Immunosenescence: The Relationship Between Immune Health and Aging
Caitlin Beale, MS, RDN
The average lifespan has increased dramatically over the past century, thanks to advances in medicine and public health. But as we live longer, our bodies become more susceptible to disease and less able to fight infection. This is because our immune system also ages. There’s a name for this process: immunosenescence.
Immunosenescence is a natural process whereby the immune system becomes weaker with age, affecting how well you feel as you move into your older years. The good news is that immunosenescence can be slowed down with lifestyle choices, and it's never too early to start.
This blog post explores the relationship between immune health and aging and what you can do to keep your immune system healthy as you age.
What Is Immunosenescence?
Immunosenescence is a term that refers to the age-related decline in the function of the immune system. It is a natural process that begins in early adulthood and progresses steadily as we age.
The process of immunosenescence is complex, but overall it leads to a decrease in the number and function of immune cells.
A senescent cell stops dividing and can no longer perform its normal function. These cells accumulate with age and are linked with chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and age-related health conditions because they continue to secrete inflammatory chemicals (more on inflammation and aging below).
How Do Your Immune Cells Change With Age?
Age-related declines in immune function stem from a combination of innate and adaptive immune system alterations.
Your innate immune system responds first and provides a general immune response. The adaptive immune system kicks in later with antibodies that recognize and attack specific threats. The innate and adaptive immune systems are both needed to effectively respond to infection.
However, since immunosenescence leads to a decline in the number and function of immune cells, older people have an increased susceptibility to illness and can also take longer to recover when they do get sick.
Immunosenescence and the Innate Immune SystemSeveral key players in your innate immune response become less responsive or don't act as they should as you age.
Neutrophils, for example, are white blood cells that act as first responders for your immune system. But as we get older, neutrophils aren't able to track down and kill potential pathogens as effectively, or they respond much slower, giving potential pathogens a head start to make you sick.
The function of another type of immune cell called natural killer (NK) cells also changes with age. NK cells are primarily considered part of the innate immune system (although some research suggests that they “remember” similar to adaptive immune cells).
NK cells help clear infection, and their job is to directly kill virally infected cells. However, with age, the function of NK cells declines, and they are less able to protect against these cells.
Immunosenescence and the Adaptive Immune System
Changes to your adaptive immune system affect the cells that make antibodies to recognize and fight specific threats. As we age, the number of these cells declines, as does their ability to remember previous infections.
For example, the production of T cells, specialized cells that recognize and fight viral infections, drops with age. Over the years, T cells learn how to better fight viral infections, but we only get so many “naïve” T cells in our lifetime. So as we age, we can become more susceptible to new diseases.
Inflammation and Aging
Age-related changes in the immune system aren't only about the ability to fend off infection but also about chronic inflammation. The upregulation of the inflammatory immune response in the body associated with age is called inflammaging. Since many chronic diseases are linked to inflammation, this also contributes to aging and illness.
Inflammation is a normal response of the immune system. When you're injured or fighting an infection, immune cells release chemicals that cause inflammation.
Signaling molecules called cytokines alert the immune system that something is amiss, turning up inflammation. The critical part of this process is that inflammation should calm down once the threat is gone.
Inflammaging occurs due to persistent inflammation when the immune system is chronically turned on. This chronic, low-grade inflammation is linked with several age-related diseases and is a significant factor in immunosenescence.
Senescent immune cells are more likely to produce inflammatory molecules, contributing to this chronic, low-grade inflammation.
Another example concerns macrophages, the immune cells that clean up dead cells and cellular debris. According to a paper from Frontiers in Immunology,aging promotes a shift to more pro-inflammatory macrophages, furthering cytokine production and inflammation levels in the body.
Some research also links inflammation and an overproduction of inflammatory cytokines to increased frailty and mortality in older adults.
What Influences How the Immune System Changes With Age?
Factors that influence immunosenescence include:
- Nutrition
- Genetics
- Physical activity
- Biological sex
- Previous exposure to infections
Can You Reverse or Slow Down Immunosenescence?
You can't slow down time, but there are some steps you can take that influence immune health and aging now at any age. The science behind immunosenescence and aging is complex. Still, lifestyle can affect how quickly your immune cells age.
Diet and InflammationThere's a well-established connection between nutrition and immune health, leading researchers to believe nutrition may also play a role in immunosenescence.
For example, the Mediterranean diet, high in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts, and fish, has been associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases. It also happens to be anti-inflammatory and could support lower inflammatory molecules and other markers of inflammation.
The Mediterranean diet also highlights fish, which contain omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids may help the immune system by supporting reductions in inflammatory cytokine production. They also influence T cell proliferation and other immune cell activity.
Micronutrients and Immune SupportAging can also impact the ability to absorb certain nutrients, further contributing to immunosenescence. Older adults often eat less, have a reduced appetite, and may have difficulty preparing meals, all of which can influence nutritional status and the health of immune cells.
Micronutrients are essential nutrients that the body needs in small amounts to function properly. Many are necessary for the overall function of your immune system. Supplementing with immune-supporting nutrients like vitamins A, D, C, and zinc can help offset the impact of age-related changes on the immune system.
For example, zinc is necessary for the development and function of immune cells. It can also help protect cells, including immune cells, from damage.
Low zinc status influences how well the immune system functions, but supplementing with zinc supports a healthy cellular immune response.
Similar results are seen with vitamin C, which supports healthy immune cells and is shown to reduce age-related oxidative stress.
Vitamin D also plays a role in the function of immune cells. Low vitamin D levels are associated with poor immune health, but supplementing with vitamin D could improve immune function.
Calorie Restriction and Immunosenescence
Calorie restriction may be another way to slow down the cellular aging process. Studies suggest that caloric restriction could help preserve immune function and delay the onset of age-related changes by reducing the number of inflammatory cytokines to help minimize the impact of inflammation on the body.
Caloric restriction induces autophagy, the process where old and damaged cells are removed to make way for healthy new cells. In one study, calorie restriction was found to reduce the number of senescent cells or cells that no longer function correctly.
Since extended calorie restriction is hard for many people to sustain, intermittent fasting has become an alternative to turn on some of the same anti-inflammatory pathways. Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating that alternates windows of eating with fasting—16 hours of fasting with 8 hours of eating is the most popular—and may prove to be a viable option to support a healthy immune response.
Physical Activity and Immune Health Support
In addition to nutrition, physical activity is another important factor in immunity and aging. Regular exercise is linked to immune health support by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
Exercise also helps reduce the number of senescent cells in the body. A study examining the effects of physical activity on aging found that moderate-intensity training preserved the number of naive T cells and reduced senescent T cells.
Reducing Stress Could Impact Immunosenescence
Chronic stress is another factor that can contribute to immunosenescence. When you're stressed, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol. Chronic stress can suppress the immune system, making you more susceptible to infection and illness.
