Why Boosting Your NAD+ Has Such Buzz Right Now. Deep Drive Into “The Youth Molecule” (And How To Boost It 67%!‡)
Maybe about once a decade, a health trend emerges that captures the world by storm. Sometimes, it’s a little silly (80’s aerobic workout videos anyone?). And other times, it’s transformative knowledge that sticks with us (like quitting smoking, limiting sugar, the benefits of keto, etc.)
And in the last year or two, there’s been a massive amount of buzz about a molecule called Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Which is no fun to type or pronounce.
So moving forward in this article, I’m going to call it by its common name: NAD+.
And I’m going to answer the big questions everyone has been asking me recently:
1- What is NAD+?
2- Why is it sooooo important to remaining youthful as we age?
3- What Are Some Problematic Ways People Try To Boost NAD+?
4- What Is A Clinically Proven Way To Boost NAD+?
So get ready. I’m about to demystify what’s being hailed as “the youth molecule”, its crucial roles it plays in aging well, and if you’re 35 or older? You’re going to be glad you learned this information sooner rather than later.
Demystifying “The Youth Molecule”: What is NAD+?
NAD+ is a vital coenzyme present in all living cells. The human body would die almost instantly if it didn’t have NAD+. That’s because NAD+ plays a central role in the most fundamental aspects of cellular health, such as energy metabolism, DNA repair, and cellular signaling. Like the ability to breathe oxygen, NAD+ is another molecule at the absolute bedrock layer of our ability to live. So let’s nerd out for a minute and zoom in on exactly what it does in our cells. *
The Role of NAD+ in Cellular Function
NAD+ functions primarily as an electron carrier in redox reactions, essential for converting nutrients into cellular energy (ATP). Beyond energy metabolism, NAD+ serves as a substrate for enzymes involved in DNA repair, gene expression regulation, and stress responses. Notably, it activates sirtuins, a family of proteins that regulate cellular health and longevity *
But there’s a problem we all share when it comes to NAD+.
NAD+ Levels Decline With Age
Research indicates that NAD+ levels decline significantly with age. Now that you understand how vital NAD+ is to human thriving, consider this scary fact; by the time individuals reach 50, their NAD+ levels are often approximately half of what they were at age 20 .
This decline is attributed to several factors:
Increased Consumption: Enzymes like CD38, whose activity rises with age, consume more NAD+, reducing its availability.
Decreased Synthesis: The body's ability to produce NAD+ diminishes over time, partly due to reduced activity of enzymes like NAMPT, crucial for NAD+ biosynthesis.
Inflammation: Aging is often accompanied by occasional inflammation, which can further deplete NAD+ levels by activating NAD+ consuming pathways.
So what are the implications of letting such a vital molecule for youthful thriving drop by half (or more) of what it was at our peak? What sort of future is that setting us up for?
Implications of NAD+ Declining With Age
The reduction in NAD+ levels is linked to various age-related physiological declines:
Suboptimal Mitochondrial Function: Lower NAD+ impairs mitochondrial function, leading to decreased energy production and increased oxidative stress.
Potential DNA Damage Accumulation: With less NAD+ available, the efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms can decline, resulting in the accumulation of genetic damage.
Cellular Senescence: Reduced NAD+ levels contribute to the onset of cellular senescence, where cells lose the ability to divide and function properly, which can accelerate tissue aging .
Cognitive Health: In the brain, declining NAD+ levels are associated with decline in optimal function of many cognitive processes.
So clearly, we need to do something proactive to boost our NAD+ levels from our 30’s onward. And people have been trying for years to figure out the best way. Unfortunately, the most popular ways are not necessarily the best way.
Why NAD+ IV’s Have Some Drawbacks
This became increasingly popular in the 2010s as the importance of NAD+ for aging began to become more appreciated by the public. And it’s certainly better than doing nothing at all, but here’s some of the catches with NAD+ IV’s (also known as “NAD+ drips”):
Cost and Accessibility
One significant drawback of NAD+ IV therapy is its high cost. Sessions can range from $500 to $2,000, depending on factors like location, dosage, and provider. Such expenses can be prohibitive for many individuals. Additionally, the need for administration by medical professionals limits accessibility, especially for those in small towns or rural areas with busy schedules.
Time Commitment
NAD+ IV infusions are time-intensive, often requiring sessions that last several hours. This duration can be inconvenient for those seeking a quick, easy addition to their health routine.
