The flu-fighting supplement that starves cancer

The supplement N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) has a wide range of benefits for your body…

For years, people have used it to fight everyday respiratory infections like colds and flu, because it’s a proven champion of respiratory health.

Some swear by its ability to ease the coughing, wheezing and phlegm that make you so miserable when you’re sick. And at least one study shows that taking 600 mg of NAC twice per day reduces the likelihood of getting the flu by more than 50 percent.

Other studies show that NAC can help people with serious respiratory issues too, like acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

So N-Acetyl cysteine is worth having in your medicine chest for its respiratory benefits alone. But new research shows it has another surprising but super helpful skill that makes it a must-have in your household — it starves cancer cells.

NAC cuts off cancer’s food supply

A recent clinical trial published in the journal Seminars in Oncology shows that NAC stops a group of cells (known as tumor stroma) that contribute to the spread of cancer.

Based on the results of this study, researchers believe NAC stops these cancer-spreading cells by halting the production of MCT4, a protein that feeds cancer cells. MCT4 feeds cancer cells by bringing them lactate from nearby cells, which gives them energy.

Previous research in cell cultures showed that NAC got rid of this cancer-feeding protein almost completely. But now researchers confirmed that it works in living, breathing people with cancer too.

They gave NAC to 12 people with breast cancer awaiting surgery, and they found that it slashed the amount of MCT4 in their tumors by 80 percent. Without that protein, these patients’ cancer cells would have a hard time feeding off nearby cells, which means they aren’t as likely to spread.

“High levels of stromal MCT4 are extremely worrying, as they are linked to aggressive cancer behavior and poor overall survival, so this is a very encouraging result,” said study researcher Professor Michael Lisanti. “To be able to inhibit MCT4 protein expression, in a non-toxic way, is huge step forward.”

But why can N-Acetyl cysteine fight everything from colds to cancer?

Well, when you pop an NAC pill, your body uses it to make an amino acid called cysteine, which your body eventually converts into a powerful antioxidant called glutathione. Glutathione is known as the “mother of all antioxidants.” And as you know, antioxidants protect your cells and DNA from free radical damage. Scientists believe this may be way NAC can help with colds, cancer and many conditions in between.

Even more benefits of NAC

Now, this was a small study, so it’s too soon to say if NAC will work for people with other types of cancer or even other people with breast cancer. But one thing is for sure, NAC has a lot of proven benefits that may inspire you to add it to your supplement collection regardless…

I already told you how NAC can ease short-term and long-term respiratory problems, but that’s only a small piece of the NAC puzzle…

Studies show it can help with acetaminophen poisoning, angina, heart disease, HIV and AIDS. It’s also been around for a long time and has been used by a lot of people, so it’s considered one of the safer supplements you can take. If you take it orally, possible side effects are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

So if you want to try N-Acetyl cysteine, you’ll most likely reap some benefits — especially during cold and flu season. And hey… who knows? It might keep cancer in check too. At the very least, it’s exciting to know there’s potentially another non-toxic form of cancer prevention and treatment on the horizon.

Editor’s note: Discover how to live a cancer prevention lifestyle — using foods, vitamins, minerals and herbs — as well as little-known therapies allowed in other countries but denied to you by American mainstream medicine. Click here to discover Surviving Cancer! A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Causes, Treatments and Big Business Behind Medicine’s Most Frightening Diagnosis!

Sources:

  1. Decongestant ‘highly effective’ at starving cancer cells — MedicalXpress. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  2. Monti, et al. “Pilot study demonstrating metabolic and anti-proliferative effects of in vivo anti-oxidant supplementation with N-Acetylcysteine in Breast Cancer.” — Seminars in Oncology, 2017. DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2017.10.001.
  3. The Overlooked Compound That Saves Lives: N-acetyl CysteineLife Extension Magazine. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  4. “Improvement by N-acetylcysteine of acute respiratory distress syndrome through increasing intracellular glutathione, and extracellular thiol molecules and anti-oxidant power: evidence for underlying toxicological mechanisms” — Human & Experimental Toxicology. 2007 Sep;26(9):697-703.
  5. Cysteine — University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  6. NAC (N-acetylcysteine) — Whole Health Chicago. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
Jenny Smiechowski

By Jenny Smiechowski

Jenny Smiechowski is a Chicago-based freelance writer who specializes in health, nutrition and the environment. Her work has appeared in online and print publications like Chicagoland Gardening magazine, Organic Lifestyle Magazine, BetterLife Magazine, TheFix.com, Hybridcars.com and Seedstock.com.

«SPONSORED»