Nrf2: What It Is and How It Benefits You
Every day, your body is bombarded with pollutants (free radicals) from our air and water to our food and soap. When these pollutants are absorbed, they can create oxidative stress (think rust on a car), which Nrf2 helps protect you from.
What is Nrf2 (or Nuclear Factor erythroid 2-related factor 2)?
Nrf2 is a protein that plays an important role in cellular defense against oxidative stress and inflammation—two key factors in aging and various chronic diseases. It's an important player in our body's response to environmental toxins, allergens, and other sources of stress.
When activated, Nrf2 works like a switch which turns on the production of our own internal antioxidant factory (who knew!?) —your body’s own natural protection system against free radicals. In other words, it’s a key player in promoting optimal health and wellness for the whole body!
It's also a major factor in how well we age. As our bodies get older, the activity of Nrf2 tends to decline—which can lead to accelerated aging and impair our natural ability to fend off disease and illness. Thankfully, unlocking the power of Nrf2 may help us avoid this fate. In this article, let's look at what Nrf2 is, how you can support production of it and how it can support you.
How Does Nrf2 Work?
Nrf2 is the regulator of a survival system called the "antioxidant response", and it works like a master switch in your cells. Nrf2 helps your body activate its own defense system to battle off toxins, boost wellness and fight off disease—win, win, win!
It does this by regulating how your cells respond to stressors like ultraviolet light, pathogens or pollutants. In other words, Nrf2 is like the guardian angel of your cell health—leveraging the power of antioxidants to keep your body in fighting shape.
Benefits of Using Nrf2
Enhances Immune System
Nrf2 also supports a healthy immune system by helping boost the production and activity of natural killer (NK) cells. NK cells are important for our immune system because they fight off bacteria and viruses that attack our bodies. Nrf2 helps keep NK cells active so that they can do their job effectively.
Improved Metabolic Function
Nrf2 plays a major role in improving metabolic function and regulating energy levels. By increasing your body's level of Nrf2, you can boost your metabolism, burn fat faster, lower inflammation, and increase production of healthy antioxidant enzymes. Getting more Nrf2 can also help modulate glucose, fat, and cholesterol levels in your body.
Protects Against Toxins
Nrf2 can also help protect your body against toxins, both inside and outside your body. For example, they can protect against environmental pollutants while also helping to eliminate toxins from inside your cells. This helps reduce oxidative stress, which is linked to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
FAQs About Nrf2
You might have a few more questions about Nrf2, so let's take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions:
Is Nrf2 A Supplement?
No, Nrf2 is not a supplement—it's an endogenous (produced in the body) molecule that serves as a regulator for antioxidant genes. There are, however, supplements containing natural compounds known to activate the Nrf2 pathway and help support healthy organs and tissues throughout the body.
What activates Nrf2?
You can activate Nrf2 in several ways, the first of which is eating antioxidant-rich foods. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli (or broccoli microgreens) are a great source of Nrf2.
Exercise, especially consistent exercise, is another great way to activate the Nrf2 pathway.
Here are some additional resources on one of the most powerful activators of Nrf2, Sulforaphane.
Here is another great resource on the precursors to sulforaphane, Glucoraphanin and myrosinase.