NAD+ is one of many chemicals in our body that is essential to our overall health. It plays a major part in regulating our metabolism and is also thought to have anti-aging effects.
Our body naturally produces NAD+, but many bad habits such as heavy drinking, poor diet and excess UV exposure can lead to a deficiency. Low levels of NAD+ can lead to fatigue, mental fog, muscle weakness and weight gain. There’s also some evidence that low levels may lead to an increased risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.
It’s therefore important to keep your NAD+ levels up. This post explains more about how to do this.
What exactly is NAD+?
NAD+ is a chemical compound found in almost every cell in our body. It was first discovered in 1906 and has been the subject of much research since. Scientists now know that it plays an important part in our metabolism – helping to convert food into energy. But there is thought to be a lot more to this coenzyme.
Many experts believe that it plays a part in the way our body ages. Studies as found here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov show that our body naturally produces less NAD+ as we get older, and that artificially introducing more NAD+ into the body has in some cases reversed age-related health problems. While it’s unlikely to be the elixir of life, there are clearly health benefits to keeping NAD+ levels up.
How Can I Increase My NAD Levels?
There are many things you can do to encourage the body to naturally produce more NAD+, as well as different ways of introducing it to the body. This includes:
Interval training exercises
Short bursts of intense exercise have been shown to increase production of NAD+. It is believed that this coenzyme plays a vital part in helping our body to kickstart the recovery process after a workout. Maintaining these high NAD+ levels could be partially the reason why people who exercise regularly stay looking younger longer.
If working from home is what you do, try adding an under desk treadmill to get in your steps or do a quick interval of jogging and walking.
Fermented foods With NAD+
Fermented foods like kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut and kefir all contain NAD+. Eating these foods is a great way to introduce more of this chemical into your body. Fermented foods also have many other health benefits including improving gut health and keeping up our immune system.
Fruit and honey
Fructose – a natural sugar that is found in fruit and honey – is converted into NAD+ when we consume it. Other sugars do not have this same effect, which is one of the reasons why fruit and honey are much healthier sources of sugar. In fact, too much refined sugar may actually reduce NAD+ levels (so eat more fruit and less candy!).
IV therapy
IV therapy is a fairly recent trend that involves injecting healthy chemicals directly into the bloodstream. It is carried out by a qualified professional and can be used to combat all kinds of deficiencies. NAD+ IV drips are one option that could be worth looking into if your levels are low. You can find out more about this treatment here at https://www.ivboulder.com/nad. You can find local clinics that offer this treatment online.
Saunas and heat therapy
Finally, research has shown that saunas also seem to kickstart production of NAD+. It may be part of the reason why many of us feel so great after stepping out of a sauna – and why sauna-loving Scandinavians stay looking and feeling young so long.
Final Thoughts on NAD+
As you can see, adding more NAD+ to your life is essential for many things. Simple changes in your life can ensure you stay on the right track.
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