A recent study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examining adults over age 50 found that living through trauma, discrimination, and chronic stress were all linked to age-related changes in immune health via T cell function.
There are many ways to manage stress, including exercise, relaxation techniques, and spending time with loved ones. You just have to find what works best for you. Taking time to relax and destress could help reduce stress's impact on the immune system and slow down the aging process.
Final Thoughts on Immune Health and Aging
Immunosenescence is the relationship between immune health and aging. As we age, our bodies undergo changes that can affect the function of our immune system. These changes can make us more susceptible to infection and illness.
Fortunately, there are things we can do to offset the impact of immunosenescence. Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and reducing stress could help slow down the aging process and preserve the function of your immune system. Additionally, supplementation with high-quality micronutrients could further support your immune cells.
By taking steps to preserve our immune function, we can help to protect ourselves against the effects of aging and stay healthy as we age.
NAD+ and Sun-Exposure
You know that short-term exposure to sunlight is important for your overall health—especially those hits of the morning sun when the UV rays are lower. Sunlight also helps vitamin D production and is known to increase serotonin levels, which can help decrease depression and anxiety, and help improve sleep quality. But there are few other things to keep in mind when it comes to the sun.
So let’s talk about what an excessive amount of sun exposure can do to your cellular health, specifically in terms of UV damage and other stressors.
So let’s talk about what an excessive amount of sun exposure can do to your cellular health, specifically in terms of UV damage and other stressors.
What is UV damage?
First, let’s take a look at how UV rays affect our cells. There are three types of UV rays: Ultraviolet A, B, and C, also known as UVA, UVB, and UVC.
The last two types, UVB and UVC, are mostly absorbed by the ozone layer, although UVB helps the body produce Vitamin D. That being said, the main ultraviolet radiation you’re exposed to here on earth comes from UVA. When you’re not properly protected by clothing or sunscreen, proteins and DNA are the primary targets for damage, which means your cells take the main hit and struggle to carry out their main functions, like energy production and repair. And if your cells can’t repair themselves, that’s where the aging process begins.
The last two types, UVB and UVC, are mostly absorbed by the ozone layer, although UVB helps the body produce Vitamin D. That being said, the main ultraviolet radiation you’re exposed to here on earth comes from UVA. When you’re not properly protected by clothing or sunscreen, proteins and DNA are the primary targets for damage, which means your cells take the main hit and struggle to carry out their main functions, like energy production and repair. And if your cells can’t repair themselves, that’s where the aging process begins.
What is cellular stress?
Excessive amounts of sunlight exposure stresses out your cells by depleting your NAD+, an important coenzyme in cellular energy and repair. Let’s take a look at why.
- Your body uses NAD+ to repair cells that become damaged as a direct result of prolonged UV exposure.
- A review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences suggests you’ll experience a greater sensitivity to sunlight if your NAD+ levels are depleted because UV rays have an adverse effect on cellular repair processes.
- Maintaining NAD+ levels helps support a family of enzymes called “sirtuins” that help maintain cellular health and repair cellular damage.
All in the family.
Sirtuins are a group of seven enzymes that help regulate overall cellular health like energy metabolism and stress response (e.g., what happens during UV exposure), which are all things that can affect the aging process. A review published in Trends in Cell Biology suggests sirtuins need to lean on NAD+ for help to do this job properly.
These sirtuins enzymes react to the amount of NAD+ in the cells, helping them respond to stress and maintain their overall health. Because we know that NAD+ levels decline as we age, this relationship between sirtuin activity and NAD+ effectively promotes cellular health and healthy aging.
These sirtuins enzymes react to the amount of NAD+ in the cells, helping them respond to stress and maintain their overall health. Because we know that NAD+ levels decline as we age, this relationship between sirtuin activity and NAD+ effectively promotes cellular health and healthy aging.
Protect yourself from the sun.
If you do step out into the sun, there a few things you can do to protect yourself:
- Cover up within 10-15 minutes of being in direct sunlight
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15+
- Try to limit prolonged sun exposure.
Nicotinamide Riboside Benefits
Often dubbed the "healthy aging" vitamin, nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a novel form of vitamin B3 that improves the way we age.
To understand how we age, we have to look at our bodies' underlying core processes. As we age, our bodies slow down. Our joints ache, our muscles grow weary, and the way we sleep and eat changes.
But the true culprits of how we age lie deep within our cells. Cells are the foundation of our biology, and improving their efficiency may hold the key to answer the fundamental question, "Is there a way for us to reverse aging?"
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) supports our mitochondria.
No miracle pill reverses aging, but scientists began investigating a specific organelle in the cell, called the mitochondria.
Research shows we make fewer mitochondria as we age and have attributed mitochondrial dysfunction as one of the hallmarks of aging.
You may remember mitochondria from your high school biology class. These tiny yet powerful factories are responsible for producing 90% of your cell's energy. Without our mitochondria, we would not exist as the complex organisms we are today.
Vitamin B3 is a necessary nutrient that supports normal mitochondria function. Although there are other variants of vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside is the most efficient form, like premium-grade fuel at a gas pump.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) boosts NAD+ effectively.
A significant reason why nicotinamide riboside is closely associated with aging research is because of the vitamin's unique ability to increase NAD+ efficiently.
NAD+ is required for specific enzymes in your mitochondria, playing a direct role in your cell's energy creation.
Unfortunately, there is evidence to suggest that age has a direct correlation to our NAD+ levels. Research from the University of New South Wales uncovered NAD+ levels decline by over 50% between the ages of 40 and 60, and low levels of NAD+ are linked to mitochondrial inefficiency.
Thankfully, a review paper published in the Translational Medicine of Aging shows the positive potential of boosting NAD+. The review states,
"NAD+ replenishment may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for aging and multiple conditions to improve the quality of life of the increasing aged population."
Why don't we take more NAD+?
Unfortunately, it's not so simple. NAD+ is very difficult to maintain in capsule form, and there are questions around its potency as a supplement. The molecule quickly degrades when exposed to light and heat and deteriorates when exposed to water.
Even if it were to maintain its pill form, your body doesn't appear to take NAD+ as readily. A paper in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology shows that our digestive process breaks down orally-administered NAD+ into common NAD+ precursors before the cells get a chance to absorb it.
To simplify the process for our bodies, researchers have examined NAD+ precursors instead. NAD+ precursors already exist in the staple diet today as vitamin B3.
However, most of the available vitamin B3 comes in the form of niacin. Niacin has been around for some time, but its unsightly symptom of skin flushing challenged researchers to look elsewhere.
Nicotinamide riboside is favored because it's absent of these skin flushing effects, but it also raises NAD+ more efficiently than other vitamin B3s.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) fights the effects of damaging free radicals.
