N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is derived from the amino acid L-cysteine. NAC by Seeking Health is a well-absorbed supplemental form of cysteine. This important amino acid is a building block of glutathione, known as your body’s “master antioxidant.” The health benefits of NAC are largely related to its role in glutathione production.^†

NAC is known to assist in three main areas of health: antioxidant activity, detoxification, and lung health.^†

Antioxidant Activity^†

NAC acts as a powerful antioxidant in your body. It does this directly and indirectly. First, NAC itself provides antioxidant support for free radical protection.^†

The word antioxidant is defined by a compound having the capacity to donate an electron readily. The sulfur protruding from cysteine allows electrons to attach and detach easily. In particular, NAC is known to interact with hypochlorous acid and hydroxyl radicals by donating an electron to neutralize them.^†

The second way NAC has powerful antioxidant properties is via its role in glutathione production. NAC provides the amino acid cysteine. Your cells make glutathione from three amino acids: cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. Of these, cysteine is the rate-limiting ingredient needed to synthesize glutathione. Without enough cysteine, glutathione production will decline.^†

Detoxification properties^†

NAC also supports normal detoxification pathways via various mechanisms. NAC is a precursor to sulfate, the most commonly used detoxification compound in the body. Whether you are metabolizing hormones or chemicals, sulfate groups play an essential role in every human body tissue.^†

When harmful compounds like toxins enter cells, enzymes will commonly act upon them and change their shape. One of the enzymes, called glutathione s-transferase (GST), attaches glutathione to toxic substances (like air pollutants and heavy metals). Once bound, your body can discard them. However, when the toxins are discarded, so is glutathione. Supplementing with NAC supports both normal detoxification and healthy glutathione levels within cells.^†

Helps keep mucus less viscous^†

Mucus is made of glycoproteins containing sulfur groups. In the presence of free radicals, electrons are stolen from these sulfur groups. As a result, these sulfurs will bind to other sulfurs found on nearby mucus glycoproteins to form disulfide bonds. The binding of many mucus molecules to one another creates a viscous “soup” of mucus that is hard to expel from the body.

It has been known for many decades that NAC supports the normal breakdown of mucus in the lungs. It does this by interfering with sulfur bonding. The antioxidant activity of both NAC and its end product glutathione help to keep the sulfur groups on mucus glycoproteins from sticking to one another. Additionally, NAC can bind directly to sulfur groups on mucus glycoproteins. This helps to keep them from attaching to more mucus. The end result is normal mucus viscosity (instead of a sticky mucus mess!).^†

NAC by Seeking Health provides 500 mg of free form N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine. The vegan-friendly capsules offer a well-absorbed supplemental form of cysteine. If you’re looking to support optimal antioxidant activity in your body, look no further than NAC capsules by Seeking Health.^†