As Hippocrates the father of medicine famously said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” We know that high-quality nutrients can prevent a host of health conditions, and a top-notch diet can boost your energy and keep you more youthful. But today’s diets are full of processed and chemical-laden foods that are often devoid of essential nutrients.
Luckily, scientists have found ways to extract nutrients into supplement forms that can be ingested orally, or infused intravenously for direct delivery to your body’s cells. One vital nutrient needed in every cell is NAD+, a naturally occurring coenzyme that plays a central role in energy metabolism.
Learn how supplementing with NAD+ boosts your metabolism and gives you more energy.
How Does Nutrient Deficiency Sap Your Energy?
There is more to low energy than not eating enough calories. Your body needs micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other substances to survive and thrive. Yet most people do not eat nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables and animal proteins that support vital body functions and optimize energy.
Certain lifestyle habits can also sap your energy:
- Eating large meals beyond the feeling of fullness
- Low-nutrient diets high in sugar and chemicals
- Restrictive weight loss diets
- Diets devoid of fresh fruits and vegetables
- Low protein diets
- Consuming too much caffeine and alcohol
- Physical inactivity
- Poor sleep habits
- Chronic dehydration
- Chronic stress
- Prescription medications and street drugs
Nutrition is Key to Energy Production
Your body needs a wide variety of micronutrients to effectively perform numerous biological functions. One nutrient that is especially important is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a derivative of niacin, also called Vitamin B3.
NAD plays a critical role in energy production that takes place in the mitochondria of all your body’s cells. NAD is a key part of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, also known as the Krebs or citric acid cycle, a series of chemical reactions that converts fats and carbohydrates to ATP, the energy molecule.
Your body makes NAD from animal-based foods like meat, poultry, fish, dairy and eggs. Diets low in animal products are generally deficient in NAD precursors.
Sleep is Sacrosanct
Lack of quality sleep can lead to multiple health issues, including chronic inflammation and metabolic disease. Research has shown that quality sleep helps to regulate the function of the Vagus nerve, at the center of the parasympathetic nervous system. It controls the “rest and digest” functions within your body.
When you experience chronic stress and/or insomnia, the vagus nerve’s ability to facilitate communication between the brain and digestive system is impaired, leading to digestive issues like acid reflux, GERD, abdominal discomfort, bloating, constipation, and more.
NAD: The Key to Energy Production
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is produced primarily in the microflora of the intestines and saliva. An unhealthy gut environment can inhibit the production and actions of NAD, depriving your cells of this vital nutrient, and causing a cycle of energy depletion.
Scientists say that your gut is like a second brain, and its bacterial status dictates many of your health markers. You can promote a healthy gut by consuming a nutrient-dense diet rich in foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains (prebiotic foods for healthy gut bacteria), along with probiotics like fermented and cultured foods.
Get NAD+ Therapy in NYC
NAD IV therapy is a safe and effective way to improve mood and energy and combat signs of aging. The clinic at InVita Wellness offers a serene and immaculate environment dedicated to wellness. IV infusions typically last about an hour, and ongoing sessions can be scheduled in advance, depending on your needs and goals.
Contact InVita Wellness today, and boost your energy levels with NAD IV therapy!
Sources:
https://invitacryonyc.com/
https://www.invigorateasheville.com/services/nad
https://www.invigorateasheville.com/blog/improve-your-emotional-and-mental-well-being-with-nad-therapy
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/eating-to-boost-energy
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22279-vagus-nerve
Links:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9133775/pdf/jla-11-111.pdf
Abdellatif, M., et. al., “NAD+ and Vascular Dysfunction: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Opportunities”, Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis, 2022 May;11(2):111-132.
2. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.08.12.503453v1.full.pdf
Escalante-Covarrubias, Q., et. al., “Time-of-day defines the efficacy of NAD+ 1 to treat diet-induced metabolic disease by 2 adjusting oscillations of the hepatic circadian clock”, Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, 8 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
