Forever young

The desire to maintain a younger appearance is nothing new. Although concepts of beauty differ between places and generations, the struggle to maintain youth and beauty can be traced back thousands of years, even in written history. The Egyptian Ebers papyrus, which dates to roughly 1550 BC and is one of the oldest known medical works, contains hundreds of formulas and folk remedies, including cosmetic solutions for baldness, graying hair, and wrinkles.

As of 2017, the global market for anti-aging products reached an estimated value of $324.6 billion USD, a number that was predicted to reach $429 billion by 2022. However, modern adults want more than just younger looking skin – they want to experience the energy of youth and remain vital at a cellular level. What good is looking 10 years younger when you’re bent over with an aching back or you don’t have the energy to chase your kids through the park?

Researchers are still trying to crack the code on living forever, or at least keeping our bodies younger longer, but an important aspect of this field of study is ensuring quality of life, rather than simply longevity. This means understanding how we age, at a cellular level, and how to keep cells from degenerating with age.

You work hard and you like to play hard, but as you enter the middle of your life, you’ve probably started to notice yourself slowing down. It’s harder to muster the energy that came naturally in your 20s and 30s, and you’re probably waking up with aches and pains when you push too hard. You have the same desire to live life to the fullest, but every day, your body seems to fail you a little more, and with a few more decades stretching out ahead of you, your prospects are only likely to get worse.

This is where NAD+ comes in. If you’re looking for some kind of elite, advanced biohack to keep you feeling young and energized, you might be surprised to learn that the solution is already inside your body, although it fades with age and requires replenishment. What is NAD+? How can it help to restore youthful vigor and where can you find it? Here’s what you need to know.

What is NAD+?

Before we get into what NAD+ is, it’s best to start with a little background on mitochondria. You may have a vague memory of this term from science class back in your primary school days. As a refresher, mitochondria, sometimes referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, are organelles found in our cells, and they work to transform the foods and beverages we consume into usable energy that fuels our bodies.

In fact, mitochondria are responsible for about 90% of the chemical energy our cells need to survive, along with chemicals that serve a variety of essential purposes, like breaking down waste and even ending the cell life cycle (a critical process that stops cells from growing out of control, as with tumors). Unfortunately, our mitochondria deteriorate over time, and this is cited as a key factor in the aging process.

Our bodies produce a molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD, that contributes to energy metabolism, and when NAD begins to wane as we age, mitochondria start to decay in response. Of course, the fact that we’ve recognized the source of the problem gives us a starting point to combat it.

NAD is actually a coenzyme made up of NAD+ and NADH. They work together to perform a variety of functions, most notably helping to support a healthy metabolism and facilitate cellular energy production. While it is not yet well understood how the ratios of NAD+ and NADH impact function, it is known that as we age, NAD+ declines while NADH levels seem to increase. It is believed that this growing imbalance not only impacts the effectiveness of NAD overall, but changes how well cells are able to utilize NAD+ in general.

The obvious solution is to keep NAD balanced, which means increasing the amount of NAD+ in cells. This is where the outlook improves. With the right NAD+ supplements, you have the potential to slow or even reverse the decay of mitochondria. This, in turn, could lead to a number of benefits that restore vitality to your body. What benefits could you enjoy when you start scheduling regular NAD+ IV treatments?

The Benefits of NAD+ Boost

According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in 2018, NAD+ plays a role in a number of essential functions, including the production of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate – the primary source of our energy), DNA repair, immunological functions, and more. NAD+ depletion can have a number of negative effects, but enhancing levels of NAD+ in the body can “profoundly reduce oxidative cell damage in catabolic tissue, including the brain”, potentially combatting age-associated degenerative diseases.

In addition, keeping NAD levels balanced with NAD+ supplements could work to reduce inflammation, repair DNA, and decrease risks of developing neurological disorders, along with supporting daily functions like regulating metabolism and boosting energy. NAD+ is also a key component in the function of sirtuins, a family of proteins that regulate cellular health, suppress tumors, and promote cellular longevity (associated with extending lifespan), among other things.

This all sounds good, but on a more practical level, regular IV sessions for NAD+ boosts can help to increase energy, improve mood, and support brain health as you age. In addition, NAD+ is cited as “a major player in skeletal muscle development, regeneration, aging, and disease” in the study entitled “A Need for NAD+ in Muscle Development, Homeostasis, and Aging”, published by NCBI in 2018. In higher levels, NAD+ has been found to augment muscle health. In other words, it could help to restore muscle function and improve athletic performance.

As you move away from your youth and into middle age, the last thing you want is to give up hope of enjoying your favorite activities, and you certainly don’t want to lose the energy needed to maintain your busy lifestyle. You want to keep going strong as long as possible. The good news is, you don’t have to compromise. Natural levels of NAD+ may wane with age, but with regular NAD+ IV infusions, you have the best opportunity to support cellular health and metabolism, keep energy levels high, and continue living your best life for years to come.