Imagine standing on the precipice of a mountain, the rising  sun casting a warm, golden glow across the landscape. You feel a sense of tranquility and fulfillment wash over you, as though you're in perfect harmony with the world around you.

But as we age, that feeling of balance and contentment can  wane, leaving us feeling out of step with the world and ourselves. It's like we're drifting aimlessly, adrift in the sea of life, without direction or purpose.

Enter nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+ for short.

By supporting healthy NAD+ levels, we may  be able to regain that sense of equilibrium and keep our  bodies feeling young and vibrant. Controlling and increasing our  NAD+ levels is like finding our  true course—a guiding light that helps us stay on track and navigate through life's ups and downs. It's like a compass, pointing us in the direction of health and wellbeing and guiding us through the ever-changing landscape of aging.

So, with NAD+ as our  unwavering compass and guide, let's chart our  course and find  our true north!

In this blog post, we'll explore the science behind NAD+ and how  it bolsters cellular health and wellbeing, as well as the various strategies we can  employ to naturally boost our  NAD+ levels, support healthy aging,  and how  it may  be the key to controlling the speed of the aging  process.

NAD+ is a coenzyme, and it helps generate energy in your  body. If you're not familiar with coenzymes, that's okay,  we'll break it down for you!

You may  have heard of enzymes, which  are proteins that help build  or break down molecules. For example, enzymes in your  body help break down alcohol so your  body can eliminate it. However, some enzymes need a little extra help to function properly. That's where coenzymes come in.

Think of enzymes as workers on a construction site: they have specific jobs  to do, but they need tools and materials to get the job done. Coenzymes are like those  tools and materials; without them, the enzymes can't do their jobs  effectively.

Explained in a different way, picture yourself as the captain of a ship,  sailing the vast sea of your  body's cells. You're on a mission to keep everything running smoothly, and at the heart of it all lie the mitochondria—the powerhouses that keep your  engines roaring. NAD+ acts as the ignition for your  cellular engines, helping to produce the energy that fuels all of your  bodily  functions. Without it, everything would come to a sudden stop—your breaths, your  heartbeat, your  very life force.

NAD+ is involved in metabolic processes such as glucose and lipid metabolism, and by increasing NAD+ levels, we can  improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and improve other markers of metabolic health (Gariani  et al.,  2016). It can improve energy levels and reduce fatigue (Dollerup  et al.,  2018),  improve cognitive function (Hou  et  al.,2018), protect cells from damage and improve DNA repairb(Zhou  et al.,  2016),  and may help to slow down the aging process and improve overall cellular function (Mouchiroud  et  al., 2013).

Here’s a shocking discovery: NAD+ levels have been shown to decline by a staggering 50% between ages 40 and 60 (Massudi  et al.,  2012).

Each day, as the sun rises on the horizon of our  bodies, a tiny coenzyme begins its daily task of keeping our  cells energized and functional. NAD+ acts as a carrier, moving electrons from one reaction to another. However, just like a courier who  delivers packages all day, NAD+ levels can  decrease over time as we age.

For example, one study on mice found that NAD+ levels in the liver decreased with age and were linked to impaired glucose metabolism (Yoshino  et al.,  2011).  Also, a study on humans found that NAD+ levels in skeletal muscle decreased with age and were associated with decreased mitochondrial function (Gomes  et al.2013).

Moreover, our  modern lifestyles could speed up the decline of NAD+. A poor diet, a lack of exercise, and exposure to environmental toxins can  all contribute to the depletion of this crucial coenzyme.

So, how  can  you make sure you're producing enough of this critical coenzyme?

Well, luckily, your  body produces small amounts of it naturally. But there are also  a number of ways  in which  you can increase your NAD+ levels. So, without further ado, let’s have a look at some of those.

When you raise that glass  of alcohol to your  lips, you're setting in motion a cascade of chemical reactions that can wreak havoc on your body.

Alcohol has been shown to reduce NAD+ levels and lower the NAD+/NADH ratio (Arthur  C,  2012).

As the alcohol enters your  body, it generates NADH (which  helps give NAD+ an extra boost to make energy. But if you overindulge, you can  end up with a surplus of NADH and a shortage of NAD+, which can  lead to a whole host of health problems.

