The process of aging has many dimensions, including physiological, social, and psychological elements that sum up an individual’s relative state of being. Because the aging process is multidimensional, it cannot be defined solely by the number of years since birth (chronological age) or by physical health markers (biological age).
Some researchers prefer to view aging in terms of functional age: a combination of chronological, biological and psychological elements that determine an individual’s ability to withstand environmental stresses and continue to thrive. While none of us can stop the passage of time, we can make lifestyle choices that profoundly influence the biological and psychological elements of aging.
The Biology of Aging
Biological aging is determined by certain biomarkers that occur throughout our lifespans. Growth, sexual maturation, reproduction and post-reproduction are all stages of the human life cycle, governed by hormones and dependent on the ability of cells to regenerate. It may seem remarkable to note that the cells of older people look identical to younger cells. The difference lies in their ability to withstand a variety of challenges.
One part of the human cell that plays an important role in cellular health and function is the mitochondria. Mitochondria are tiny organelles within each cell that are responsible for cellular respiration and energy production. Simplistically, you can think of mitochondria as the “lungs” of the cell, where oxygen is used to make ATP, the energy molecule, and carbon dioxide is emitted as a byproduct of energy metabolism.
The Role of NAD+
NAD+ is an essential co-enzyme that is needed by the mitochondria in every cell of your body to fuel all their basic functions. NAD+ levels decline with age, particularly after humans exceed their reproductive prime. Declining levels of NAD+ impair your cells’ ability to produce energy, and reduces overall cellular function and resilience. Simply put, the availability of NAD+ is directly linked to the rate at which you age.
Symptoms of NAD+ deficiency include:
- Low energy and chronic fatigue
- Disrupted sleep
- Mental fog
- Abdominal obesity
- Poor liver function
- Muscle loss
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Metabolic disease, including diabetes, inflammation and hypertension
Increasing NAD+ Levels to Fight Aging
Thankfully, there are a number of ways you can boost your NAD+ levels to fight and even reverse cellular aging:
- Calorie restricted diets and intermittent fasting stimulate NAD+ production
- Exercise revs up your mitochondria, increasing the demand for and production of NAD+
- Fermented foods like kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, and others contain small amounts of NAD+ as a byproduct of fermentation
- High-fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diets increase NAD+ levels
- Saunas and heat exposure naturally boost NAD+
- NAD+ infusion therapy delivers a potent dose of NAD+ directly to your bloodstream, where it is quickly delivered to cells throughout your body
Dieting and exercise can improve NAD+ levels over time, but infusion therapy is a quick and easy way to get the benefits of NAD+ right away.
NAD+ Therapy in NYC
If you are ready to put the brakes on aging so you can look and feel more energetic and youthful, infusion therapy is a great place to start. The friendly clinicians at Advanced Cryo NYC in SoHo can answer all you questions about NAD+ therapy, and safely and professionally administer your IV infusion. Banish fatigue, boost energy and improve skin and muscle tone for a more youthful, vibrant body and improved mental function with NAD+.
