(NaturalHealth365)  We all know that a high quality supplement routine can greatly enhance your health; help us age gracefully and (naturally) avoid chronic disease conditions – right?  But, unfortunately, NAD+ is one supplement that rarely gets enough attention or credit for its health benefits.

Of course, within the huge array of dietary supplements available on the market, it’s often quite difficult to know exactly which supplement is best for you.  So, today, we’ll focus our attention on NAD+ and highlight the amazing benefits of this remarkable substance.

High quality studies on human subjects, including a 2018 randomized controlled trial published in the scientific journal Nature, provide hopeful insights into how this supplement could be a new powerhouse on the anti-aging forefront and potentially help people live longer and better.

Could NAD+ be the key to living longer and better?  A growing body of evidence says ‘YES’

Short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD+ is a co-enzyme that your body depends on for survival.  It’s normally found in all living cells, however the levels decline with we age.

Here’s why this decline is a significant problem:

The main jobs of NAD+ (known by many in the scientific community as a “helper” molecule) are to help metabolize nutrients into energy, support certain proteins as they perform other physiological activities, including regulating oxidative stress, circadian rhythms, and maintaining DNA health – all of which are essential for helping human live longer.

With less NAD+ in the system, our bodies are at risk for the damaging effects of aging – all the way down to the cellular and genetic level.

The good news is that supplementing with NAD+ or its precursor B3 vitamin called nicotinamide riboside (NR) has been shown to make dramatic improvement in health.

Observed effects in rodent models include: improved cognitive function (including learning and memory), improved DNA and mitochondrial health, improved lifespan, and improved connective tissue and muscle function. It may even lower the risk and/or impact of chronic diseases including heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

While more research is needed to determine the effects of supplemental NAD+ and NR in humans (especially long-term), multiple studies have shown that these supplements are at the very least safe and effective.

Interested in getting more NAD+ in your life? Here’s how much you need and how to get more of it in your diet

Based on current research, taking as much as 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of nicotinamide riboside (which is easily converted into NAD+ once inside the body) is believed to be both well-tolerated and effective for yielding the beneficial results. You generally can find nicotinamide riboside online and in health food stores in supplement form – where it’s often sold as niagen.

In addition to using a high quality supplement – ideally under the supervision of an integrative physician, especially when dealing with health issues – you can also naturally maximize the levels of NAD+ in your body by practicing intermittent fasting or experimenting with a high fat and low carb diet.

Sources for this article include:

Elysiumhealth.com
Scientificamerican.com
Nature.com
Nature.com
Healthline.com