The NAD+ Experiment: How I Revitalized My 'Old Man' Energy for more passion, energy and vitality
Using NAD+ and Other Goodies to PUMP My Energy Levels.... SO CAN YOU
Wassup team!
Recently, my friend Kurt told me I have the energy levels of a 60-year-old man.
For context, I am a 23-year-old who loves to work out, play tennis, and DJ until 4 a.m. I feel like I have boundless energy. So why would he say such a thing? I know I’m not 60….
He said this because my NAD+ levels were critically low. As low as 60-year-olds…
TF is NAD
Think of NAD+ as the darling molecule of anti-aging. It's so critical for health and longevity that scientists say life does not exist without it. And I had low amounts of it. So low that I was in the category of 60-year-olds and above. DAMN. I was perplexed by this. What is this molecule and why do I have such low amounts of it?
I took a deep dive and learned what this NAD+ thing is and how to increase it.
The Role of NAD
“It is required for over 500 enzymatic reactions and plays key roles in the regulation of almost all major biological processes” (Ansari and Raghava, 2010).
Above all, it may allow us to lead healthier and longer lives.
There are so many purposes to this co-enzyme.
NAD+ is essential for energy production and cellular function
Mitochondrial function
Improving insulin sensitivity
Supporting DNA repair
Regulating biological pathways and circadian rhythms
Understand that this molecule does a lot of different things, and if you have healthy amounts of NAD+, you feel great, and if you have low amounts, you most likely feel like an ass.
How to increase NAD?
The most effective way is to have a heathy lifestyle. Boring, I know, but if you have massive amounts of inflammation and oxidative stress, your body doesn’t have time to make quality NAD.
LEts say you got that and want to upgrade even more.
The next step is to consume NAD+ precursors.
By supplementing with NAD precursors you can build up the amounts of NAD+ in your cells. There are so many precursors to NAD+, including niacin, nicotinamide, Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide riboside NR, and even tryptophan, yes, the amino acid found in meat, haha. I was experimenting with NR. I know it's hard to understand, but as you see, NR and nicotinamide vitamin B 3 can transform into NMN, which transforms into NAD+. So, by eating the building blocks, I was essentially fueling my NAD+ levels.
What about NAD IVs?
From personal experience, they just feel like ass and aren’t that effective for me. Also, they are crazy expensive, over $500. Look into the science and see if it's for you, otherwise just stick to giving your body the precursors and living a healthy lifestyle.
NAD Testing
How did I know what I was doing was working? Well, at the time, Kurt worked with a company that specialized in testing Nad levels using finger blood tests. When Kurt first tested my levels, they were around 24, which was poor for a 23-year-old. This is the test they used
Why were they so low, you might ask?
I had been pushing myself to the brink of dawn every day, trying to find a job, support a relationship, graduate school, and work on my 3 businesses. He told me that my lifestyle and high-stress levels were bringing down my NAD+.
Inflammation, excessive alcohol consumption, poor sleep, bad diet, viruses, and lack of exercise can also make your NAD+ levels drop.
Other ways NAD gets low
Oxidative stress and inflammation can occur from chronic stress, environmental toxins, poor food, sleep, and drugs. Cellular senescence occurs when cells do not divide properly, stay as a cell, and do not induce apoptosis, invading other cells and causing stress. Metabolic dysfunction is when your blood sugar is all over the place, damaging your body from AGEs (advanced glycation end products), rampant inflammation, and a whole host of issues. Also to note, as you get older, your NAD+ levels naturally decline, and by age 50, you have about half as much NAD+ as your child self.
There are many ways to reduce your NAD levels, and there are also many ways to increase them.
Practices for better NAD+
Taking cold plunges (like cold showers or ice baths)
Doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts
Having a weekly Sauna practice
Eating foods high in quercetin (like apples, red onions, raspberries, and cherries) and apigenin (like parsley, oregano, and celery)
Using NAD precursors daily.
Try those out and see how you feel. If you would like to discuss this in-depth, comment below, and I will write about it. If you're impatient, book a call with me today.
FLASH FORWARD…
How you can boost your energy
This NAD+ molecule is important. Without it, we would not be alive. But this low NAD+ wasn't just a sign of low NAD+, it was a sign that my whole life was out of balance. I could take all the precursors in the world but didn’t get healthy until I radically changed my life. I started eating better, sleeping better, avoiding drugs, meditating, learning to be grateful for the small things, and finding my purpose. This low NAD+ was a sign from my body that something was off, not just my cellular function. My body was telling me, "Hey, I need help, so I'm compensating by having this disease because I'm just tryna survive, bro."
Supplements to boost NAD+
If you're in this low NAD+ state and don't know how to get out of it, look at yourself first, and then once that changes, try these supplements. Remember, this is your body experience. Please try one for a few weeks, assess it, and determine what works for you.
NAD Precursors
Cells use these three precursors in different ways to make NAD+.
Nicotinamide riboside, with niacin and niacinamide.
Supplying all 3 enhances the intricate processes involved in NAD+ synthesis.
I use Qualia NAD for these essential precursors.
Use code koolhealth for 15% off
PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone)
This is one of the most potent antioxidants for the brain. Remember the photo above? Lots of oxidative stress and inflammation bring down NAD+ levels, so by using antioxidants, we can reduce oxidative stress and free radical damage, bring up NAD+, and clean toxins from our brains.
I use this glutathione blend with PQQ in it.
Resveratrol
Well-known for its antimicrobial, neuroprotective, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and blood-sugar-lowering properties, resveratrol also induces NAMPT release. NAMPT is a critical enzyme in the Salvage Pathway responsible for recycling NAD. By increasing NAMPT alongside the intake of NAD3, you get a one-two knockout punch of both increased NAD+ and improved recycling.
As I said, you can find these in a wide array of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, so you can eat your way to healthy NAD+ levels.
Qualia NAD has resveratrol in there: a key polyphenol/flavonoid.
Use code koolhealth for 15% off
LOVE YOU,
Jack (Kool Health)
Transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or supplement, especially if you have medical conditions or take other medications. Individual results may vary.
Consider seeing a specialist in functional medicine.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5419884