Low NAD+ levels can  affect your  metabolism and increase oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to liver disease and other metabolic disorders. But that's not all: NAD+ also  plays  a crucial role in the activity of sirtuins, a family of proteins that are involved in regulating cellular function and aging.  When NAD+ levels drop, sirtuin activity is compromised, leading to cellular dysfunction and contributing to the aging  process.

So the next time you're tempted to knock back  another drink, think about the chemical dance that's taking place inside your  body.

Researchers have discovered that certain diets and eating habits can  increase NAD+ levels, unlocking even more potential for this powerful coenzyme.

One way to boost NAD+ is through caloric restriction. By dialing back your calorie intake, you can  crank up NAD+ production, promoting healthy cellular function and supporting the quest for a longer, healthier life (Riekelt H, 2012).  Studies have shown that caloric restriction can  increase NAD+ levels (Massudi  et al.,  2012).  In one study, a 30% reduction in calorie intake increased NAD+ levels by 50% in mice ( Donato et al.,  2013).

Intermittent fasting  is another approach that can  increase NAD+ levels. By alternating between eating and fasting periods, you can  give your  cells a chance to reset and renew, while also  supporting a healthy metabolism and weight management (Riekelt H, 2012).

And then there's the ketogenic diet, a high-fat, low-carb way of eating that can put your body into a state of ketosis. This metabolic shift has been shown to increase NAD+ levels, providing a host of benefits for cellular health and longevity (Lijing Xin, 2018).

We all know  that making informed decisions about what we eat and striving for a balanced, nutrient-rich diet have a significant impact on our physical and mental well-being. When it comes to NAD+, there are several types of foods that contain NAD+ precursors or compounds that can  increase NAD+ levels naturally in the body. Here are some examples:

-     Tryptophan-rich foods: chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, and dairy  products.

-     Nicotinamide riboside  (NR)-rich foods: NR is a precursor to NAD+ that is found naturally in some foods, including cucumber, cabbage, broccoli, avocado, milk, cheese, and yeast.

-     Vitamin B3-rich foods: Vitamin B3 (niacin) is also  a precursor to NAD+. Foods that are high in vitamin B3 include meat, beef liver, fish, poultry, nuts, and legumes.

-     Foods containing quercetin: onions, apples, and berries.

-     Foods containing resveratrol: red grapes, blueberries, red wine and dark chocolate. By incorporating these foods into your  diet, you can  help support healthy NAD+ levels and promote optimal metabolic function and longevity.

Even though  certain diets, exercise routines, lifestyle choices, and foods can contribute to NAD+ production in the body, they’re not enough to significantly increase NAD+ levels on their own.  This is why taking a supplement designed specifically to increase your  NAD+ levels can  be an extremely convenient, effective, and powerful tool to drastically improve your  overall health and longevity. Here are three outstanding choices:

Curcumin:

Curcumin is a compound that comes from the turmeric plant, which  is often used as a spice in cooking. It's that bright yellow-orange powder that gives curry  its distinctive color. But curcumin is more than just a pretty spice.

Studies have shown that curcumin supplementation may  have other health benefits aside from raising NAD+ levels, such as reducing inflammation and improving cognitive function (Hewlings  and Kalman,  2017).

Resveratrol:

As mentioned earlier, resveratrol is a highly beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound found in grapes, red wine, raspberries, and dark chocolate.

A study in mice found that resveratrol supplementation improved metabolic function, reduced inflammation, and even increased lifespan 

 (Baur et al., 2006).. In humans, a study found that supplementation with resveratrol increased NAD+ levels and improved mitochondrial function in healthy older adults (Dollerup  et al.,  2018). Another study found that it improved skeletal muscle and cardiovascular function in older adults (Timmers  et  al., 2013).

While the decline of NAD+ levels may seem like an inevitable consequence of aging and modern lifestyles, we have the power to slow down this decline and maintain healthy levels. By making lifestyle changes and taking NAD+ precursors, we can  keep our  bodies functioning smoothly and maintain our vitality for years to come.

So why not start today?

Make a commitment to yourself to create a healthy lifestyle - a lifestyle centered around boosting your  NAD+ levels. And if you really want to jump-start your  journey toward a more energized and vibrant life, consider adding a NAD+ boosting supplement to your  daily routine.

Your future self will thank you for it.

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