What Is NAD+ and Why Is It Important?

You may not have heard of a very important molecule in your body, NAD+. This molecule is responsible for creating energy from the nutrients you consume. As you get older, your NAD+ levels decline. This decline can affect your metabolism and other important cellular functions in your body. 

What Is NAD+?

NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It is known as a coenzyme, which is a “helper” for important proteins in your body. A lot of important enzymes and other molecules rely on NAD+ to create energy and metabolize building block materials. Coenzymes are necessary for enzymes to function properly. 

Why Is NAD+ Important?

Without NAD+, your body cannot generate energy out of the nutrients that you eat. It is also an important molecule in the protection of cell material. 

NAD+ protects your cells from being broken down, which contributes to the aging process. It makes sense, then, why NAD+ levels decline with age. Without NAD+ to protect the important molecules around your cells, your cells and tissues are more susceptible to damage. 

As part of digestion, NAD+ and mitochondria work together to metabolize the food you eat. Mitochondria have been closely linked to the aging process. NAD+ assists multiple different molecules in protecting cellular DNA and mitochondrial functions. 

How Do I Get More NAD+ In My Diet?

Foods that contain important precursors for NAD+ include fish, mushrooms, and fortified foods. Most fortified foods are grain-based, like breakfast cereals and pasta. 

NAD+ is created out of precursor molecules. Many foods contain the necessary enzymes to produce NAD+. Researchers are still searching for ways to fortify foods with the appropriate building block molecules for NAD+. 

It is not yet clear whether a dietary supplement for NAD+ is effective in fighting against aging and cell damage. However, it is never a bad thing to consume healthy foods high in NAD+ precursor enzymes. 

Patients can also add this with at-home NAD+ therapy injections. Stemedix offers NAD+ therapy. Please contact us today to see if this therapy as well as others may be beneficial for your health journey.