Your mitochondria aren't perfect mechanisms. During their energy-making process, mitochondria produce byproducts--free radicals.
Free radicals can wreak havoc on your cells, damaging essential cell functions.
In standard settings, your body naturally produces enough antioxidants to combat these free radicals. However, certain situations of metabolic stress can tip the scales.
Lifestyle behaviors such as poor diet, drinking, sedentary behavior, sleep deprivation, and long-term sun exposure can all lead to an imbalance between your free radicals and antioxidants.
How does this happen? Your body requires significant energy resources to combat and recover from these activities, so your mitochondria kick into overdrive to provide the energy and offset the sudden demand.
By boosting NAD+, nicotinamide riboside can help limit free radical damage.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) promotes cell repair.
Nicotinamide riboside activates sirtuin activity in the cell. Sirtuins are a class of enzymes in the body responsible for gene regulation, the systemic process of turning certain parts of your genetic code on and off.
Why is this system important? Turning off specific genes, aka "silencing," is critical to regulating the cell, maintaining its shape and health for optimal function.
But sirtuins play a critical role in cell repair as well. A review published in the Current Opinion in Genetics & Development states,
“In the past decade, the roles of sirtuins in maintaining genomic stability have been described, as regulators of DNA repair pathways, chromatin structure, and telomere maintenance.”
Like the mitochondrial enzymes, sirtuins cannot operate without the help of the coenzyme NAD+. And nicotinamide riboside helps boost NAD+, activating cell repair in effect.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) supports heart health.
Your heart is one of the most critical organs in your body, requiring loads of energy to sustain your heartbeat.
Being one of the most energy-expensive functions in the body, thousands of mitochondria churn out energy in your heart cells.
However, your heart's physiology can change with age. Your valves can become stiff, your heart walls can grow thick, and your heart's mitochondria can become less efficient.
A review from Circulation Research shows that your mitochondrial count in cardiac cells declines as you age. Fewer mitochondria leave less help to divide the work—the labor of generating energy for your heart cells.
In combination with a healthy diet and exercise lifestyle, nicotinamide riboside supports your heart health by supporting your mitochondria.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) helps support healthy muscles.
When you think about how nicotinamide riboside fuels your body's cellular energy, the first thing you might wonder is how it affects your workout.
Like the heart, your muscle cells require thousands of mitochondria because of their unique energy demand. And where there are mitochondria, there needs to be an abundant amount of NAD+.
A review published in Skeletal Muscle notes the need for NAD+ in muscle development. The abstract states,
"The vast majority of studies indicate that lower NAD+ levels are deleterious for muscle health and higher NAD+ levels augment muscle health."
But muscle function isn't all about energy and its expense. Every workout needs a recovery period, and with it comes sore muscles and a bag of ice. How does NAD+ play a role post-exercise?
According to a review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, the NAD-dependent enzymes, sirtuins, play a critical role in muscle repair. In response to exercise, sirtuins activate two functions that enable the body to be more readily prepared for your next workout: (1) mitochondrial biogenesis and (2) oxidative capacity.
Nicotinamide riboside is the most efficient way to boost NAD+, best serving these NAD-dependent mechanisms in muscle cells.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) promotes healthy aging.
"Anti-aging" is a marketing gimmick. There are no products out there that can effectively reverse the aging process. Instead, the World Health Organization (WHO) is focused on promoting the idea of healthy aging.
The WHO defines healthy aging as "the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age."
Healthy aging is about maximizing your lifetime to its fullest potential, retaining your independence and mobility.
Nicotinamide riboside is classified as a healthy aging supplement because of its unique ability to support health on a cellular level at any age. By targeting the maintenance of cells, NR helps your cells sustain their resilience to aging.
Although being called the "anti-aging" pill is more of a misnomer, nicotinamide riboside's unique role in countering everyday wear and tear directly contributes to anyone's desire to age gracefully.
To understand how we age, we have to look at our bodies' underlying core processes. As we age, our bodies slow down. Our joints ache, our muscles grow weary, and the way we sleep and eat changes.
But the true culprits of how we age lie deep within our cells. Cells are the foundation of our biology, and improving their efficiency may hold the key to answer the fundamental question, "Is there a way for us to reverse aging?"
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) supports our mitochondria.
No miracle pill reverses aging, but scientists began investigating a specific organelle in the cell, called the mitochondria.
Research shows we make fewer mitochondria as we age and have attributed mitochondrial dysfunction as one of the hallmarks of aging.
You may remember mitochondria from your high school biology class. These tiny yet powerful factories are responsible for producing 90% of your cell's energy. Without our mitochondria, we would not exist as the complex organisms we are today.
Vitamin B3 is a necessary nutrient that supports normal mitochondria function. Although there are other variants of vitamin B3, nicotinamide riboside is the most efficient form, like premium-grade fuel at a gas pump.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) boosts NAD+ effectively.
A significant reason why nicotinamide riboside is closely associated with aging research is because of the vitamin's unique ability to increase NAD+ efficiently.
NAD+ is required for specific enzymes in your mitochondria, playing a direct role in your cell's energy creation.
Unfortunately, there is evidence to suggest that age has a direct correlation to our NAD+ levels. Research from the University of New South Wales uncovered NAD+ levels decline by over 50% between the ages of 40 and 60, and low levels of NAD+ are linked to mitochondrial inefficiency.
Thankfully, a review paper published in the Translational Medicine of Aging shows the positive potential of boosting NAD+. The review states,
"NAD+ replenishment may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for aging and multiple conditions to improve the quality of life of the increasing aged population."
Why don't we take more NAD+?
Unfortunately, it's not so simple. NAD+ is very difficult to maintain in capsule form, and there are questions around its potency as a supplement. The molecule quickly degrades when exposed to light and heat and deteriorates when exposed to water.
Even if it were to maintain its pill form, your body doesn't appear to take NAD+ as readily. A paper in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology shows that our digestive process breaks down orally-administered NAD+ into common NAD+ precursors before the cells get a chance to absorb it.
To simplify the process for our bodies, researchers have examined NAD+ precursors instead. NAD+ precursors already exist in the staple diet today as vitamin B3.
However, most of the available vitamin B3 comes in the form of niacin. Niacin has been around for some time, but its unsightly symptom of skin flushing challenged researchers to look elsewhere.
Nicotinamide riboside is favored because it's absent of these skin flushing effects, but it also raises NAD+ more efficiently than other vitamin B3s.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) fights the effects of damaging free radicals.
Your mitochondria aren't perfect mechanisms. During their energy-making process, mitochondria produce byproducts--free radicals.
Free radicals can wreak havoc on your cells, damaging essential cell functions.
In standard settings, your body naturally produces enough antioxidants to combat these free radicals. However, certain situations of metabolic stress can tip the scales.
