Is there anyone who does not want to remain young forever? Of course not. Though aging is a natural process, no one seems to accept it as it is. Humankind has been doing all kinds of research from the very beginning to stop this natural process. At least, we want to slow down the process. So, anti-aging mainly means controlling the natural cell damage in our body that occurs with time. The reality may burst the bubble of your hope that no food or supplement has yet been discovered that can stop the aging process altogether. But the research of a thousand years has not gone to waste. We can not stop aging but we can initiate different steps to delay this aging process. Using different types of nutritional supplements is one of them.
Today we will elaborately talk about whether supplements really work to delay aging or not. Let’s know more about the reality behind supplements.
What are anti-aging supplements?
Anti-aging supplements are basically dietary supplements that carry different nutritional values to specifically slow down the aging process. Normally, the supplements contain nutritional compounds such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to control the signs of aging. As we age, the level of production of collagen seems to decrease. As a result, our skin gets wrinkles, fine lines and other visible signs of aging. When nutritional supplements support the overall betterment of health and improve biomarkers like cholesterol, glucose, and inflammation which are related to aging, the human body shows a more youthful presence with time. Some of the most common ingredients in anti-aging supplements are vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, collagen, resveratrol etc. For more accurate queries you can try the Longevity AI platform. It’s a free and advanced chat bot that can help you to get all answers related to anti-aging supplements and diets.
How do anti-aging supplements work?
Sometimes the promise of anti-aging supplements seems like an overstatement. The effectiveness of anti-aging supplements is a matter of debate. If you know how the anti-aging supplements work on the body, then you can make a clear decision on which one to take for yourself. Let’s know the mechanisms by which anti-aging supplements function in our body.
- Free radicals are the enemy of our body. Free radicals are constantly formed in our body due to normal cell metabolisms and pollution, radiation, medication etc. These free radicals create oxidative stress in our body. Antioxidants like vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10, or resveratrol can work to reduce oxidative stress.
- Collagen is another crucial factor of our body. Our skin is made of this tertiary protein. Collagen increases the elasticity to your skin and gives structure to the skin. Collagen in the skin replaces the dead skin cells and provides a protective layer for other organs. There are many supplements that work to increase collagen production. Compounds like collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, or vitamin C are integrated in such supplements for this purpose.
- Some supplements work in a way that controls the hormone imbalance in our body. These compounds may operate to control the declining level of growth hormone or other growth factors. If the supplements stimulate the production of the growth hormone, it will affect the overall aging process of the body. This is another approach to how anti-aging supplements work.
Supplements that fight aging: Based on evidence
Flavonoid quercetin
It is a polyphenol which is abundant in our daily intake like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and black tea. Scientific studies estimate that quercetin may affect the blood pressure and plasma lipid levels but the research is still going on to determine the optimal quercetin supplement dose. However, the evidence behind this compound does not yet meet the scientific standards to follow this supplement as an anti-aging magic spell. So, it is better if you include quercetin-rich foods like blueberries, apples, onions in your daily intake.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)
It is a crucial molecule involved in many metabolic pathways of our body. It also affects the process of DNA repair and age related disease. With time, the level of NAD+ declines. However, the supplement form of NAD+ is not well absorbed by our body. For this reason, precursors of NAD+ like nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR) are used to make supplements. Research on NMN is still yet to develop to establish its role in anti-aging. Clinical trials so far have shown that NR supplementation increases NAD+ levels. However, it is not yet determined whether this higher level of NAD+ equally translates to the overall betterment of our body. So, more research is needed to come to a conclusion about this compound.
Curcumin
It is a potent polyphenol found in turmeric having anti-inflammatory effects. Chronic inflammation plays a significant role in causing different metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In such a scenario, a curcumin dose up to one gram per day has been studied that shows positive results of lowering oxidative stress and minimizing inflammatory molecules. However, the backup of research is still very limited. Also, this may not show the same result in people without high levels of inflammation.
Final Words
There is no magic pill in reality to stop the aging process. Only taking supplements will not work to gain a healthy life. You need to consult a doctor or dietitian before starting supplements and combine proper diet, exercise and sleep to gain the desired result.
FAQs
How do you know what supplements to take for optimal aging?
You need to consult a healthcare specialist to measure the blood biomarkers to determine which supplements you can take for optimal aging. Of course, there is no magical way of stopping aging but you can focus on leading a healthy life to minimize the aging effects.
What are side effects of anti-aging supplements?
If you take anti-aging supplements without consulting a health care specialist and take them at high doses, it may do you harm. them at high doses or if you take many different supplements together. Sometimes anti-aging supplements like resveratrol might increase the risk of bleeding during or after surgery.
What is the right age to start anti-aging supplements?
Generally, it’s better to start using anti-aging products from your mid-20s or early 30s. It can gradually reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as you get older. Learn more about Longevity Medicine and how it works.
What is the secret to stop aging?
You can not actually stop ageing but you can slow down the process with enough sleep, healthy diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements.