NAC vs Glutathione. Which is better?

There’s been a lot of buzz around N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione. Both are powerful antioxidants and affect virtually every aspect of our health. So, which one is better? Let's take a closer look….

NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) is a derivative of the amino acid cysteine. It is used by the body to make glutathione, a powerful antioxidant and one of the body’s main detoxifying agents.  NAC is important for a variety of health reasons. It helps with chronic respiratory conditions, fertility & mental disorders. 

Here are a few of NAC’s long list of health benefit’s: 

1. Mucolysis  In addition to its major role as a precursor to glutathione, NAC is widely used for its abilities in managing respiratory conditions associated with excessive mucus production. 
2. Liver & Kidney Health   NAC is used by doctors to treat patients with acetaminophen overdose to prevent or reduce kidney and liver damage.  This is because NAC plays a significant role in the body’s detoxification process which can help prevent or stop kidney & liver damage.
3. Brain Health  NAC helps regulate glutamate, an important neurotransmitter in the brain involved in learning & memory function. While glutamate is required for normal brain activity, long term excess glutamate paired with low glutathione levels can be dangerous and may cause brain damage. NAC 1.helps regulate glutamate & 2.boosts glutathione levels in the brain.
   NAC’s antioxidant properties also gives it the ability to reduce brain cell damage caused by oxidative stress. Those with health conditions involving brain and memory may benefit from taking an NAC supplement. 
4. Mental Health   As mentioned above, excess glutamate along with depleted glutathione levels in the brain can lead to brain damage. This could  also contribute to mental illness such as bipolar disorder. NAC may help to ease symptoms of these types of disorders. It has been studied for its impact on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia & others.  NAC has also been shown to be helpful in treating addictions.
5. May Help Fight Heart Disease & Cancer   NAC helps reduces oxidative damage to tissues in the heart.  Some research suggests that NAC may also have anti-cancer properties.  NAC can help in preventing cancer cell growth and division by depriving the cancer cells of the proteins they need to grow.

Glutathione

Glutathione is a super compound made of 3 amino acids: glycine, cysteine, and glutamate. Although Glutathione can be made by the body, often times the body has insufficient stores. It is found in all cells, and highly concentrated in the liver. And is the second-most abundant molecule in the body, just behind water.  

Here are a few of Glutathione's long list of health benefit’s: 

1. Glutathione is a potent antioxidant and strongly anti-aging.
2. Glutathione is a free radical scavenger & protects our cells & tissue from oxidative stress. 
3. It helps our bodies recycle Vitamin C + Vitamin E & other primary antioxidants. 
4. It helps prevent disease by protecting cells from damage. 
5. Glutathione helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body by reducing insulin resistance.

The Master Detoxifier

Glutathione plays a very significant role in eliminating toxins from our bodies. It helps our bodies get rid of both internal (metabolic) and external (environmental) waste.  

During the detox process the liver cells add glutathione to a toxic substance, such as smoke, excess hormones, & pharmaceuticals.  The glutathione than breaks down the toxic substance making it less harmful and easier for the body to excrete.

Without sufficient levels of glutathione in our bodies we are not able to properly get rid of harmful toxins which could lead to disease & premature aging.

How do they work? 

There are 2 forms of glutathione. There is it’s active form, also called reduced, & it’s inactive form called oxidized. The reduced form is better absorbed and utilized in oral applications, but studies have shown that neither form survives the digestive track well.

As we age, & the more stressors we encounter, our glutathione levels decrease. Here are some tips on how to increase your levels of glutathione.

How can I increase glutathione levels?

1. Glutathione in liposomal form. Liposomal glutathione is covered in a lipid casing that protects it during digestion and increases absorption.  We recommend Aurora Nutrascience Mega-Liposomal Glutathione. Click here for product information
2. NAC is a precursor to glutathione, meaning that it helps the body produce glutathione.  One way to increase cellular levels is by ingesting N-acetylcysteine (NAC) which is absorbed from the digestive tract and releases cysteine in the bloodstream.  
3. Alpha lipoic acid. Alpha lipoic acid is another important antioxidant that increases glutathione levels in a couple of ways: It is able to regenerate oxidized glutathione back to its usable form, in addition to providing a continuous source of cysteine and increasing the uptake of cysteine into cells, where it increases glutathione production within the cell.  
4. Folate
5. P5P (Vitamin B6)
6. Methyl B12
7. Vitamin C & Vitamin E helps recycle glutathione in the body. 

Foods you can eat to increase your glutathione levels:

While there are some foods that contain glutathione, consuming them won’t do much in increasing your levels because they get broken down during digestion.
Look for foods high in sulfur. Sulfur plays a role in the synthesis of glutathione. It is in 2 amino acids  found in food, methionine and cysteine.  Both sulfur containing amino acids, are precursors for glutathione and therefore contribute to its synthesis. 

Sulfur-rich fruits & vegetables:

• avocado
• broccoli
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• garlic
• grapefruit
• kale
• onions
• tomatoes

Cysteine is found in most high protein foods like chicken, turkey, yogurt, eggs, and legumes. 

Final Thoughts

Both NAC & Glutathione play many important roles in our hearth.   Both are powerful antioxidants that play an important part in our bodies detoxification.  In our opinion they are equally important to our health.    

*References available among request