NAC, an Amino Acid for Lung Health [New Research]

NAC, also known by its full name of N-acetyl cysteine, is a unique amino acid supplement that has been used for lung health and chronic respiratory conditions for many years. It is used as a treatment for chronic bronchitis, for better lung function in people with cystic fibrosis, and for people with COPD and emphysema. It’s helpful for those respiratory issues for several reasons, the main two of which are that NAC is able to help to thin mucus and clear airways in the lungs and also to reduce lung inflammation.

Interesting new research is coming out, however, proposing NAC as both a treatment and a preventative supplement for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. There’s a wonderful review of current research on NAC that has been published on PubMed (the online science database of published articles and research from different medical journals). You can read the research online by doing a Google search of “N-acetylcysteine as a potential treatment for novel coronavirus disease 2019”. It’s a pretty dry read, however, so I’ll try to summarize some of the research below in hopefully a less jargony way.

The first way the scientists listed on how NAC may help in coronavirus prevention is that the unique way the amino acids are formed in NAC may enable them to interact with individual COVID-19 viruses, damaging the way the virus holds itself together, which would make it easier for our bodies to fight off.

Test tube studies examining how NAC interacts with inflammation-causing enzymes produced in the body have also found that NAC was able to block excessive production of compounds in the body and lungs that cause inflammation, which in turn could reduce the severity of lung issues. One of the main problems with COVID-19 is that it basically makes the lungs go crazy and have a very extreme response in the lungs that causes huge amounts of inflammation. It appears that NAC can block some of that excess lung inflammation, preventing those extreme lung responses and deterioration seen in many COVID-10 patients.

This excessive lung inflammation from COVID-19 is called a “cytokine storm” and happens when our body’s immune response goes haywire. It’s kind of like what happens with autoimmune disorders, where our body’s proper immune response instead turns against us. The antioxidant properties of NAC as well as the unique benefits it has on the respiratory system can help to mitigate this overactive inflammatory immune response in the lungs and may help to reduce the severity of respiratory symptoms experienced from the virus.

Another mechanism of how NAC works is that it appears in research to be able to prevent the COVID-19 virus from being able to enter host cells effectively, reducing the amount of infection in the body.

From the research above, it seems that the amino acid NAC can be helpful both preventatively and also in people infected with the virus. There are actually trials going on right now that are trying to more definitively determine If NAC can prevent patients with COVID-19 from progressing to a more severe form of the illness.

Please keep in mind that all of this research is very preliminary. Scientists all over the world are scrambling looking for possible treatments for fighting COVID-19. NAC is not a cure, but it is a beneficial supplement that we think might help, especially when you consider its use for many years in people with lung issues and respiratory problems. NAC also has been determined in research to be a safe supplement to take even when prescribed in doses higher than any person would ever reasonably take.

There’s one NAC supplement at the store that we’d recommend above the others- Jarrow’s NAC Sustain, the reason being is that it’s a time-released version of NAC. In general, a time-released or sustained-release version of a supplement, when available, will be better absorbed since it will be released and absorbed over a period of hours instead of all at once. It doesn’t mean that supplements that aren’t time released are bad, but all things being equal, a time-released supplement will be better absorbed than one that isn’t.

Stop by the store for more information, we’d love to help you further.

We’re located at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights, Illinois.

Product Spotlight: Immune Fast Lozenges

I wanted to highlight an impressive and little known supplement called Immune Fast by Zand. They're chewable supplements that come in a convenient tube that's the perfect size for a purse or bag. They contain a unique, patented probiotic yeast that has been shown in research to enhance our immune response within two hours, helping our bodies to mount a quick attack against invading viruses and bacteria.

I love that they come in an easy to carry tube, since they're great to take with you and can be used at the very first signs of illness. They can be used along with your regular supplement regimen, and are the perfect "just in case" supplement to have on hand.

Since we're featuring them in our October newsletter, we have the Immune Fast tubes on sale for 25% off during the month of October, so they come out to be $6.74 each. I'd definitely recommend picking a couple up!

NasalGuard- Added Protection for Kids and Adults

We have a new product I wanted to write about because I have never seen anything like it. It’s a nasal gel, that when applied to the nostrils, actually creates an electrostatic barrier to prevent contaminants, bacteria, and virus sized particles from entering the nose. It sounds kind of strange, but it actually works.

This gel, called NasalGuard, was originally developed for allergies, to use that electrostatic barrier technology to block pollen and other allergens from entering the nose- since we’re usually breathing through the nose. Research on the Nasal Guard gel reduced allergy symptoms by 60%. Since then, the company has enhanced the formula to be able to effectively block out virus sized particles.

Is this gel a substitute for wearing a mask? Absolutely not, but it is an extra measure of safety and peace of mind, since anything we can do to prevent illness is a good idea, especially this year.

A tube is inexpensive ($14.85) and seems to last forever (the company says there are 150 applications per container). It’s a tiny tube, but you only need a very small amount for each use, since you’re just supposed to rub it on your nostrils and above the upper lip to trap any virus particles from entering the body.

I have been using it for about a month and am very happy with it. I’ve also been putting it on my daughter’s nose before she goes to school and I’d say it definitely makes me feel a little less worried. It is a completely non-toxic product that is safe for anyone to use and won’t interact with medications or anything else that you might be taking.

I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. For me, I feel like it’s worth every penny. They’re also a great company, that has been donating free tubes of their NasalGel to front line medical workers to help them to stay healthy.

At this time, we are one of the only actual stores that carry NasalGuard. I had bought some online directly from their website after reading a study on it and was so happy with it that I called the company and begged them to be able to ship us some to be able to have available at Pass Health Foods. We hope to have our shipment in by October 1st, so be sure to stop by to pick some up!

Immune Supplements: An Overview

All the craziness in the world right now has us especially concerned with staying healthy. Wearing properly fitted masks and social distancing as well as washing hands or using hand sanitizer frequently are the most important, though there are quite a few well researched natural supplements that can aid our immune system in fighting off viruses of all kinds.

At this point, until vaccines are more readily available, a properly functioning immune system that is able to quickly and effectively mount a fight against invading viruses is our only real way to stay healthy, whether it’s a cold, flu, or even COVID. That isn’t to say the supplements I’ll mention below are a cure for any of those viruses, but rather they are supplements that have been clinically shown to aid in enhancing our immune system functioning-something that’s always important, but even more so this year. 

Elderberry

The first we’d recommend against all respiratory viruses is elderberry. Elderberry is also sometimes known by its scientific name, Sambucus, and is a wonderful supplement for the immune system due to its potent antiviral properties. It’s been studied extensively in regards to the flu, but newer research has found it to be effective not only against the flu virus, but on viruses in general. It has been found in studies to “substantially reduce upper respiratory symptoms” from viruses of all kinds and has also been shown to reduce the duration and severity of viral illnesses. It can be used preventatively, or else in higher amounts if you do feel like you’re coming down with something and is safe for both children and adults. 

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a supplement beneficial for both bone health and the immune system. New research has expanded on Vitamin D’s possible benefit for dealing with coronavirus, where researchers have linked lower vitamin D levels to an increased mortality risk from Covid-19. One researcher on the novel coronavirus and Vitamin D is quoted as saying, "Our analysis shows that it might be as high as cutting the mortality rate in half," in regards to vitamin D supplementation.

It’s also been reported that countries with higher death rates from Covid-19 had larger numbers of people with lower vitamin D levels, and also that the sickest patients often had low vitamin D levels.

In general, our vitamin D levels are often lower in the colder months since vitamin D is made in our skin when exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is a small, inexpensive pill, so it would probably be a good idea for all of us to add it to our regimen.

AHCC

AHCC is a well known immune supplement in Japan that works in a different way from elderberry. It’s a patented extract derived from mushrooms that has impressive benefits for immune health. Unlike elderberry, which works specifically on the viruses causing an illness, AHCC works by affecting the immune system directly.

There are a variety of white blood cells in our bodies that are involved in immune response by recognizing and fighting the foreign invaders that cause illness. Studies have found that AHCC can boost the effectiveness of our own immune system in a variety of ways, including increasing the activity of our body’s NK, or “natural killer” cells, that identify and destroy viruses, bacteria, and abnormal cells in the body.

Research has also found that AHCC is able to affect other types of immune cells in the body known as dendritic cells which are found throughout the respiratory tract. These dendritic cells work to fend off bacteria and viruses as they enter the body through the respiratory tract and try to infiltrate the body.

AHCC is widely used as an immune therapy in Japan, and I’m glad that it’s becoming better known in the United States since I do believe that it’s a unique and powerful supplement to aid our immune system functioning.  

Monolaurin

Another lesser known supplement that may be helpful against viruses is a supplement derived from coconut oil known as monolaurin. ABC News recently recommended monolaurin in an article titled, Coronavirus: Experts say these supplements, foods may help keep immune system humming.

An article was published by two physician researchers earlier this year recommending monolaurin as a possible antiviral treatment against the novel coronavirus (you can read the abstract here). The doctors wrote about the potent antiviral properties of monolaurin, as well as its mechanism that appeared to help to break down a virus’s outside “envelope” which then prevented the virus from being able to replicate. Another study the article cited mentioned research on a virus similar in structure to the novel coronavirus, and how monolaurin was able to inhibit that virus’s maturation and replication.  

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is needed for so many processes in the body, including proper immune functioning. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, which means that it doesn’t stay in the body long, which is why we need to consume vitamin C containing foods or supplements on a daily basis.

One specific, special form of vitamin C known as Ester-C has also been shown in research to significantly boost immune cell function. Additionally, that specialized form has been shown in studies to stay in the body longer than other forms of vitamin C.

In a placebo controlled crossover study, 1000mg of Ester-C increased vitamin C levels for a full 25 hours in white blood cells known as leukocytes, which protect the body against infectious diseases and foreign invaders. Vitamin C, particularly the Ester-C form, helps the manufacture more of these immune boosting white blood cells, which work tirelessly to keep you healthy.

If you regularly use vitamin C supplements, it might be worth it to switch to the Ester-C form this fall and winter.  

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that is wonderful for the immune system, and the World Health Organization estimates that a third of the world’s population is deficient in zinc. Zinc deficiency impairs proper immune functioning and contributes to an increase in respiratory infections. Additionally, a new study has come out by researchers in Moscow that found that zinc supplementation may have protective effects against COVID-19 by supporting anti-viral immunity and reducing inflammation. Interestingly, while zinc can enhance immune functioning, it also has a regulating effect on the immune system, which can further help with how the human body responds to coronavirus infection, since it’s been found that the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines early in the infection is responsible for some of the worst symptoms of COVID-19.

I apologize for the length of this article, but I wanted to try to list some of the most important supplements for immune health that we’d recommend in one place. Please stop by the store so we can go into more detail with you about specific supplements and to help to find the supplement that’s right for you. All of our staff are kind and extremely knowledgeable, and can give specific recommendations and explain the differences between the various supplements that are available for the immune system. This is a crazy time, but we will get through it.

Additionally, many of the supplements mentioned above are on sale this month so it makes it easier for people to stock up.

Food Pantry Donations

We at Pass Health Foods have decided to become a permanent drop off location for the Palos United Methodist Food Pantry for people to drop off non-perishable food donations. There are lots of food drives around the holidays, but especially with the fallout from COVID, many people are in need.      

This is a crazy time for all of us, but as a community, we can get through it by pulling together and choosing to help other people. It’s a simple way to make a difference in another person’s life who may be having a difficult time.

If you or a person you know is in need of food, the Palos United Methodist Food Pantry is located at 12101 S Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights and their food pantry hours are Tuesdays from 9-11am and 4-6pm. The Palos United Methodist Food Pantry is our local branch of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Our store is located at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights, and donations will be accepted every day during our store hours, and then we will bring them to the pantry to donate.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” –Helen Keller

For more information on the food pantry, you can visit their website here.

Our Coronavirus Safety & Cleaning Procedures

The health and safety of our customers and staff continues to be of the utmost importance to us. We are continuing our sanitation regimen of disinfecting the store throughout the day and on a schedule as well as disinfecting carts, baskets, and pens after each use. Additionally, all of our staff are temperature checked before they begin work.

We also have two new medical-grade air purifiers in the store that run 24 hours a day that are able to filter the air down to .1 microns.

Masks covering the nose and mouth are required for everyone entering the store.

Additionally, while customers are welcome to shop in the store, we will continue to offer curbside pickup indefinitely. To place an order call the store at 708-448-9114 and we will bring it out to your car when you arrive.

Unfortunately, it seems coronavirus is not going away anytime soon, so it's extremely important to us to have a store where people can feel safe to be in, and I hope we've done that.

Extended Hours Beginning July 6th

Beginning on Monday, July 6th, we will be open from 10-5:30 Monday through Friday and then 10-5 on Saturdays.  We’re thrilled to extend our hours and to hopefully make it more convenient for people to make it to the store.

Even though the store is open to customers with face masks, we will continue to offer curb side pickup every day. Just call the store to place an order and then we will run it out to your car when you get here. Our phone number is 708-448-9114.

We’re located at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.

A Thank You to Our Customers

This past month has been wonderful. It’s been so great having our customers back in the store after only doing curb side pickup for over two months!

We wanted to give all of our customers a huge hug and a thank you for continuing to support us. Everyone has been so wonderful with wearing face masks in the store and doing a great job with social distancing. We weren’t sure what to expect when we reopened, since coronavirus has changed so much and there’s so much anxiety surrounding everything, but we have been so relieved and grateful for how this past month has gone and how amazing our customers are.

In a time when many small businesses are closing, we are even more grateful to all of you, for shopping with us, and supporting small local stores.

With lots of love,

Carolyn, Liz, Joanne, and Theresa xoxo

From left to right: Carolyn, Liz, Joanne, and Theresa

Natural Weight Loss Supplements that Actually Work

With summer in full swing, many people have been asking about weight loss supplements, so I wanted to highlight a few of our most effective supplements and explain how they work.

First, let me say that even the best weight loss supplement will not do that much when not paired with a healthy diet and exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to mean an hour long aerobics class, but for weight loss to be effective, increasing your activity level is important.

Another problem with some weight loss supplements is that the amounts used in research to demonstrate their effectiveness are often more than what most people take, and with any supplement if you’re not taking the recommended dose, it often isn’t effective.

For example, the supplement garcinia cambogia does have good results for weight loss, but for it to really work, you need to make sure to take a high potency extract of the supplement at the proper amount. We’d recommend Jarrow’s garcinia cambogia, since it has the highest extract percentage per pill, but to work, it should be taken as six capsules a day- three in the morning and three in the afternoon. Not all weight loss supplements need to be taken as that many pills, but I just mention it because dosing is important. If you’re only taking a fraction of a recommended amount, you’re only going to be getting a fraction of the benefits.

Also, even the most powerful weight loss supplement isn’t going to work in a week. Weight loss takes time, and for there to be a lasting change, experts recommend that you aim for no more than one to two lbs a week. Crash diets and extreme weight loss are unsustainable long term (and can be a shock to your system).

There are many great supplements for weight loss, but I’ll list some of our favorites below:

Metobolic Activators

There is a unique supplement by Life Extention called AMPK Metobolic Activator that we’d especially recommend. It works by increasing the activity of an enzyme in our bodies called AMPK that regulates energy in the cells of the body. When our bodies need energy, this enzyme moves excess fats and sugars into our cells to be converted into energy. This AMPK enzyme tells our bodies when to start burning fat stores for energy.

The AMPK Activator contains two plant ingredients that have been found to activate our body’s own AMPK enzyme, which tells our bodies to start using its fat stores for energy, especially abdominal fat stores.

Another nice thing about this supplement is that it’s just one-a-day to be effective. 

Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia cambogia is also known as Citrimax, and its active ingredient, HCA, has been in numerous studies over the years for its benefits for weight loss. It works in part by inhibiting an enzyme that stores sugars and carbohydrates as fat, blocking the process of fat production. 

