What is NAD+ and why you need it in your life.

NAD+ (Niacinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is an extremely valuable coenzyme for redox reactions, making it central for energy metabolism. Have I lost you yet? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. But today, we’re going to break down this amazing molecule, and explain all the benefits, as well as how you can get the most out of life by introducing NAD+ into your supplementation.

Simply put, NAD+ is the raw material your body uses to create energy. NAD+ is found in every living cell in our body. It is a vital and necessary ingredient for our mitochondria (the energy factories in our body) to be able to make the energy we use for every process our body performs. Think about that for a minute… EVERY process your body performs. From thinking to breathing, running to dreaming, digesting food to watching tv… even reading this blog. Every single function your body performs requires the energy NAD+ provides.

When we’re young, we have it all! Good looks, healthy bodies, plenty of time, and especially an abundance of energy! Why is that? When we’re young, NAD+ is just overflowing in the mitochondria, waiting to be turned into energy. As we age, just like everything else in life, that changes. NAD+ levels in the blood naturally decline with age. Research shows that NAD+ levels can decrease by around 50% every 20 years. By the time a person is 40 years old, their NAD+ levels may have dropped by 50%, and by age 60, they may have decreased by 80%. In men, NAD+ levels tend to decrease gradually with age, while in women, levels may fluctuate.

So how does NAD+ work?

As mentioned before, NAD+ is a coenzyme. But what does that mean? SCIENCE ALERT! Coenzymes are molecules required by enzymes to begin a chemical reaction. To make this easy to understand, here’s an example:

It’s the 4th of July BBQ at your Uncle Charlie’s house, and it’s time to shoot off the fireworks. But before fireworks can be launched into the air to explode in patriotic glory, what do we need? That’s right, a match. In this example, the match is the coenzyme (NAD+), the firework is the enzyme, and the colorful explosion of glittery flame in the sky is the chemical reaction. The explosion would never happen without the firework, and the firework would never explode without the match.

What are the benefits of NAD+ to my body and mind?

So why should you invest your hard-earned money into this amazing therapy? Let’s list out all of the KNOWN benefits of NAD+. Here’s a warning though… this molecule is so beneficial in so many ways, it’s hard to believe. As with any therapy, we wholeheartedly encourage you to do your own research to ensure it is a good fit for you.

1. Mitochondria Functioning – We’ve already talked about increasing overall energy. But that energy isn’t just for physical movements. That energy fuels brain function, cellular repair and healing, as well as a whole host of other processes throughout your body which slow down as we age.
2. Anti-Aging – NAD+ directly affects telomere length. Telomeres are these long tails of DNA on the end of our chromosomes. As we age, these long tails shorten, and the shorter they become, the more chronic disease our bodies are susceptible to developing. NAD+ has the ability to not only stop the telomeres from shortening, but also has been shown to lengthen telomeres, reversing the aging process of our DNA.
3. Cognitive Function – loss of memory is NOT normal in aging. NAD+ improves cognitive function and reduces neuroinflammation by increasing the production of sirtuins, a protein that protects neurons from damage caused by oxidative stress. It can also stimulate the production of neurotransmitters, effectively improving mood and the symptoms of depression, anxiety, addiction, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and brain fog.
4. Sleep Quality – Very few things are healthier or more valuable than a good night’s sleep. NAD+ coupled with excellent sleep hygiene may help you defeat your insomnia by helping you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, enjoying the restful, restorative sleep your body deserves.
5. Skin Health – Our skin is not only the largest organ of the body, but also the essential first barrier between you being healthy or sick. It keeps out would-be invaders like viruses and bacteria who want nothing more than to get inside you and ruin your weekend plans. NAD+ stimulates new skin cell production, keeping your skin healthy and promoting an anti-aging effect by reducing wrinkles, blemishes, and other signs of aging. Lastly, NAD+ protects the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation, keeping your skin from premature aging and possibly developing cancer.
6. Heart Protection – Our hearts are kind of important… luckily, NAD+ can improve the health of our overall cardiovascular system by improving blood flow and reducing inflammation, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other conditions.
7. Athletic Enhancement – NAD+ is imperative in the development of new skeletal muscle and recovery after strenuous exercise. 

What’s the difference between oral NAD+ versus IV NAD+?

Oral supplements are great but have one main flaw… they must be digested before the body can use them. After enduring the extremely acidic environment of the stomach and intestine, the vitamin now must endure what’s called the “first-pass effect” as it passes through the liver. Upwards of 80% or more of your oral vitamin is lost in this process. So, if your vitamin C bottle says you’re getting 10,000 mg of vitamin C, the best-case scenario is that you are receiving maybe 2,000 mg of vitamin C.

Enter the miracle of IV vitamin therapy. By entering the body through the vein, the vitamins are delivered directly into the bloodstream, where the tissues and cells receive a prime selection of the vitamins coming their way before the liver even has a chance to touch them. The stomach and intestine are completely avoided by IV vitamin therapy, and thereby nearly 100% of the vitamins can be absorbed by your body.

Take Away

The benefits of NAD+ are phenomenal. As we age, we lose our ability to produce NAD+. However, through supplementation, we can restore our NAD+ levels to fight chronic conditions and essentially turn back our cellular clocks. Known as the “fountain of youth” molecule, this potent coenzyme has the ability to reinvigorate your body and mind to levels you may not have experienced since high school. No one will live forever, but staying healthy, active, and mentally sharp should be a goal for everyone, and NAD+ IV therapy is the best way to accomplish that goal.

Stay blessed my friends!