How to increase NAD+ naturally and with supplements - the complete guide
What is NAD+?
NAD+ or Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is a core compound for the production of energy in the human body. It is a co-enzyme and is present in every cell of the human body. NAD+ is involved in almost all the metabolic processes of the human body. It converts the food into the essential nutrients inside the body to provide the essential energy and it is the main helper molecule for the proteins that are involved in the regulation of functions of other cells.
It is very important to have enough supply of NAD+ in the human body to perform the functions effectively and efficiently. The level of NAD+ falls as the person ages and hence it is very important to increase the level of NAD+ overall and more specifically in later stages of life.
The decline of NAD+ is directly related to the ageing process and other metabolic diseases. To cope up with the natural process of ageing and to prevent metabolic disorders like obesity, type 2 diabetes, CVD, and other related issues it is very important to maintain and increase the level of NAD+ in the body. Let's have a look on how to increase nad levels naturally and with supplements.
How to increase NAD+?
In human beings increasing the level of NAD+ will have beneficial effects on the health and it can be increased in the body in two ways:
- Naturally
- Supplements
How to increase NAD naturally
Boosting NAD+ naturally in the following ways:
- Exercise
- Fasting
- Eating Foods Rich in NAD+
- Protection from Excessive Sunlight
Exercise
It is one of the best and cheapest ways to increase NAD+ in the body. When we exercise sweat is produced and our body needs more energy to perform its function. For that, the muscles of our body produce more mitochondria to cope with the increasing body’s demand for energy. Mitochondria is a powerhouse of the cell and is a natural booster of NAD+ in the body.
Fasting
Fasting is another way of producing NAD+ in the body. Fasting has been observed as a natural practice in many religions whereas some people do intermediate fasting for fitness. Basically when we fast the body is forced to produce NAD+ to meet up the body’s needs. So a low-calorie diet or fasting is another indirect way of increasing NAD+ in the body.
Eating Foods Rich in NAD+
Food is an important component of human life and is a vital source of energy in the body. Eating energy-rich foods will be beneficial for the health. Some foods are high in NAD+ and provide a boost of energy upon eating. These foods include:
- Yeast
- Fish
- Mushrooms
- Green vegetables
- Whole grains
It is important to eat raw vegetables and take whole grains instead of processed food items as upon cooking vegetables and grains lose their nutrition value and vitamin sources. You must also avoid alcoholic beverages as alcohol can interfere with the body’s basic metabolic and energy-producing processes and thus hinders the production of NAD+.
Protection from Excessive Sunlight:
Recent research claims that exposure to excessive sunlight can damage NAD+ thus the body becomes depleted. The most important benefit of NAD+ is cell repair and prevent aging. Thus, you must avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and use sunblock, and sunglasses for protection from UV rays.
Without any doubt, it has been cleared that NAD+ is very important for cell functioning and the body’s strength. It has great effects on the overall health and longevity of life. These natural sources are very important in maintaining the level of NAD+ in the body for your benefit. You can also use supplements and precursors to increase the overall level of NAD+ in the body. Supplements add great value to your overall health.
How to increase NAD+ through Supplements:
Now that we have seen how to increase nad levels naturally let look at supplementation. The other important and useful way to increase NAD+ is by taking supplements. A supplement is a manmade product that provides the required nutrients and energy to fulfill one’s needs. It can either be in the form of a pill, tablet, capsule, or liquid. Supplements act as a precursor.
What is a Precursor?
A precursor is a chemical substance that takes part in a chemical reaction and produces another compound. They are inactive chemicals that convert into other active compound like minerals, vitamins, hormones, or enzymes during a chemical process.
For the production of NAD+, our body also needs precursors and these precursors include:
- NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide)
- NR (Nicotinamide Riboside)
- Tryptophan
- Niacin
- Nicotinic acid riboside
NMN is an important and major precursor for NAD+. It has recently gained much interest because of its immense benefits against ageing, metabolic disorders, and other diseases. The most important benefit of taking NMN is that to date there are no observed side effects, toxicity, and other mortality issues associated with it. As compared to NR, NMN is a bigger molecule and is important in boosting energy in the form of NAD+. Modern research also claims the direct utilisation of NMN in the intestines without breaking it into NR.
The level of NAD+ continuously falls in the body because of continuous cell damage and it is very important to increase NAD+ in the body to perform the body’s basic functions. In the modern era, anti-aging therapy has gained the immense interest of the public. People are now much more concerned about their health and fitness. They are now taking NAD+ precursors as food supplements to increase their cell repair and to reduce and even reverse the process of aging.
In the coming 100 years, NAD+ will remain an important topic of research and there will be immense research and technology development in the production of NAD+. At the present stage, the study on NMN as a most advanced and important source of NAD+ is just in its initial stages and there is a long way to explore this molecule.
