If you’re on a natural healing journey to reverse the symptoms of your polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), you most likely have heard of the power of natural supplements! When you can address nutrient deficiencies with high-quality supplements, your body finally gets the support it needs to function at its best.
Some of the most helpful and researched supplements Cysters can take are Ovasitol, multivitamins, curcumin, omega-3, and CoQ10! You can get all these from Ovafit, my PCOS-friendly supplement line. However, there are other supplements that you may want to consider adding to your routine! Often, Cysters consider taking probiotics, L-glutamine, adrenal support, and a supplement called NAC.
But, what is NAC? This may be your first time hearing it, so I wanted to give my thoughts on taking an NAC supplement as a PCOS registered dietitian and as someone who has managed my PCOS for years. I’ll explain what NAC is and how it can be helpful, and I will give my recommendation on whether you should try NAC.
Here’s what you need to know:
Should I Take NAC For PCOS?
NAC is a popular supplement that you’ll find down the health aisles of a grocery store, but with so many supplements to choose from, how do you know if it’ll actually be helpful for you and your health goals? That’s why I’m here to help you sort through it all and figure out what makes sense for your PCOS supplement regimen.
What Is NAC?
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a supplement that provides your body with the amino acid, cysteine, and helps your body produce glutathione, which is an antioxidant! That means NAC is a powerful antioxidant that not only fights free radicals but also supports liver health, boosts the immune system, reduces inflammation, improves fertility, and so much more!
Is NAC Good For PCOS?
YES! In fact, NAC is a natural supplement that is often compared to Metformin. Metformin is a drug that is regularly prescribed for PCOS. Unfortunately, that drug often masks several PCOS symptoms (while having lots of negative side effects) and fails to get to the root of the issues. Good news is that studies show that 100% natural supplements like NAC, berberine, and Ovasitol can do what Metformin does, but actually target the symptoms without negative side effects when taken as instructed.
But, what does NAC do in the body that helps our PCOS? Let’s break it down!
First of all, NAC can boost insulin receptor activity, which can help improve insulin sensitivity! As your body better processes glucose, you can get relief from symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, cravings, and irregular periods while also improving your hormone balance and reducing your risk of long-term complications like type 2 diabetes.
NAC is also great for improving fertility! By reducing oxidative stress, improving cellular health, lowering androgen levels, and more, a systematic review and meta analysis showed that NAC can improve ovulation and pregnancy rates in women with PCOS!
For my Cysters who also struggle with facial hair, NAC can help lower testosterone levels! That means you not only can see improvements in fertility, but you may find relief from acne, hirsutism, hair loss, mood swings, and fatigue. Plus, high free testosterone and menstrual irregularity go hand-in-hand, so lowering androgens like testosterone can also help you finally get normal, regular periods.
NAC can actually help hormonal balance overall to relieve many PCOS symptoms. It does this by reducing inflammation and boosting liver function. Your liver is essential for detoxing excess hormones and regulating the production of new hormones. So, many on NAC experience improved hormone balance!
Yeah . . . that’s a lot! NAC can be a great supplement for PCOS!
What Does NAC Do For PCOS?
- Improves Insulin Sensitivity
- Boosts Fertility
- Balances Hormones
- Reduces Inflammation
- Supports Liver Function
- Regulates Menstrual Cycles
- Improves Cholesterol Levels
- Enhances Antioxidant Levels
- Supports Weight Management
- Improves Mood and Mental Health
- Reduces Oxidative Stress
- Enhances Immune Function
- Supports Detoxification
Best NAC Supplement For PCOS
Pure Encapsulations
A high-quality, NSF-certified NAC supplement I recommend is Pure Encapsulations. They’re a trusted brand that does third-party testing to ensure their supplements actually work the way they advertise.
Beyond that, Pure Encapsulations won’t compromise your PCOS diet, because it’s gluten- and dairy-free. It’s also free of GMOs, soy, artificial colors and sweeteners, peanut products, eggs, unnecessary binders and fillers, and preservatives. This is also a pretty affordable NAC supplement option since each bottle comes with a 3-month supply of 600 mg capsules!
Thorne
Thorne is an NSF-certified supplement brand focused on science. They do lots of testing, use high-quality ingredients, and have a pristine manufacturing process. Thorne is free of all major allergens and is gluten and dairy-free, which aligns with our PCOS weight loss method. Each bottle includes 500 mg of NAC and includes a 3-month supply!
NOW Supplements
NOW is another great organic supplement brand that’s known for being affordable. They don’t have the NSF-certification, but they are third-party tested with an A-rating from GMP Quality Insurance. One bottle of NOW Supplements NAC vitamin comes with 600 mg of NAC and 25 mg of selenium, which is another beneficial vitamin for PCOS.
These supplements are non-GMO, vegan/vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and soy-free! And, each bottle comes with enough to get you through 250 days!
NAC is a great supplement to take for PCOS!
NAC can be a beneficial supplement for PCOS, but before adding it to your routine, make sure that you discuss dosage and safety with your doctor. And, make sure you combine your supplement routine with other lifestyle changes that help your PCOS be more manageable so that you can finally live symptom-free!
You can find resources, meal plans, workout routines, and a supportive community to help you reach your health goals on The Cysterhood app. Together, we can naturally heal your PCOS!