What is NAD+, and How Can It Help You Live Better?

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NAD+ is the shortened version of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It’s a naturally occurring coenzyme found in every cell of your body. Without these, your body just wouldn’t be able to function the way that it does. As we get older, our NAD+ levels naturally drop. Why does this matter? Simple! NAD+ levels dropping is considered one of the main reasons that we age. Low levels have also been linked to a variety of diseases like dementia or Parkinson’s.

The job of this coenzyme is, essentially, to repair your DNA. It also plays a role in energy production and cell signaling. In short, it is a very important component of our health and significantly affects how well we age and live today.

How Do I Increase NAD+?

While there are foods that have high percentages of NAD+ precursors, it’s hard for the body to absorb these effectively through your diet. That being said, increasing the amount of fish, nuts, and seeds you eat comes with more benefits than just NAD+; therefore, there’s no reason not to boost your diet with them.

You can alternatively take NMN supplements. You can learn all about NMN and its latest breakthroughs and benefits online. However, if you’re taking any medication, it’s usually a good idea to talk to your doctor beforehand.

What Are the Full Benefits of Higher NAD+ Levels?

Increasing your NAD+ levels can result in a number of key benefits, though the exact results will depend entirely on the person.

Increase in Energy

One of the big benefits of increasing your NAD+ is that the potential energy increase. As anyone can attest, having energy is vital to your everyday quality of life. Without energy, you simply lack motivation, and everything from chores to even heading out to see friends can be difficult.

Boosted Brain Power

With increased energy naturally comes an increase in your cognitive function. You may be more awake, alert, and generally see an improvement in your mood. With boosted cognitive function you may find it easier to understand new information, memorize things, and more.

Lower Inflammation

Inflammation can affect many areas of the body and take away from your quality of life as a result. Increasing NAD+ may reduce that inflammation, but if you do have this as a key issue you’ll also want to focus on eating more anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory foods and work on a multi-pronged approach.

Slower Aging

The key benefit of increasing NAD+ (and the reason why you may have heard about it in the first place) is its potential to slow the aging process. You cannot avoid aging altogether, but boosting NAD+ in your body can help maintain higher levels of DNA repair. This, in turn, can help you enjoy younger-looking skin and increase energy and brain function. Since low levels of NAD+ have even been linked to age-related diseases, it stands to reason that increasing NAD+ levels can help reduce your risk. It is important to keep in mind that this is still a very new area of medicine, so the exact benefits and best practices are still being determined.