NAD+ supplements help in maintaining your health and appearance as you grow older. There are several products available in the market today claiming to be the fountain of youth; making a choice could get overwhelming.
Before you start including NAD+ in your diet, it is best if you first understood what is a NAD+ supplement and how does it interact with your body.
What is NAD+?
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NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an enzyme found in all living cells. It is responsible for energy production and cell repair in the human body. However, as the human body ages, the cells start breaking down at a molecular level.
The NAD+ levels are slashed in half by middle age compared to one’s youth. This is when you start seeing signs of ageing. For example, you feel fatigued, and your energy levels drop; you are more prone to brain and heart issues, among others.
What is an NAD+ Supplement?
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An NAD+ supplement, as the name suggests, helps boost NAD+ production in the body, which eventually helps fight the signs of ageing.
The supplement contains a molecule known as NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), which is an NAD+ precursor. You will also find supplements with molecules of NR (nicotinamide riboside) in the market.
NAD+ molecules, if consumed orally, do not get absorbed by the body as required. Instead, they get degraded in the gastro-intestinal tract proving to be ineffective. But, supplying the body with a precursor-like NR or NMN has shown positive results.
NMN supplements work better than NR supplements because the molecule structure of NMN is one step closer to NAD+.
How Does an NAD+ Supplement Work?
Studies show NMN supplements taken orally prove to be the most effective method. This is because they are one of the more potent precursors of NAD+. As a result, they get rapidly absorbed by the body and get converted into NAD+.
NMN can be found in small quantities in different fruits and vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, avocados and edamame. But the amount is not enough to boost NAD+ levels. So with the help of supplements, NMN molecules are transported directly into cells which are the optimal place for increasing NAD+ levels.
Increased NAD+ levels could provide a range of benefits:
Promoting Healthy Ageing
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Cell repair is one of the vital functions performed by NAD+. It activates several enzymes in the body like sirtuins which help repair damaged DNA and reduce age-related inflammation. Healthy cells are linked to a longer lifespan.
Improved Brain Functions
NMN supplements have been shown to improve neuronal functions in the brain. In addition, studies have found that NMN supplements show remarkable effects in managing conditions like Alzheimer’s in mice.
NAD+ aids control the production of a protein called PGC-1-alpha that could help protect brain cells against impaired mitochondrial function and oxidative stress.
Protection from Heart Diseases
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Ageing is a significant risk factor for heart diseases. Thick or stiff arteries could increase your blood pressure levels and make your heart work double time. NAD+ could help reduce the stiffness in arteries and reduce the risk of you overworking your ageing heart.
Increased Energy Levels
David Sinclair, a Harvard professor and a well-known name in the anti-ageing research space, takes NMN supplements daily. He has said these supplements have improved his lipid profile, he feels more energetic, and his blood markers at 60 years old reflect someone closer to being 31 years old.
Now that you know what is an NAD+ supplement and how it works, you could start exploring your options in the marketplace. Look for a brand that has a Certificate of Analysis ready for its products. The certificate assures a third-party lab has tested the products for purity and is safe for consumption. For effective and long-lasting results, complement NAD+ supplement with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