Lifestyle behaviors such as poor diet, drinking, sedentary behavior, sleep deprivation, and long-term sun exposure can all lead to an imbalance between your free radicals and antioxidants.
How does this happen? Your body requires significant energy resources to combat and recover from these activities, so your mitochondria kick into overdrive to provide the energy and offset the sudden demand.
By boosting NAD+, nicotinamide riboside can help limit free radical damage.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) promotes cell repair.
Nicotinamide riboside activates sirtuin activity in the cell. Sirtuins are a class of enzymes in the body responsible for gene regulation, the systemic process of turning certain parts of your genetic code on and off.
Why is this system important? Turning off specific genes, aka "silencing," is critical to regulating the cell, maintaining its shape and health for optimal function.
But sirtuins play a critical role in cell repair as well. A review published in the Current Opinion in Genetics & Development states,
“In the past decade, the roles of sirtuins in maintaining genomic stability have been described, as regulators of DNA repair pathways, chromatin structure, and telomere maintenance.”
Like the mitochondrial enzymes, sirtuins cannot operate without the help of the coenzyme NAD+. And nicotinamide riboside helps boost NAD+, activating cell repair in effect.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) supports heart health.
Your heart is one of the most critical organs in your body, requiring loads of energy to sustain your heartbeat.
Being one of the most energy-expensive functions in the body, thousands of mitochondria churn out energy in your heart cells.
However, your heart's physiology can change with age. Your valves can become stiff, your heart walls can grow thick, and your heart's mitochondria can become less efficient.
A review from Circulation Research shows that your mitochondrial count in cardiac cells declines as you age. Fewer mitochondria leave less help to divide the work—the labor of generating energy for your heart cells.
In combination with a healthy diet and exercise lifestyle, nicotinamide riboside supports your heart health by supporting your mitochondria.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) helps support healthy muscles.
When you think about how nicotinamide riboside fuels your body's cellular energy, the first thing you might wonder is how it affects your workout.
Like the heart, your muscle cells require thousands of mitochondria because of their unique energy demand. And where there are mitochondria, there needs to be an abundant amount of NAD+.
A review published in Skeletal Muscle notes the need for NAD+ in muscle development. The abstract states,
"The vast majority of studies indicate that lower NAD+ levels are deleterious for muscle health and higher NAD+ levels augment muscle health."
But muscle function isn't all about energy and its expense. Every workout needs a recovery period, and with it comes sore muscles and a bag of ice. How does NAD+ play a role post-exercise?
According to a review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, the NAD-dependent enzymes, sirtuins, play a critical role in muscle repair. In response to exercise, sirtuins activate two functions that enable the body to be more readily prepared for your next workout: (1) mitochondrial biogenesis and (2) oxidative capacity.
- (1) Mitochondrial biogenesis is a process where the body creates more mitochondria. With more mitochondria, the body is more readily capable of supporting the increase in energy demand that comes with exercise.
- (2) Oxidative capacity is a measure of a muscle's maximal capacity to use oxygen. With higher oxidative capacity, the muscle can exert greater efficiency.
Nicotinamide riboside is the most efficient way to boost NAD+, best serving these NAD-dependent mechanisms in muscle cells.
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) promotes healthy aging.
"Anti-aging" is a marketing gimmick. There are no products out there that can effectively reverse the aging process. Instead, the World Health Organization (WHO) is focused on promoting the idea of healthy aging.
The WHO defines healthy aging as "the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age."
Healthy aging is about maximizing your lifetime to its fullest potential, retaining your independence and mobility.
Nicotinamide riboside is classified as a healthy aging supplement because of its unique ability to support health on a cellular level at any age. By targeting the maintenance of cells, NR helps your cells sustain their resilience to aging.
Although being called the "anti-aging" pill is more of a misnomer, nicotinamide riboside's unique role in countering everyday wear and tear directly contributes to anyone's desire to age gracefully.
5 Things Andrew Hughes Couldn’t Live Without on Everest
Andrew Hughes is a Tru Believer and explorer, setting his sights on climbing the Seven Summits (the highest mountains on all seven continents) and reaching both planetary poles.
Here are the five things Hughes couldn't live without when summiting Mt. Everest.
1. Coffee Packets
Coffee is a great way to start the day while I'm still waking up in my sleeping bag. And many brands have great single-serve packets that are considered mountain gold because of their ease of use in rough terrain.
How did it help you on Everest?
Coffee helps combat some of the symptoms of altitude sickness. It also helps get fluids in for hydration despite the diuretic aspects of it. And it's a great small mountain treat that's easy to pack.
2. eBooks
A great way to pass the hours tucked in a sleeping bag, lodged in a tent alongside a mountain, is reading a library of books that's easily accessible by phone.
How did it help you on Everest?
One of the hardest parts of long expeditions is the many days spent not climbing at all. I spent days stuck in tents, acclimating to different altitudes, or waiting for bad weather to pass.
Mental health and self-care are crucial parts of my success, and finding stories and worlds to escape to allows the mind to reside elsewhere.
Everest required numerous days of acclimating at different camps. We were also hit regularly with brutal weather, further delaying the expedition.
On our final push to the summit, I read four full books over 11 days while fully-zipped into my sleeping bag to keep warm and prolong my phone's battery.
3. Recovery Drink Mix
I drink GU Roctane Recovery Drink Mix, which provides 20g of fast-acting whey protein to stimulate muscle recovery and repair, helping reduce muscle damage and soreness. Each serving also offers fast-acting carbohydrates to replenish muscle glycogen stores. It also provides sodium, the primary electrolyte lost in sweat, to aid in rehydration.
How did it help you on Everest?
Quality nutrition is always a challenge when climbing. My body is always in caloric deficit after 10+ hours at high altitudes. And big mountains create a challenging trick on the body. The higher I climb, the more calories my body needs. But most of the time, I lose my appetite right when I need it most.
These protein-recovery shakes became a vital source of nutrition and hydration during my summit push.
4. My Summit Proposal
Flag The most important flag I have ever carried to a summit was when I asked my girlfriend Lauren if she would marry me.
How did it help you on Everest?
I never reach the summit alone. All the love and support throughout my training and expedition comes with me. There is no way I would have realized my dreams without Lauren and my fellow loved ones.
Standing atop the world, I wanted Lauren to know that her love is my greatest height of happiness and that no mountain in life is too high for us.
5. Tru Niagen®
Every morning as part of my self-care ritual, I take three Tru Niagen® capsules.
Fortunately, a yak kindly carried my supplement bottles on our trek to Everest Base Camp. But for the journey up the mountain, I had to create carefully planned daily supplement packets optimized for weight and safety and tucked them in my pack.
How did it help you on Everest?
Everest Base Camp has an elevation of 17,500 ft., and being at a high altitude punishes the body, so it was vital for me to find ways to sustain the health and strength demanded to reach the summit at 29,032 ft. and descend safely.
With Tru Niagen®, I knew I was fortifying my success by mitigating cellular damage, aiding in my recovery, and providing additional cellular energy.
What's next for Andrew?
Andrew will be aiming to reach the North Pole by ski in April 2022.
If successful, he will complete the Three Poles Challenge (reaching the North and South Poles + summiting Mt. Everest) and the Explorers Grand Slam (triumphing the Seven Summits + North and South Poles).
Fewer than 70 people have completed the Explorers Grand Slam.
Andrew Hughes is a paid spokesperson for Tru Niagen®.
Andrew Hughes is a Tru Believer and explorer, setting his sights on climbing the Seven Summits (the highest mountains on all seven continents) and reaching both planetary poles.
Here are the five things Hughes couldn't live without when summiting Mt. Everest.
1. Coffee Packets
Coffee is a great way to start the day while I'm still waking up in my sleeping bag. And many brands have great single-serve packets that are considered mountain gold because of their ease of use in rough terrain.
How did it help you on Everest?
Coffee helps combat some of the symptoms of altitude sickness. It also helps get fluids in for hydration despite the diuretic aspects of it. And it's a great small mountain treat that's easy to pack.
2. eBooks
A great way to pass the hours tucked in a sleeping bag, lodged in a tent alongside a mountain, is reading a library of books that's easily accessible by phone.
How did it help you on Everest?
One of the hardest parts of long expeditions is the many days spent not climbing at all. I spent days stuck in tents, acclimating to different altitudes, or waiting for bad weather to pass.
Mental health and self-care are crucial parts of my success, and finding stories and worlds to escape to allows the mind to reside elsewhere.
Everest required numerous days of acclimating at different camps. We were also hit regularly with brutal weather, further delaying the expedition.
On our final push to the summit, I read four full books over 11 days while fully-zipped into my sleeping bag to keep warm and prolong my phone's battery.
3. Recovery Drink Mix
I drink GU Roctane Recovery Drink Mix, which provides 20g of fast-acting whey protein to stimulate muscle recovery and repair, helping reduce muscle damage and soreness. Each serving also offers fast-acting carbohydrates to replenish muscle glycogen stores. It also provides sodium, the primary electrolyte lost in sweat, to aid in rehydration.
How did it help you on Everest?
Quality nutrition is always a challenge when climbing. My body is always in caloric deficit after 10+ hours at high altitudes. And big mountains create a challenging trick on the body. The higher I climb, the more calories my body needs. But most of the time, I lose my appetite right when I need it most.
These protein-recovery shakes became a vital source of nutrition and hydration during my summit push.
4. My Summit Proposal
Flag The most important flag I have ever carried to a summit was when I asked my girlfriend Lauren if she would marry me.
How did it help you on Everest?
I never reach the summit alone. All the love and support throughout my training and expedition comes with me. There is no way I would have realized my dreams without Lauren and my fellow loved ones.
Standing atop the world, I wanted Lauren to know that her love is my greatest height of happiness and that no mountain in life is too high for us.
5. Tru Niagen®
Every morning as part of my self-care ritual, I take three Tru Niagen® capsules.
Fortunately, a yak kindly carried my supplement bottles on our trek to Everest Base Camp. But for the journey up the mountain, I had to create carefully planned daily supplement packets optimized for weight and safety and tucked them in my pack.
How did it help you on Everest?
Everest Base Camp has an elevation of 17,500 ft., and being at a high altitude punishes the body, so it was vital for me to find ways to sustain the health and strength demanded to reach the summit at 29,032 ft. and descend safely.
With Tru Niagen®, I knew I was fortifying my success by mitigating cellular damage, aiding in my recovery, and providing additional cellular energy.
What's next for Andrew?
Andrew will be aiming to reach the North Pole by ski in April 2022.
If successful, he will complete the Three Poles Challenge (reaching the North and South Poles + summiting Mt. Everest) and the Explorers Grand Slam (triumphing the Seven Summits + North and South Poles).
Fewer than 70 people have completed the Explorers Grand Slam.
Andrew Hughes is a paid spokesperson for Tru Niagen®.
A Closer Look into NAD+ IV Therapy
Research around NAD+’s role with aging continues to receive widespread attention in the scientific community.
For example, a team of researchers in New South Wales suggests low levels of NAD+ are linked to mitochondrial inefficiency, one of the nine hallmarks of aging.
NAD+ is a vital coenzyme that functions mainly in the mitochondria of our cells. It declines as we age, reaching a pivotal downward trend between the ages of 40 and 60, according to the same New South Wales study.
Although natural methods, like caloric restriction and moderate exercise, can increase your NAD+ levels, supplements have proven to be an easy way to replenish the necessary nutrients for maintaining NAD+. However, lately, NAD+ IV therapy has received a lot of buzz as a new way to boost this critical molecule.
What is NAD+ IV therapy?
Growing in popularity with wellness blogs and podcasts, you may have heard about IV treatments being provided at trendy wellness spas that feature vitamin infusions. These types of therapies claim to boost immunity, cure hangovers, detox the body, and promote youthful qualities.
IV therapies, or intravenous therapies, administer nutrients through a vein using a standard saline solution.
These treatments usually happen in clinics, wellness spas, or via at-home service where customers opt for monthly or even weekly IV sessions.
Unlike most NAD+ boosting supplements that use precursor ingredients like nicotinamide riboside or niacin, IV therapy sessions typically use NAD+ as the direct delivery.
NAD+ IV sessions cost around $600 for up to 60 minutes of treatment. The course of the therapy ranges anywhere from six to eight weeks, and some providers even offer packages of sessions, much like physical training packages at gyms.
While it depends on the length of treatment and the location, a full course of treatment might cost up to $15,000 over the span of a year.
What does NAD+ IV Therapy treat?
The market for NAD+ IV therapy uses heavy language around longevity and anti-aging. Services target people experiencing fatigue, cognitive decline, chronic pain, and sleep disruption. The promise they deliver is that the therapy will help you feel “young and rejuvenated.”
In more bold cases, these IV therapy clinics claim that NAD+ IV treatment may provide relief or lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases.
Overall, the language is largely exaggerated and is absent of adequate substantiation. The few that provide a scientific basis usually reference a pre-clinical trial (studies on animal subjects) or a study that uses oral supplementation of NAD+ or an NAD+ precursor. The differences in intake and ingredients are quite important as the science differs depending on these factors.
Is NAD+ IV therapy effective?
Providers of NAD+ IV therapy claim that an intravenous solution is more effective because it bypasses the digestive system, allowing your body to feel the effects quicker.
Many wellness clinics and doctors cite a Harvard Medical School study that states NAD+ IV therapy has a proven 87% success rate. However, the study speaks only about the use of NAD+ precursors, not the actual use of intravenous administration for NAD+.
Broadly speaking, the effectiveness of direct NAD+ supplementation is in question. NAD+ is a large, phosphorylated molecule, and it can not directly permeate the cell wall.
A published study from the Journal of Biological Chemistry shows that your body breaks NAD+ down into smaller precursors before absorbing it into the cell. Once through, your cells convert the precursors back to NAD+.
This arduous process denotes direct NAD+ supplementation, whether through intravenous methods or oral-administration, may not be the best solution to elevating NAD+ levels.
NPR also notes these NAD+ IV treatments often contain other nutritional supplements, like amino acids mixed with NAD+, so it’s difficult to attribute the success of the therapies to NAD+ alone.
Put simply; the scientific community just doesn't know enough about NAD+ IV therapy to make conclusive recommendations.
Can NAD+ IV Therapy help addiction patients?
The most interesting claim surrounding NAD+ IV therapy is its supposed benefit for treating alcohol and drug addiction patients.
NAD+’s benefits to addiction patients are illustrated deeply in works like Paul Norris Mestayer’s, Addiction the Dark Night of the Soul, NAD+ the Light of Hope. However, most of this evidence is anecdotal with no use or basis in the scientific method.
Testimonies of NAD+ IV therapies in patients claim that it can curb cravings and lower the instances of hallucinations. Clinics market the treatment armed with similar stories.
Unfortunately, unfounded claims like these are nothing new. NPR notes, “Unsubstantiated claims have long been a part of addiction treatment. For instance, in the late 19th century, a doctor dubbed his formula the "Double Chloride of Gold Cure" and sold it via mail order for addiction, claiming a 95% cure rate.”
Follow the science.
The science behind NAD+ is progressing rather fervently, but so is the fanfare around it. While NAD+ IV therapy has some interesting anecdotal evidence, it's difficult to support its methodology without concrete science.
The conversation around elevating NAD+ in connection with aging is serious and by no means a farce, but it's important for us to check for the following things when it comes to products or services that claim to elevate NAD+:
When in doubt, follow the science. Look for published studies and check out the ingredient on www.clinicaltrials.gov. Each study should give an adequate description of the product being tested in their trials.
It’s your right to be informed of the products you put into your body. After all, your health is an investment. And a little research and know-how can go a long way.
Research around NAD+’s role with aging continues to receive widespread attention in the scientific community.
For example, a team of researchers in New South Wales suggests low levels of NAD+ are linked to mitochondrial inefficiency, one of the nine hallmarks of aging.
NAD+ is a vital coenzyme that functions mainly in the mitochondria of our cells. It declines as we age, reaching a pivotal downward trend between the ages of 40 and 60, according to the same New South Wales study.
Although natural methods, like caloric restriction and moderate exercise, can increase your NAD+ levels, supplements have proven to be an easy way to replenish the necessary nutrients for maintaining NAD+. However, lately, NAD+ IV therapy has received a lot of buzz as a new way to boost this critical molecule.
What is NAD+ IV therapy?
Growing in popularity with wellness blogs and podcasts, you may have heard about IV treatments being provided at trendy wellness spas that feature vitamin infusions. These types of therapies claim to boost immunity, cure hangovers, detox the body, and promote youthful qualities.
IV therapies, or intravenous therapies, administer nutrients through a vein using a standard saline solution.
These treatments usually happen in clinics, wellness spas, or via at-home service where customers opt for monthly or even weekly IV sessions.
Unlike most NAD+ boosting supplements that use precursor ingredients like nicotinamide riboside or niacin, IV therapy sessions typically use NAD+ as the direct delivery.
NAD+ IV sessions cost around $600 for up to 60 minutes of treatment. The course of the therapy ranges anywhere from six to eight weeks, and some providers even offer packages of sessions, much like physical training packages at gyms.
While it depends on the length of treatment and the location, a full course of treatment might cost up to $15,000 over the span of a year.
What does NAD+ IV Therapy treat?
The market for NAD+ IV therapy uses heavy language around longevity and anti-aging. Services target people experiencing fatigue, cognitive decline, chronic pain, and sleep disruption. The promise they deliver is that the therapy will help you feel “young and rejuvenated.”
In more bold cases, these IV therapy clinics claim that NAD+ IV treatment may provide relief or lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases.
Overall, the language is largely exaggerated and is absent of adequate substantiation. The few that provide a scientific basis usually reference a pre-clinical trial (studies on animal subjects) or a study that uses oral supplementation of NAD+ or an NAD+ precursor. The differences in intake and ingredients are quite important as the science differs depending on these factors.
Is NAD+ IV therapy effective?
Providers of NAD+ IV therapy claim that an intravenous solution is more effective because it bypasses the digestive system, allowing your body to feel the effects quicker.
Many wellness clinics and doctors cite a Harvard Medical School study that states NAD+ IV therapy has a proven 87% success rate. However, the study speaks only about the use of NAD+ precursors, not the actual use of intravenous administration for NAD+.
Broadly speaking, the effectiveness of direct NAD+ supplementation is in question. NAD+ is a large, phosphorylated molecule, and it can not directly permeate the cell wall.
A published study from the Journal of Biological Chemistry shows that your body breaks NAD+ down into smaller precursors before absorbing it into the cell. Once through, your cells convert the precursors back to NAD+.
This arduous process denotes direct NAD+ supplementation, whether through intravenous methods or oral-administration, may not be the best solution to elevating NAD+ levels.
NPR also notes these NAD+ IV treatments often contain other nutritional supplements, like amino acids mixed with NAD+, so it’s difficult to attribute the success of the therapies to NAD+ alone.
Put simply; the scientific community just doesn't know enough about NAD+ IV therapy to make conclusive recommendations.
Can NAD+ IV Therapy help addiction patients?
The most interesting claim surrounding NAD+ IV therapy is its supposed benefit for treating alcohol and drug addiction patients.
NAD+’s benefits to addiction patients are illustrated deeply in works like Paul Norris Mestayer’s, Addiction the Dark Night of the Soul, NAD+ the Light of Hope. However, most of this evidence is anecdotal with no use or basis in the scientific method.
Testimonies of NAD+ IV therapies in patients claim that it can curb cravings and lower the instances of hallucinations. Clinics market the treatment armed with similar stories.
Unfortunately, unfounded claims like these are nothing new. NPR notes, “Unsubstantiated claims have long been a part of addiction treatment. For instance, in the late 19th century, a doctor dubbed his formula the "Double Chloride of Gold Cure" and sold it via mail order for addiction, claiming a 95% cure rate.”
Follow the science.
The science behind NAD+ is progressing rather fervently, but so is the fanfare around it. While NAD+ IV therapy has some interesting anecdotal evidence, it's difficult to support its methodology without concrete science.
