
NAD is quite a hot topic lately. NAD stands for Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide, which is a coenzyme that is found is all living cells and plays a crucial role in energy production, DNA Repair, and cellular health. Not surprising, if you feel you’ve experienced signs of what we call, ‘aging’, in the form of having less energy, feeling not as strong, and so forth- NAD levels decline as we age, which has been linked to aging-related diseases. These include neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. These can be of most concern for individuals, but other areas affected by NAD involve metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, immune system dysfunction, and musculoskeletal disorders.
Since NAD declines over time, many supplement with NAD to support various health benefits. How can NAD benefit you? NAD helps cells generate energy. It also helps to repair our DNA. It supports neurotransmitter function for optimal brain function and cognitive health. It activates sirtuins, which are the proteins associated with longevity and cellular repair. It also plays a role in regulating metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and fat-burning process. It helps reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby, supporting our muscle recovery and endurance. It is also linked to immune system function, to be able to fight against infections. And finally, it helps support healthy blood vessels for our cardiovascular health.
If you’re looking to put NAD back into your system, you could look to your diet and lifestyle to boost your NAD levels. Fish and mushrooms are known to naturally boost your NAD levels. Fasting and exercise are also known to enhance your NAD production as well. Regarding external sources, you could try NAD supplements in the form of capsules or powder. NAD IV therapy has become a popular method of getting it directly into your bloodstream for immediate absorption. There is also sublingual NAD, which is beneficial if you have a sensitive gut. There is also NAD nasal spray, which is a direct route to the brain which may better help with our cognitive function. You can take it topically with a cream so that it is absorbed through the skin, which is becoming more utilized for anti-aging.
There are many options for boosting your NAD. The idea is that you incorporate diet and lifestyle changes into your life as well as supplements that best fit you.