of your five major organs, your liver is probably not one you think of as much as your brain or your heart. But it’s just as important! The liver plays a vital role in filtering out what your body doesn’t need. When you have a healthy liver, it takes the toxins stored throughout your body and converts them into their water-soluble form so they can be easily removed.
An unhealthy liver can be caused by numerous factors like an infection or immune system abnormality. More commonly, risk factors like heavy alcohol use, diabetes or obesity can increase your risk of liver problems.
The American Liver Foundation’s healthy eating guidelines recommend a diet rich in fiber sourced from fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Small amounts of non-red meat, as well as low-fat dairy and healthy fats (like avocado) are great dietary options to support liver detoxification. But there are some superfoods that can cleanse your liver better than others.
Garlic helps activate the liver detox enzymes, that assist in breaking down and eliminating toxins from your system. It also contains 39 different antibacterial agents, helping to protect your body from illness.
Beets have been shown to active liver enzymes (like bile), which helps to break down and absorb healthy fats and fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin E. Other benefits of beets include support of heart health and physical performance.
Apples contain a lot of fiber, so it can help to clean out your bowels and introduce friendly bacteria. Keep the skin on your apples and pair them with chia seeds for even more fiber.
Broccoli is rich in antioxidants and can help boost glutathione levels in the body, supporting liver detoxification.
Avocado seems to be taking over the world – and for good reason! Avocado has great levels of fiber and contains healthy fats, which can help you get your daily fiber intake for the day in no time!