The conversation around elevating NAD+ in connection with aging is serious and by no means a farce, but it's important for us to check for the following things when it comes to products or services that claim to elevate NAD+:
- What’s the active ingredient? Some may use precursors. Some may use direct NAD+. Your experience will be heavily impacted by the kind of ingredient used in your regimen. We outline those differences here.
- Where is the product sourced? For example, not all nicotinamide riboside ingredients are the same. Does the product contain the patented form or an unverified 3rd party?
- Check for the clinical studies. We provide an important checklist of things you should review here when reviewing a supplement’s clinical research.
- Where is the product manufactured? Is it cGMP certified? Are there any other safety certifications?
- Has the ingredient been reviewed by a pertinent regulatory authority?
When in doubt, follow the science. Look for published studies and check out the ingredient on www.clinicaltrials.gov. Each study should give an adequate description of the product being tested in their trials.
It’s your right to be informed of the products you put into your body. After all, your health is an investment. And a little research and know-how can go a long way.
What Does “Nature-Identical” Mean?
Imagine two molecules. One molecule exists in the natural world. The other is made in a lab. There is no structural or chemical difference between the two. Under a microscope and in the body, they look and behave the same, despite their contrasting origins.
When a man-made molecule structurally mirrors a naturally occurring molecule, it is referred to as “nature-identical.”
Why are nature-identical compounds important?
Our cells can do it all— repair, rebuild, defend, and energize. They’re our smallest, hardest working parts.
Surprisingly, our cells are also a bit naive. While cells’ nuclei act as command centers, cells are guided by biological signals rather than a formal consciousness.
Cells can’t tell the difference between a natural molecule and its man-made doppelganger.
However, scientists have extensive experience with naturally-occurring nutrients. They understand the risks, benefits, and chemistry that defines these molecules. They understand how the human body typically responds. And they can use this knowledge to amplify the power of a natural molecule.
The potential of nature-identical substrates can be of enormous benefit to your health. Creating a nature-identical molecule can make a nutrient or vitamin more easily obtainable.
Natural and nature-identical sources of nutrients.
The human body rarely produces micronutrients in ideal quantities. A nutrient must often be obtained externally (as food or a supplement) to achieve adequate levels. Commercial vitamins and supplements are typically nature-identical molecules that help to provide the sufficient quantity of a nutrient your body needs.
Take vitamin C, for example. “Humans, unlike most animals, are unable to synthesize vitamin C endogenously” (within their own bodies). Vitamin C is a vital dietary component for immune function and protein metabolism. It is widely used and is available in dietary supplements and in foods like oranges, strawberries, and broccoli. Your cells, and your body at large, uses nature-identical and citrus-sourced vitamin C in the exact same way.
Some nutrients can be more challenging to obtain solely through organic material.
Nicotinamide riboside is an example of a naturally-occurring nutrient whose nature-identical form may offer a unique convenience.
Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3. This molecule increases the production of NAD+ in all cells. Your mitochondria, the powerhouses within each cell, use NAD+ to generate the energy that powers cellular function and repair. Every cell needs NAD+ to perform properly, and as natural NAD+ production declines with age, our energy and functions experience the same slow-down.
Nicotinamide riboside is naturally present in milk (and avocados to a lesser extent). To receive an ideal serving of nicotinamide riboside from purely natural sources, you would have to drink more than 1000 glasses of milk per day.
This quota would be difficult to achieve. Also, for lactose-intolerant consumers, even a single glass of milk can be unpleasant. Fortunately, nicotinamide riboside is commercially available for the consumer in a nature-identical form called Niagen®. A single, 300mg serving of Niagen® provides a sufficient daily value of nicotinamide riboside for any adult.
Doesn’t nature-identical just mean synthetic?
Nature-identical molecules are synthesized in a laboratory and are created by scientists. Yet nature-identical is not a perfect synonym for synthetic.
While molecules like Niagen® are synthesized, they are identical chemical replicas of a naturally-occurring molecule. The same is true for the most popular nutrients on the market, like vitamin C and vitamin E.
However, new molecules can be created without using an existing ingredient as a guide.
Whether a synthetic molecule is nature-identical depends on the process involved in its creation.
Are synthetics unhealthy?
Synthetic molecules are not inherently unhealthy.
Many of the health products we rely on are synthetic, from vitamins to medications, to sports products.
In fact, most medications are entirely synthetic. When you reach for an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, you are easing symptoms with a man-made product.
The safety of a product will depend on the characteristics of the substance. A question you need to ask yourself as you shop: “Is this molecule’s compatibility with my health fostered by rigorous science?”
Clinical testing, quality control, and good manufacturing practices all lower the margins of error on a health product.
Synthetic is a neutral term. Whether a synthetic ingredient is healthy or unhealthy depends on the characteristics of the ingredient, the manufacturing process, and the unique needs of the consumer. Synthetic molecules can be genuinely beneficial, as long as they are scientifically validated.
How do nature-identical molecules benefit me?
Used correctly, nature-identical ingredients can add another line of support to your health routine.
To get the most out of your nutrients, increase your consumption of vitamin-rich whole foods. Where further aid is needed, opt for a nature-identical supplement to fill in nutritional gaps. Natural and synthetic micronutrients can work together to give your system the best support.
When it comes to your health, always trust expert information, and remain curious about your unique nutritional needs.
Ultimately, nature-identical substances contribute to the accessibility of good health.
When a man-made molecule structurally mirrors a naturally occurring molecule, it is referred to as “nature-identical.”
Why are nature-identical compounds important?
Our cells can do it all— repair, rebuild, defend, and energize. They’re our smallest, hardest working parts.
Surprisingly, our cells are also a bit naive. While cells’ nuclei act as command centers, cells are guided by biological signals rather than a formal consciousness.
Cells can’t tell the difference between a natural molecule and its man-made doppelganger.
However, scientists have extensive experience with naturally-occurring nutrients. They understand the risks, benefits, and chemistry that defines these molecules. They understand how the human body typically responds. And they can use this knowledge to amplify the power of a natural molecule.
The potential of nature-identical substrates can be of enormous benefit to your health. Creating a nature-identical molecule can make a nutrient or vitamin more easily obtainable.
Natural and nature-identical sources of nutrients.
The human body rarely produces micronutrients in ideal quantities. A nutrient must often be obtained externally (as food or a supplement) to achieve adequate levels. Commercial vitamins and supplements are typically nature-identical molecules that help to provide the sufficient quantity of a nutrient your body needs.
Take vitamin C, for example. “Humans, unlike most animals, are unable to synthesize vitamin C endogenously” (within their own bodies). Vitamin C is a vital dietary component for immune function and protein metabolism. It is widely used and is available in dietary supplements and in foods like oranges, strawberries, and broccoli. Your cells, and your body at large, uses nature-identical and citrus-sourced vitamin C in the exact same way.
Some nutrients can be more challenging to obtain solely through organic material.
Nicotinamide riboside is an example of a naturally-occurring nutrient whose nature-identical form may offer a unique convenience.
Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3. This molecule increases the production of NAD+ in all cells. Your mitochondria, the powerhouses within each cell, use NAD+ to generate the energy that powers cellular function and repair. Every cell needs NAD+ to perform properly, and as natural NAD+ production declines with age, our energy and functions experience the same slow-down.
Nicotinamide riboside is naturally present in milk (and avocados to a lesser extent). To receive an ideal serving of nicotinamide riboside from purely natural sources, you would have to drink more than 1000 glasses of milk per day.
This quota would be difficult to achieve. Also, for lactose-intolerant consumers, even a single glass of milk can be unpleasant. Fortunately, nicotinamide riboside is commercially available for the consumer in a nature-identical form called Niagen®. A single, 300mg serving of Niagen® provides a sufficient daily value of nicotinamide riboside for any adult.
Doesn’t nature-identical just mean synthetic?
Nature-identical molecules are synthesized in a laboratory and are created by scientists. Yet nature-identical is not a perfect synonym for synthetic.
While molecules like Niagen® are synthesized, they are identical chemical replicas of a naturally-occurring molecule. The same is true for the most popular nutrients on the market, like vitamin C and vitamin E.
However, new molecules can be created without using an existing ingredient as a guide.
Whether a synthetic molecule is nature-identical depends on the process involved in its creation.
Are synthetics unhealthy?
Synthetic molecules are not inherently unhealthy.
Many of the health products we rely on are synthetic, from vitamins to medications, to sports products.
In fact, most medications are entirely synthetic. When you reach for an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, you are easing symptoms with a man-made product.
The safety of a product will depend on the characteristics of the substance. A question you need to ask yourself as you shop: “Is this molecule’s compatibility with my health fostered by rigorous science?”
Clinical testing, quality control, and good manufacturing practices all lower the margins of error on a health product.
Synthetic is a neutral term. Whether a synthetic ingredient is healthy or unhealthy depends on the characteristics of the ingredient, the manufacturing process, and the unique needs of the consumer. Synthetic molecules can be genuinely beneficial, as long as they are scientifically validated.
How do nature-identical molecules benefit me?
Used correctly, nature-identical ingredients can add another line of support to your health routine.
To get the most out of your nutrients, increase your consumption of vitamin-rich whole foods. Where further aid is needed, opt for a nature-identical supplement to fill in nutritional gaps. Natural and synthetic micronutrients can work together to give your system the best support.
When it comes to your health, always trust expert information, and remain curious about your unique nutritional needs.
Ultimately, nature-identical substances contribute to the accessibility of good health.
Understanding the Aging Process
By Dr. Sandra Kaufmann, author of Why We Age and How to Stop It and the founder of The Kaufmann Anti-Aging Institute.
The search for the “fountain of youth” is as old as time itself. While we all know there’s no miracle pill to reverse aging, there are many steps we can take to get rid of our grey hairs, treat wrinkles, and ease the pain in our joints.
Research shows the best way to understand what’s happening on the outside is to look within.
What are the seven tenets of aging?
On a molecular level, organisms age because their cells age. Our bodies are a well-oiled machine, and as the various parts wear away and falter, so do we.
Understanding what happens on a cellular level is key to understanding aging. My protocol on aging organizes the various theories of cellular aging into seven categories, or tenets. The seven tenets are information systems (DNA), cellular energy, cellular pathways, quality control (cellular repair), immune system, individual cell aging, and waste management.
To age healthier, we must develop a wellness regimen to cater to these seven tenants. Besides a healthy diet and regular exercise, one promising and evidence-based approach to add to your wellness regime is NAD+ supplementation.
NAD+ and the aging process.
All of our cells rely on the coenzyme NAD+ to generate the energy they need to function at their best. Research shows that the NAD+ levels in our bodies decline by up to 50% between the ages of 40 and 60.
The reduction in NAD+ as we age corresponds with a decline in our cell’s ability to produce energy and function properly. Other factors that may deplete NAD+ levels include metabolic stressors, such as overeating, sun exposure, sleep disruption, and alcohol consumption.
This natural decline may be at the heart of several tenets of aging.
NAD+ and cellular energy.
NAD+ is essential to the production of cellular energy. NAD+ works alongside coenzyme Q10 and several enzymes in a cellular organelle called the mitochondria to produce the energy that powers your cells. Declines in NAD+ may reduce our cells’ ability to extract energy from food or regulate their metabolism, making cells less efficient and at greater risk of dysfunction.
NAD+ and DNA integrity.
Another key tenet of aging is damage to our DNA, the instruction manual that tells each of our cells what to do.
Every day, our body will accumulate quadrillions of new mutations in our DNA. Much of this damage, called “oxidative damage,” is caused by our metabolism and can be accelerated by poor diet, lack of sleep, overdrinking, inflammation, and a sedentary lifestyle.
NAD-dependent enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) regulate the cellular response to metabolic and physiological stressors, preventing the accumulation of oxidative damage. Without NAD+, our cells wouldn’t have functioning PARPs, which are essential for cellular defense.
NAD+ and cellular repair.
Likewise, NAD+ is essential for repairing the damage caused by our environment and metabolism. Cell damage can cause cell cycle arrest, where duplication and division are placed on hold. Cells stuck on hold, or in “senescence,” are to blame for many aging symptoms.
Our cells must find a way to repair any damage before the cell cycle can resume. When DNA is damaged, our cells rely on NAD+ to help facilitate cellular repair processes by activating important NAD-dependent enzymes called sirtuins, which play an active role in cellular repair.
How can you boost your NAD+ levels to support cellular health?
The physical changes that you see in your body as you age reflect what’s happening within your cells. I recommend taking NAD+ boosters to improve your cellular energy, support cellular repair, and promote a healthy cellular metabolism.
A product that I personally recommend is Tru Niagen®, which is the most well-studied form of the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside. Nicotinamide riboside is proven to safely increase the NAD+ levels by up to 40-50% with daily supplementation.
While some aspects of aging are outside our control, there are still many within our grasp. If we really want to improve the way we age, we have to work towards it every day. Start today by monitoring your diet and what you consume.
_______________
Dr. Sandra Kaufmann is the founder of The Kaufmann Anti-Aging Institute and the author of “Why We Age and How to Stop It.” After years of research and studying thousands of anti-aging substances, Dr. Kaufmann conceived the seven tenets of aging. Recently, Dr. Kaufmann launched My Protocol, an app that provides personalized regimen for users based on their particular aspects of aging and skin concerns.