Does Anyone Like Needles?
Let’s not overlook the obvious. Driving through traffic to pay exorbitant amounts of money so have someone jab needles into your arm? I can think of more enjoyable uses of my time.
Potential Side Effects
While generally considered safe, NAD+ IV therapy can cause side effects such as nausea, headaches, and muscle cramps. These reactions are typically associated with the rapid increase in NAD+ levels during infusion. Adjusting the infusion rate can mitigate some discomfort, but the potential for adverse effects remains a concern.
Not Attacking The Low NAD+ Problem At The Source
If your car tire had a slow leak, you could manually fill it with air, and it might solve the problem for a short while, but it’s going to be a recurring problem for you until you actually patch the tire. Similarly, if you have low NAD+ levels, you can get an NAD+ IV, but you’re not addressing how to actually get your own body to make more NAD+, addressing the issue at its root source.
Shaky Quality Control
The standardization practices from one health clinic to the next who offer “NAD+ therapy” is a bit lacking to put it mildly. Ultimately, you’re often taking on faith that the big bag pumping some liquid into your arm is, in fact, the potency and purity claimed by the health clinic.
For all these reasons, some people have tried supplementing the NAD+ molecule directly in capsule form. But that has a catch, too.
Drawbacks To Directly Supplementing NAD+
NAD+ is a sizable molecule that struggles to cross cell membranes efficiently. When taken orally, it also often undergoes degradation in the digestive tract, leading to minimal absorption into the bloodstream. Even intravenous administration doesn't guarantee effective cellular uptake, as extracellular NADis+ rapidly broken down by enzymes like CD38 before it can enter cells.
To address these limitations, researchers have explored alternative strategies. One approach involves using NAD+ precursors which are smaller molecules that can be more readily absorbed and converted into NAD+ within cells.
It’s this latter strategy where a stunning science breakthrough recently occurred, and I want to be among the first to tell you about it, so we can start boosting our NAD+ levels reliably.
Wow A Supplement Called Qualia NAD+ Finally Cracked The Code
Qualia NAD+ has emerged as the best-in-class supplement for boosting NAD+ levels, and unlike many other “NAD+ boosting supplements”, Qualia NAD+ has top-tier scientific proof backing it up.
In multiple placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical studies, Qualia NAD+ achieved clinical proof that it boosts human NAD+ levels an average of 67%!‡ *
This remarkable outcome is attributed to Qualia NAD+'s multi-faceted approach. The supplement combines three distinct NAD+ precursors:
nicotinamide riboside (also known as NR) in the form of Niagen®
Niacinamide
and niacin
Then, Qualia’s science team deep-dived on other often-overlooked cofactors that further support NAD+ production, and added 11 additional ingredients that support the body's natural NAD+ production pathways . This synergistic works as a whole boost NAD+ levels, and by extension, supporting cellular energy production, mitochondrial function, and healthy aging at the cellular level. *
I can tell you that one of the hardest things for me to find, are supplement companies that actually subject their formulas to the merciless scrutiny of multiple double-blind, placebo controlled studies. I love the Qualia brand specifically for this level of accountability. They make
formulas where they go out of their way to invite scientific testing, because they know their level of formulation detail shines when they’re tested.
So the fact that Qualia focused their aim on boosting NAD+ production, is a huge win for all of us over 35 that want to be the first generation to address this aging issue in an easy, effective, meaningful way.
Where To Get Qualia NAD+ (With The Most Savings)
Qualia NAD+ is a vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free formula. And right now, it’s available up to 50% by clicking on this link, backed by a 100 day money back guarantee. And to save even more, remember code NIDDAM15 at checkout which will add an additional 15% off your first bottle!
Last Thoughts On NAD+
Some health trends are based on fashionability and don’t last long. Boosting your NAD+ is a trend based on impressive science, and therefore, I strongly suspect this will soon be considered as fundamental to supporting a healthy aging process as strength training or boosting your VO2 max. But unlike hard, exhausting workouts, this is something we can all do to help us age better which literally takes just a few seconds a day. So don’t let such an easy game-changer for your future aging process remain unaddressed by you.
Get ahead of declining NAD+ levels. You’ll be glad you did.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
‡ Based on double-blind placebo-controlled studies. Individual results may vary. Full study results at qualialfe.com/nad-clinical2.