With the growing popularity of functional foods, NAD has been making its way into more products than ever before. This is great news for people who are struggling with a disease or condition that either limits their ability to exercise or causes excess stress on their body. Throw in the fact that more people are starting to understand how diet plays a major role in health and recovery is only going to further increase the demand for products that have this important trace element as an ingredient. NAD is one such compound you should start stocking your pantry with. In case you’re not familiar with it,
NAD is a derivative of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. It’s produced naturally by our bodies and plays an essential role in virtually every biological function they have. The human body produces over 100 mg of NAD per minute, which is why we need trace amounts of it as part of our diets as well. Even though most people may not know about it, consuming foods high in this compound can be extremely beneficial for your health and recovery if used properly. Let’s take a look at how this works…
What is NAD and how does it help during exercise?
NAD is a compound that is naturally produced by our bodies and brains. It’s found in many of our organs as well, including muscles, bones, and skin. This compound has been shown to play a very important role in many bodily processes, including energy production, immune function, and tissue repair. As exercise is an incredibly intense form of stress on the body, the need for NAD increases significantly.
In fact, since it’s produced by the body, lower NAD levels are linked to a higher risk of illness and disease. Fortunately, when NAD is used, it can provide a huge boost to the immune system, boost mitochondrial function, and help with recovery. During exercise, the body needs NAD to produce energy. Low levels of NAD have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, metabolic disorders, and even cancer. When using NAD during exercise, its main function is to increase energy production.
How does NAD Help With Recovery?
NAD is essential for both short-term and long-term recovery. It can boost your immune system and help prevent infection, it can help prevent muscle damage during intense exercise, and it can even help promote faster muscle tissue repair. These are just some of the benefits of NAD during recovery. One study found that supplementation with NAD helped promote better muscle tissue repair post-workout. The researchers discovered that mice supplemented with NAD had improved protein synthesis in their muscle tissues, compared to the control group.
Can NAD Be Taken During Exercise or Through Food?
You can boost NAD levels naturally by consuming foods high in this compound, such as organ meats, fish, fruits, and vegetables. However, you don’t necessarily have to eat these foods to be able to benefit from them. You can also add supplements to your diet to boost NAD levels, especially if you’re trying to support recovery. NAD can be taken both during exercise and non-exercised periods of your life. When it comes to boosting NAD levels during exercise, consuming NAD supplements can be a great choice, especially if you’re doing things like long-distance running or cycling for long periods of time.
NAD and Muscle Damage
Exercise poses an enormous amount of stress on your body, especially if you’re doing high-intensity activities. As we mentioned above, NAD can greatly help reduce the damage that comes along with this stress, especially when used post-workout. One study looked at how supplementation with NAD affected the body’s ability to repair damaged muscle tissue. The researchers found that mice supplemented with NAD had significantly reduced muscle damage, compared to the control group.
Does NAD Have Any Side Effects?
Studies have yet to find any negative side effects associated with NAD supplementation. While NAD is safe to consume, it does increase the body’s requirement for vitamins such as B2, B6, and C, so make sure you don’t skimp out on these nutrients during supplementation.
Summary
NAD is a compound that has been shown to boost immune function and promote faster healing in muscles after intense exercises. You can boost NAD levels in your body through natural diets high in foods that are high in this compound, or you can boost NAD levels with supplements. NAD is safe to consume and may help with recovery from exercise, preventing muscle damage, and increasing energy production. There is some debate over whether NAD can be taken as a supplement, but it is safe to consume as long as you’re eating foods that are naturally high in NAD, and you’re not taking more NAD than your body can handle. NAD is a great compound to have in your diet, and it can be taken as a supplement, so it’s a compound that everyone should be able to reap the benefits from.
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