WHAT
IS NAC?
N-acetyl-L-Cycteine is a modified form of Cysteine. Cysteine is
an amino acid that can be found throughout the body. NAC has been
shown to increase levels of the antioxidant glutathione (pronounced
gloot-a-thigh-own). Antioxidants such as glutathione can reduce
cell damage, speed recovery from injury and aid muscle growth.
NAC
Precursor Of Glutathione And Protected Amino Acid!
Amino acids are essential to the
human body. Bodybuilders can especially benefit from supplementing
amino acids because they aid in repair, growth, and development
of muscle tissue. The body, through assimilation of amino acids,
produces over 50,000 proteins and over 15,000 enzymes. Amino acids
are not only responsible for the production of all the body's enzymes
(including digestive enzymes), but they also play a key role in
normalizing moods, concentration, attention, sleep, and sex drive.
After protein is consumed, it is
broken down into amino acids. Then, individual amino acids are used
to create necessary body proteins and enzymes. Digestive enzymes
break down the proteins a person consumes into amino acids. Scientists,
experts, and medical professionals agree that getting enough amino
acids in one's diet is an important factor in maintaining good nutrition
HOW
DOES NAC WORK?
As stated, NAC is one of the most powerful antioxidants that you
can obtain. Antioxidants are substances that scavenge free radicals.
Free radicals are damaging compounds in the body that alter cell
membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death.
Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins
(such as cigarette smoking and air pollution) and physical activity
(such as weight training or running) can also increase the number
of these damaging particles. Free radicals wreak havoc on your health,
your recovery from exercise and your immune system.
For example, just one bout of treadmill running can increase free
radical levels by more than 300%. Free radicals are believed to
contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a
number of health problems including heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants
such as glutathione can neutralize free radicals and may reduce
or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.
It is via this route of protecting against free radical damage that
it is thought NAC can possibly accelerate muscle growth. Quite amazingly,
NAC was shown to completely prevent the muscle loss that normally
occurs as part of the aging process in one particular study. NAC
has also been shown to dramatically reduce muscle fatigue during
exercise. This is one reason why it's popular with bodybuilders
and strength athletes seeking to gain muscle size and weight and
is included in many popular supplements, especially meal replacement
powders that are consumed regularly throughout the day.
It is also noted that the powerful Glutathione aids in the transport
of nutrients to various immune cells, and to protect cell membranes.
While glutathione is available as a dietary supplement, absorption
is notoriously low, and NAC is thought to be a better source method
of boosting cellular glutathione levels. Endurance athletes (such
as long-distance runners, cyclists or triathletes) report that NAC
helps them tolerate large volumes of training while remaining free
of illness. This is true also of the very intensely training resistance
athletes - power lifters especially.
Considered to be the most highly and well studied of the anti-oxidants,
NAC is considered one of the safest supplements available. NAC has
actually been used and studied for more than three decades as a
"mucus dissolving" agent to help break up the thick mucus
often present in people suffering from chronic respiratory ailments.
Thanks
to its many uses, NAC has become a very popular compound for all
athletes as it reduces muscle damage and strengthens the immune
system, NAC is used extensively by endurance athletes, such as long-distance
runners, cyclists and triathletes. Many athletes also include NAC
in their diet when they are in the early stages of recovering from
an injury. Those more interested in muscle gain such as bodybuilders,
rugby players and sprinters are also interested in the possible
high anabolic activity of NAC.
NAC will make it less likely that you'll suffer from an illness
or infection, especially if you're doing a large volume of training.
It will also accelerate gains in lean muscle size and strength,
when combined with a high-protein diet and regular resistance exercise.
Supplement
Facts |
Serving
Size: 1 Capsule
Servings Per Container: 100 |
| |
Amount
per Serving: |
DV% |
Molybdenum
(as Amino Acid Chelate)
|
50
mcg |
67%
|
| Selenium
(as L-Selenomethionine) |
25
mcg |
36%
|
| N-Acetyl
Cysteine |
600
mg |
† |
*
Percent Daily Values are based on 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value not established.
|
|