Important Flu Facts<\/h3>\n
Influenza is a costly and sometimes fatal disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a> estimates that Americans face between 9 and 41 million cases of the flu each year \u2014 contributing to as many as 51,000 deaths annually. (1<\/a>)<\/p>\n Even though Western medicine has concocted several medications to lessen the flu\u2019s impact, their effectiveness is typically limited. The flu shot is a good example as it is only 40% to 60% effective at preventing influenza, and it can fail when the season\u2019s viral strains aren\u2019t accurately predicted. (2<\/a>)<\/p>\n Unwanted antiviral medication side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can also make drugs used to lessen flu symptoms less than desirable. (3<\/a>) Thus, many people turn toward natural immune system builders to increase their body\u2019s protection against the flu, one of which is NAC.<\/p>\n NAC is an amino acid and a powerful antioxidant that, when supplemented, is transformed into glutathione. Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals and detoxifies harmful substances in your body. (4<\/a>)<\/p>\n When taken orally, glutathione isn\u2019t easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. (5<\/a>) Taking an NAC supplement is one way around this. And this can be especially helpful for those with liver concerns because a compromised liver has difficulty producing glutathione on its own. (6<\/a>)<\/p>\n Aside from its importance to your liver and immune system, NAC is also a mucolytic \u2013 meaning that it breaks down lung-clogging mucous in respiratory disorders. NAC\u2019s mucolytic properties are credited to its abundance of free sulfhydryl groups. (7<\/a>) These groups break down the disulfide bonds of mucous, a process that thins the mucous out.<\/p>\n Research indicates that NAC is a safe, potent antioxidant that is typically well-tolerated. (8<\/a>) It adds that the use of NAC can be beneficial for a variety of health conditions, some of which include:<\/p>\n Other researchers have found that NAC also exhibits a significant ability to reduce the likelihood of experiencing symptoms of the flu.<\/p>\n A 2021 review of NAC\u2019s clinical usefulness talks about one such study involving 262 patients. (9<\/a>) In this trial, each subject received either 600 mg of NAC or a placebo (a sham treatment) during six winter months. Of subjects who contracted the flu virus, 79% of the placebo group experienced symptoms compared to just 25% of the group receiving an NAC supplement.<\/p>\n Individuals in the NAC group also had a significantly lower number of influenza illnesses, had less severe symptoms, and recovered more quickly than those receiving the sham or fake treatments.<\/p>\n Other research suggests that taking 600 mg of NAC per day may also be beneficial for preventing and\/or treating the SARS-CoV-2 virus, better known as COVID-19. (10<\/a>) This is important since people continue to test positive for this virus each week, some of whom are unable to survive its effects. (11<\/a>)<\/p>\nWhat Is NAC?<\/h3>\n
Uses for NAC<\/h2>\n
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NAC Flu Research<\/h1>\n
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<\/p>\nNAC Supplementation<\/h3>\n