What is NAD+?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme, or something that helps enzymes do what they’re meant to do. It goes back and forth between two forms in the body: NAD+ (oxidized NAD) and NADH (NAD in reduced form). NAD+ boosts metabolism and mitochondrial or cellular function, repairs DNA, stops oxidation, and encourages other biochemical reactions in our bodies.
The human body uses NAD+ in several ways. For example, the coenzyme:
- Helps to recycle damaged cells.
- Turns genes off and on and naturally protects and repairs DNA damaged through the aging process.
- Helps produce energy from the food that we eat to make the essential compound ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
- Is essential for normal function of metabolically active tissues such as brain, muscle, heart, liver and skin.
Why do people take NAD+?
There is good reason to learn which foods contain NAD+, to determine which supplements contain a viable and bioavailable form of NAD+, and to take more of both:
Benefits of taking NAD+
Boost athletic performance
NAD+ helps to increase muscle or mitochondrial function and consistent energy levels, which is absolutely crucial to improving athletic performance. Studies with mice have shown their level of fitness to increase when their muscles retain higher NAD+ levels, and they’ve generally been leaner and faster runners than their younger counterparts who hadn’t gotten a NAD+ boost.
Improve health outcomes and fight the undesirable effects of aging
NAD+ is important for the body’s gene regulation and mitochondrial maintenance, but our bodies’ natural NAD+ levels decline as we get older. So, many people looking to fight the effects of aging take NAD+ in the form of supplements.
For instance, you might take it if you desire to look younger (interestingly, some individuals take it to increase the suppleness and elasticity of skin, but there is no clinical evidence to indicate that this actually works). More importantly, you could take it if you’re hoping to improve your health or prolong your life by avoiding or forestalling the outset of age-related diseases and deterioration. Because of reduced or slowed metabolism, low NAD+ levels have been positively correlated to heart disease, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions, including, most notably, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Cardiac conditions
The arteries’ elasticity becomes somewhat of a buffer between waves of pressure from our heartbeats. But, over time as we get older, we tend to lose that elasticity, which, in turn, can raise our blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure is a huge red flag for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The good news here is that elevating NAD+ improves cardiac activity and protects the heart. Studies have shown that extra NAD+ in mice not only prevents heart enlargement but also has brought NAD+ levels in the hearts of those mice back to normal and has stopped those cardiac injuries which result from low blood flow.
Neurodegenerative diseases
Throughout the world, people are living longer than before, but aging is the main culprit of several neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Studies have shown that boosting NAD+ levels can reduce the protein that builds and stops cellular communication in the brain, therefore slowing down cognitive decline. Plus, it helps prevent the dying off of brain cells ordinarily resulting from reduced blood flow.
Metabolic disorders
The World Health Organization proclaimed obesity to be an international epidemic (especially in the industrialized nations), and it is one of the most prevalent diseases with us today. Obesity leads to other metabolic disorders, such as diabetes. When we consume too much fat, our NAD+ levels go down, especially as we age. But studies have shown that adding to our NAD+ levels has helped reduce some of this age- and diet-related propensity toward weight gain (and its resultant obesity) and also has the ability to boost exercise capacity and endurance.
What contains NAD+? How to boost your NAD+ levels
While the human body creates NAD+ on its own, this process slows down as we age. At the same time, NAD+ utilization increases with age. The good news is that we can explore good sources of NAD+ and encourage our bodies to produce more of it by taking specific supplements or adopting certain lifestyle habits. You can try these methods to boost the NAD+ levels in your body:
Maintain a healthy diet
Healthy eating at consistent, appropriate times (not too often) and maintaining a moderate level of exercise is beneficial for many reasons, including increasing the production of NAD+ in your body. When you restrict calorie intake, through calorie counting, portion control, or intermittent fasting, NAD+-dependent genes and proteins activate with a longer lifespan.
Calorie restriction is partly beneficial because consuming more carbohydrates than needed can result in excess NADH, which reduces the amount of NAD+ in your system. On the other hand, consuming certain foods can increase the body’s level of NAD+. For example, kombucha and fermented foods like kimchi use NADH to produce lactate, which then produces NAD+. Here are some other NAD+-boosting foods:
- Fish, including salmon, sardines, and tuna.
- Fresh fruits containing fructose, which activates lactate dehydrogenase, a NADH-NAD+ converting enzyme.
- Other lean proteins
- Whole grains rich in vitamin B3.
Exercise regularly
Not only is regular exercise a great idea for general health and well-being, but it also naturally increases your NAD+ levels, particularly when it comes to interval training. This is achieved by creating energy stress, which elevates NADH consumption and boosts proteins that rebuild DNA, slowing the aging process. This study, for instance, found that resistance and aerobic training helped restore age-dependent enzymes for improved NAD+ synthesis in muscles.
Avoid the harmful rays of the sun but find the right heat source
Those who spend long periods under the sun are likely depleting their skin NAD+ levels. When we are exposed to direct sunlight, our bodies use NAD+ to repair damage from harmful UV rays. Therefore, it’s advisable to minimize outdoor time when the sun is direct or at its peak and to cover up if you can’t avoid direct sunlight.
However, when you spend time in artificial or other natural heat sources, including saunas, heated pools, heat shock therapy, and hot tubs, it can help raise NAD+ levels. Your heart rate increases, and your body expends energy to cool down. Your NAD+ production then increases in order to compensate for the energy that has been lost.
Try fat-burning & nutrient-absorption treatments
Various fat-burning and nutrient-absorption treatments have been found to help with NAD+ levels. For instance, the ketosis metabolic state burns NADH, thereby improving NAD+ levels. In addition, limited studies have suggested that IV nutrient therapy may raise NAD+ levels.
Take NAD+ supplements and intermediates
You can increase your NAD+ levels with supplements. However, it’s important to know that simply taking NAD+ or NADH is not an effective means of boosting NAD+, as these molecules cannot be directly taken up by cells. Instead, you should consider a product that contains NAD+ precursors, which will be taken up by cells and formed into NAD+ within these cells. For instance, a good one to explore is multi-award-winning Tru Niagen, which delivers repair, defense, energy, and vitality to your cells. Researched by top scientific institutions worldwide, Tru Niagen’s supplements have been scientifically proven to raise NAD+ in the body.
Common supplement ingredients include nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), NAD+ biosynthesis precursors shown to improve NAD+ levels. Tru Niagen offers various supplements with NR in a single, easy-to-take daily capsule. In addition, niacinamide and tryptophan have been found to increase NAD+.
Now you can feel more confident answering the question: “What is NAD+?” and you have more general information on this critical coenzyme. With a little research, you can move forward with the right NAD+-boosting solution for your needs.
Further Resources For Reference:
What Is NAD+? Why Is It Important for Health and Longevity?
WebMD: NADH – Uses, Side Effects, and More
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