Instead of being converted into fat, sugar and carbohydrates are converted into glycogen, a fuel that is stored in the liver and muscles that is converted into energy. By raising the body’s levels of glycogen, it can also help with reducing appetite, since it tells the body that its fuel tanks are full. HCA (the active ingredient in garcinia cambogia) can also help to raise the body’s level of serotonin, which helps with boosting mood as well as reducing stress eating.

We’d say the best garcinia cambogia supplement is the one by Jarrow, and it should be taken three capsules, twice a day, thirty to sixty minutes before a meal for best results.  

Glucomannan

Unlike the two supplements mentioned above, glucomannan is not involved with raising metabolism or burning fat, which can actually be a good thing since it can be taken at any time, including in the evening. Glucomannan is a special type of fiber that increases many times its size in the stomach, helping you to feel more full and satisfied. Because of that, when taken before a meal (or whenever) the idea is that would eat less since the stomach is partially filled. It’s also nice since it can be taken in the evening to help to curb late night snacking.

Even better, glucomannan is be beneficial for high cholesterol and diabetes, since it can help to control blood sugar levels. Glucomannan is available in both powder and capsules, but if using capsules, make sure to take them with a full glass of water. 

L-Carnitine

Carnitine is an amino acid with many benefits particularly for cardiovascular health. While not specifically a weight loss supplement, carnitine can be helpful for weight loss since it’s involved with energy metabolism, and helps to transport fat from the foods we eat to be converted into energy. It can be helpful when you’re exercising since it can help to burn more fat during exercise and give the muscles more energy, reducing fatigue when exercising (which can be especially helpful for people who are just beginning to an exercise regimen).

Carnitine  works in part by increasing nitric oxide in the body, which helps heart health and cardiovascular function, and can help with increasing blood flow and cellular energy in the body-especially the muscles. 

Protein

Protein, and protein shakes do not help you lose weight. That being said, eating more protein can help you to feel more satisfied for longer, which can help with dieting. Protein also helps with muscle repair after exercise. Protein shakes are a simple, low-calorie way to increase the amount of protein in your diet and are available in milk-based whey protein or plant-based proteins suitable for people with dietary restrictions.

Please stop by the store so we can help you to find the supplement that’s right for you! We’re located at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.

Vitamin D and Coronavirus Research

Vitamin D is a supplement that is well known for being beneficial to the immune system, and some scientists have even speculated that part of the dramatic increase in cold and flu during the winter is as a result of lower vitamin D levels (since generally vitamin D is made in the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight).

Interesting new research has come out concerning coronavirus and Vitamin D, linking lower vitamin D levels to increased mortality risk from Covid-19. One researcher on coronavirus and Vitamin D is quoted as saying, "Our analysis shows that it might be as high as cutting the mortality rate in half," in regards to vitamin D supplementation.

It’s also been reported that countries with higher death rates from Covid-19 had larger numbers of people with lower vitamin D levels, and also that the sickest patients often had low vitamin D levels.

The thinking for many years was that low vitamin D levels were only something to be concerned with in the winter or in northern latitudes, but newer research is finding vitamin D deficiency to be prevalent even in sunny locales.

In regards to dosages, for people who have been found to be severely deficient in vitamin D from a blood test, their doctors will often give a prescription of a 50,000 IU dose to be taken once a week, which equals out to a little over 7,000 IUs per day. We wouldn’t recommend anything that high without a doctor’s recommendation, so for most people we’d recommend a 2,000 IU daily dose. That’s also the amount that well known natural physician Dr. Andrew Weil recommends to be used daily.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, so it will be best absorbed when taken with food.

Vitamin D is made in our bodies when our skin when exposed to sunlight, but sunscreen reduces that efficiency. Also, people with darker skin tones make less vitamin D from the sun, often leading to vitamin D deficiency. One study on vitamin D levels in African Americans found sub-optimal levels of vitamin D all year long due to reduced vitamin D production in the skin.

Vitamin D is an inexpensive supplement with many benefits, including benefits for bone health. We have a great selection of natural vitamin D supplements at the store in a variety of dosages, so stop by to find one that’s right for you! We will be open to the public from 10-4, Monday through Saturday, beginning June 1st, though we also offer curbside pickup as well, call us at 708-448-9114 if you would like to place an order.