PlainPill

Meditation vs NAC for anxiety

Short answer: For anxiety, users rate them about the same: 94% report improvement with Meditation (109 reports) and 90% with NAC (259 reports).

NAC has 387 meta-analyses and 767 randomized trials on PubMed; the other has not been graded.

Based on 458 reports about Meditation and 1,645 about NAC. Not medical advice.

Meditation
Method
NAC
Supplement
User score4549
Verdict
Mostly positive
Mixed
Positive
of reports that state an outcome
88%55%
Reports4581,645
ResearchResearch pendingAResearch: Strong
Meta-analyses / RCTs—387 / 767
Mainly used for
Weight loss
% reporting improvement
—75% (4)
Appetite
% reporting improvement
—90% (31)
Focus
% reporting improvement
97% (63)82% (156)
Energy
% reporting improvement
100% (5)74% (78)
Sleep
% reporting improvement
92% (25)71% (41)
Anxiety
% reporting improvement
94% (109)90% (259)
Mood
% reporting improvement
96% (70)65% (274)
Memory
% reporting improvement
100% (5)79% (14)
Performance
% reporting improvement
—75% (8)
Recovery
% reporting improvement
—86% (14)
Pain & inflammation
% reporting improvement
100% (3)86% (28)
Digestion
% reporting improvement
—72% (18)
Libido
% reporting improvement
—29% (7)
Hormones
% reporting improvement
100% (5)88% (8)
Blood sugar
% reporting improvement
—100% (3)
Heart & lipids
% reporting improvement
—67% (12)
Skin & hair
% reporting improvement
—89% (18)
Immunity
% reporting improvement
100% (3)97% (34)
Longevity
% reporting improvement
—100% (7)
Common side effectsNone reportedanhedonia, fatigue, stomach issues, depression
Typical dose reporteddailyas needed
Meditation
What a user said
“And my sleep? No more nightmares. I began sleeping soundly. I feel more rested from sleep than I have in decades.”
Full Meditation profile →
NAC
Latest review conclusion

Taken together, these preliminary findings suggest that dietetic approaches might be included as part of BD treatment. Also considering the high risk of metabolic disorders in individuals with BD, they should be encouraged to choose healthy dietary lifestyles, including daily intake of fruits, vegetables, seafood and whole grains.

Nutr Neurosci, 2023 ↗
What a user said
“NAC has helped me stay calm and reduce anxiety as well as gives me loads of energy if I am sleep deprived.”
Full NAC profile →

Related comparisons

Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate