What does it mean to age? Why does it happen in the first place? And what is the overall objective of using supplements that claim to have anti-aging properties? According to BestInSupplements, there is one answer for each one of those questions.
Aging entails a number of intricate processes. It occurs when there is damage to the body’s DNA, unstable proteins, free radicals damage the cell’s mitochondria, and stem (regenerative) cells run out of energy. That is the technical answer, at least.
As time passes and the cumulative load of these processes takes effect, the body responds with aging signs that impact the function of each system. The systems that are most affected include skin, neurological, cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and renal.
You can’t avoid the effects of aging. This is true even for individuals who lead a healthy lifestyle with a nutritionally-balanced diet, regular physical activity, and a quality sleep cycle. For these people, finding out that making these lifestyle modifications can only take you so far. So, they resort to the help of supplements that claim to possess anti-aging properties.
What To Look For When Choosing Anti-Aging Supplements
From the very beginning of their inception, anti-aging supplements have made great strides in the health industry. They are now potent enough to lessen the effects of DNA and cellular damage. For now, let’s dive into what factors make a difference when deciding which anti-aging supplements are best for you. More often than not, the ingredients used to make the formulas of these anti-aging supplements are the key to uncovering the effectiveness of the proposed benefits.
NAD
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) has been shown to possess anti-aging properties in mice. Only a few limited human trials have been conducted on the effectiveness of NR’s anti-aging properties.
The reason NR has received attention for its anti-aging potential is due to the fact that it raises levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), which is often marketed as NAD+. The importance of this enzyme is its involvement in DNA and cellular damage repair. As a result, raising NAD levels may offer anti-aging benefits. This compound is also known to support healthy cognitive, cardiovascular, and muscular functions.
Omega-3
Omega-3 are essential fatty acids with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. They are shown to balance the omega 3:6 fatty acid ratio, which is essential to support a healthy inflammatory response in the body.
Omega-3 supplements may have the ability to slow and/or reduce the effects of the aging process. They are thought to lessen the impact of a stressful event, both during and after the event.
They do so by contributing to our cell’s resilience to stress. They support anti-inflammatory activity in the body and strengthen our defense at a cellular level to minimize cellular damage that contributes to the aging process.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the most abundant antioxidant in your skin. It can also be found in citrus fruits and vegetables. This potent antioxidant is thought to play a role in neutralizing free radicals. Vitamin C may also keep harmful free radicals from turning carcinogenic and driving aging processes.
Your skin is the body’s largest organ and the first defense against environmental stressors like pollution, smoking, and sun exposure. Because Vitamin C concentrations are so high in the skin, these stressors can deplete essential nutrients from our bodies.
Skin creams are generally ineffective as vitamin C reacts quickly when exposed to oxygen and reduces its anti-aging properties. This is why the recommended route of vitamin C supplementation is ingestion, which supports the skin from the inside out.
Collagen
Collagen is an amazing nutrient that offers health benefits that not only support whole-body wellness but also offer anti-aging capabilities. Taking a collagen supplement is shown to brighten and fill out your skin at the cellular level.
Collagen supplements are thought to minimize the effects of aging on the skin by increasing collagen levels. They work by supporting the body’s natural collagen production processes to support healthy cells that can increase skin elasticity and protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals.
HGH (Human Growth Hormone)
Human growth hormone, or HGH, is exactly how it sounds – it’s a growth hormone found naturally in our bodies. When this compound is added to supplements, it’s usually in its synthetic form to support the body’s natural production of the hormone.
There are other supplements marketed for their anti-aging capabilities that do not contain a synthetic form of HGH. These supplements are formulated with a combination of ingredients, usually an amino acid blend and natural herbal extracts, that are known to increase the body’s natural production of HGH.
HGH is thought to be an “all-in-one” ticket to slowing the effects (and signs) of aging processes. It’s shown to help develop and increase lean muscle mass, strengthen existing lean muscle tissues, increase circulation of blood to the skin, and trigger the body’s natural collagen production.
Spirulina Algae
Spirulina algae is a nutrient-dense food that offers a rich source of antioxidants. Because of this, taking this food as a supplement delivers highly potent anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Spirulina is shown to fight off harmful free radicals, which are known to damage the skin and cause wrinkles, which is the most prominent sign of aging.
The primary active ingredient found in spirulina is called phycocyanin – this is the compound that gives spirulina algae its infamous blue-green coloring. This potent compound triggers antioxidant activity on a cellular level to remove free radicals.
Spirulina algae is also a rich source of amino acids. Two of them include glycine and proline. These amino acids play a vital role in supporting the body’s natural production of collagen to support stronger skin cells and firm the skin altogether.
Resveratol
Resveratol is a powerful compound with antioxidant properties that can be found naturally in various foods, including grapes, berries, and peanuts. This is the famous compound that links the health benefits associated with drinking a glass of red wine.
It’s most known for its anti-inflammatory capabilities. This compound also has anti-aging and anti-carcinogenic properties and supports weight loss efforts. All in all – Resveratol is an excellent health and wellness supplement. If you’re not much of a red wine drinker, you can try taking a Resveratol supplement to receive the same antioxidant and anti-aging benefits.
When Buying An Anti-Aging Supplement
Anti-aging supplements are one of the most effective ways to keep your body healthy and vibrant without resorting to costly surgery or drastic dietary modifications. Yet, not all supplements are created equal. Because of this, you’ll want to know all the necessary information so you can better recognize which one you should buy to help you achieve your goals.
When taken according to the recommended dose on the label, an anti-aging supplement is formulated to offer some type of support for the body in the form of an anti-aging benefit. Some of these supplements promote a younger-looking you by addressing aging processes that impact the skin and hair, while others target the signs of aging by providing cells with energy, restoring DNA, etc.
There are a few issues that accompany the aging process. Aside from living a less active lifestyle, there is an increased risk of developing an illness as the body becomes more sensitive to infection and disease. Regardless of whether you believe your body is at its peak health status, there’s no escaping these dangers.
This is where anti-aging supplements come in. The active compounds in their potent formulas target the part of the cells that are involved in the aging processes of each system. Their general functions are to increase energy levels and improve DNA. Regardless of the mechanism, these supplements are designed to slow down the effects of aging.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to anti-aging supplements, we aren’t referring to a product that can actually slow down or stop the process of aging as science has yet to discover this secret. Rather, we are talking about the ability of a supplement to slow down the effects of the aging process in one or more distinct body systems.
What it comes down to is you, the consumer, not buying into a “fad” supplement with high claims of stopping or reversing the aging process. You need to do the research and make informed decisions about your health and well-being. What we are hoping for is that our article has made that process easier for you and helped guide your buying decision.
