As kids most of us couldn't wait for our birthdays to arrive so we could get just a little bit closer to being a grown up. And then at some point along the journey, it flips on us and what was once a celebration quickly turns into dread for many of us.
Growing older is often associated with wrinkles, weakness, a failing memory, injuries, slowing down, and even pain.
It's no wonder we want to postpone it for as long as possible.
We all want to stay sharp, mobile, energized, athletic, youthful, and resilient for as long as possible.
The truth is there are many misconceptions around growing older that may be preventing you from living life to the fullest no matter your age. Research now shows that you can preserve your health as you age by implementing healthy habits and lifestyle choices.
Aging is inevitable, that we can agree on, but it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. With the natural aging process comes changes in body composition, function, and energy however scientific research has brought with it answers as to why this happens and what we can do to slow the effects of aging, protect ourselves from disease, and keep our bodies healthy as we age.
One of these discoveries is a coenzyme called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and it may be just the thing you had no idea you were looking for.
Let's take a closer look at this molecule and what it can do for the aging process.
What is NAD+?
NAD+ is a molecule found in all living cells, that plays an important role in energy metabolism and cell functioning.
This coenzyme is responsible for generating energy inside of the cell, in fact it is said to be in charge of generating 90% of your body’s energy! NAD+ is like the turbo for your mitochondria, and without it, cellular energy production would come to a stop.
Unlike caffeine, NAD+ boosts energy from the inside out through cell metabolism, providing a much more sustainable and foundational source of energy that isn't a quick fix.
Many cellular processes, such as metabolism, DNA repair, inflammation, gene expression, circadian rhythm regulation, immuno-regulation, and cognitive function are regulated by NAD+ (1).
The natural decline in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) that occurs with age may influence the decrease in vitality and even the risk of chronic diseases that often times associated with aging.
Research suggests that this depletion in NAD+ may play an important role in the aging process by reducing energy production, DNA repair, and genomic signalling (2).
Declining NAD+ levels have been associated with aging-related degenerative diseases such as atherosclerosis, arthritis, hypertension, cognitive decline, diabetes, sarcopenia, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and cancer (3).
But there is good news!
Many of these diseases can be ameliorated by restoring NAD+ levels in the body (4). Replenishing NAD+ levels has been shown to provide anti-aging effects and promising results in reversing age-related pathologies while increasing lifespan and quality of life (5)(6)(7).
Though these results are limited to animal studies thus far there is plenty of evidence that supports the benefits of NAD+ and the research has really only begun.
How can you increase NAD+?
There are several lifestyle strategies that may help to boost NAD+ levels including exercise, intermittent fasting, caloric restriction, vitamin B3 supplementation, and tryptophan rich foods like dairy, turkey, tofu, wild salmon, chicken, almonds, and pumpkin seeds.
On the other hand, there are also habits that can deplete NAD+ levels which include alcohol consumption, poor dietary choices, excess sun exposure, sedentary lifestyle, and poor sleep.
While you can obtain this molecule naturally in certain foods, it's nearly impossible to obtain the amount you need through a normal diet to effectively increase NAD+.
Fortunately, a unique form of vitamin B3, known as nicotinamide riboside, has been clinically proven to safely and effectively increase NAD+.
Supplementing nicotinamide riboside is a more reliable and effective way to boost levels of this molecule in the body and receive the health benefits.
Tru Niagen® provides the only patented, broadly studied, and safety-reviewed nicotinamide riboside in the world and has been shown to increase NAD+ levels by 40-50% after just 8 weeks of supplementation.
Tru Niagen® promotes cellular repair, counteracting the effects of stress, exercise, and aging on your body. This multi-award-winning supplement nourishes your cells with just one single, convenient, daily capsule.
About the Author
Laurence Annez