Health Hotline Magazine | July 2020

Easy Breathe-Y Ways to Support Lung Health with Supplements & Herbs Meet the unsung lung-health heroes By Liz Mueller

The past four months have given us a giant dose of reality. In an instant, so much was out of our control. We’ve had to adjust to new routines, roles, and responsibilities at home and at work while being told that there’s a silver lining to these strange, uncertain times. While it may not be obvious at first, part of that silver lining presents itself as an empowering opportunity—an opportunity to stop being a bystander to our health, and to instead take control of and cultivate good health, especially the health of our lungs. From targeted supplements to heroic herbs, there’s nothing more empowering than learning how to support lung health so we can breathe more clearly and more deeply—for ourselves and for our loved ones. While we have to let go of the things we can’t control, our health shouldn’t be one of them.

N ACETYLCYSTEINE (NAC) is first up. A derivative of the amino acid L-cysteine, NAC is required for the body to make glutathione, a powerful internally made antioxidant. i Glutathione is the primary antioxidant in the lungs and is essential for proper lung function, and studies show that supplementing with NAC increases glutathione levels in the lungs. ii NAC itself has been shown to help alleviate and loosen up mucous secretions associated with pneumonia, bronchitis, and cystic fibrosis and it has been widely studied as a natural remedy for these conditions, as well as for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

(COPD) and respiratory illnesses like the flu. iii iv v In addition to helping break up mucus, NAC reduces the elevated bacterial counts often seen in the lungs of those with chronic bronchitis, particularly smokers. vi If preventative lung support is what you’re after, taking NAC may help prevent and treat flu-like symptoms. In one double-blind study, taking 600 mg of NAC twice a day resulted in a significant decrease in the frequency of influenza-like episodes, severity, and length of time confined to bed. vii NAC also increases oxygen delivery to the liver and other vital organs throughout the body.

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