Imagine the human body as an old castle with a tireless caretaker who carries out repairs day and night. Cracks in the walls are patched, rusty locks oiled, shattered windows replaced. But this caretaker needs tools – and the name of that tool is NAD+.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide – a molecule most people have never heard of, yet it governs nothing less than the speed of aging. It is the silent conductor of an orchestra of hundreds of enzymatic reactions that determine whether cells are repaired or surrendered to decay.

The body produces NAD+ naturally, but less with each passing year. By age 50, only half remains; by 80, just a fraction. What appears as “normal aging” – grey hair, wrinkles, fatigue, memory decline – is often nothing more than NAD+ deficiency at the cellular level.

The Guardians of the Genome

NAD+ is no ordinary molecule. It is a cofactor – a molecular assistant without which essential life processes would come to a halt. Its most impressive function lies in the activation of sirtuins – a group of seven enzymes that are essential for cellular health.

These molecular repair teams continuously scan DNA for damage and repair breaks before mutations occur.Sirtuin 1 slows metabolism during energy shortages and triggers survival mode. Sirtuin 3 protects mitochondria from oxidative stress like a personal bodyguard. Sirtuin 6 defends DNA from age-related damage, reduces inflammation, and improves blood sugar regulation. All of them require NAD+ as fuel. Without this cofactor, even the most powerful anti-aging enzymes are as ineffective as a Ferrari without gasoline.

The Slow Collapse of Energy

As we age, the body synthesizes less NAD+ from its precursors. At the same time, demand increases due to chronic stress, low-grade inflammation, and DNA damage.

This is particularly harmful to the brain. Neurons are among the most energy-hungry cells and have a high demand for NAD+. When levels drop, memory, concentration, and emotional balance suffer. What’s often dismissed as “normal forgetfulness” or “age-related depression” is frequently cellular energy deficiency.

A vicious cycle begins: the less NAD+ available, the weaker the repair systems become. The cells accumulate damage, which consumes even more NAD+. A system spiraling into decline.

Natural NAD+ Boosters – More Than Just Supplements

The most effective NAD+ boosters are lifestyle interventions that trigger the body to produce more NAD+ on its own:

• Intermittent fasting: Fasting is the key to sirtuin activation. The body enters survival mode and ramps up NAD+ production – an evolutionary mechanism that enhances resilience. Just 16 hours without food is often enough.
• Intense exercise: Physical training depletes energy reserves and forces cells to mobilize NAD+. Especially effective are short, high-intensity sessions – simulating the survival stress for which the system was built.
• Cold therapy: As practiced at the Krallerhof, cold exposure activates sirtuins directly. Temperatures of –110°C force every cell to maximize NAD+ output.
• Sauna therapy: Heat works similarly – as a mild stressor that boosts cellular repair machinery. What the Finns have practiced for centuries, science now confirms: heat shock proteins repair damaged cellular structures.

Food as Medicine

Certain foods supply NAD+ precursors or activate sirtuins directly: Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables contain sulforaphane, which promotes NAD+ synthesis. Resveratrol (from dark berries) directly activates Sirtuin 1. EGCG, found in green tea, is a potent sirtuin activator. Fatty fish like salmon contains natural nicotinamide riboside. Alternatively, high-quality supplements like NMN from Avea can support NAD+ levels.

Precision Medicine at the Krallerhof

• IHHT (Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Therapy): Simulated oxygen deprivation mimics high-altitude conditions, tricking cells into increasing NAD+ production.
• Red light therapy: Light quanta stimulate mitochondrial NAD+ synthesis.
• Cryotherapy chambers: Extreme cold pushes cells to maximize sirtuin activation.

The Promise of Cellular Time Travel

NAD+ is more than just an anti-aging molecule. It is proof that aging is not destiny – but a modifiable process. Studies show: people with high NAD+ levels not only live longer – they live more energetically, mentally sharper, and physically more capable.

Our cells already contain the blueprint for youth – they just need the right fuel. It’s not age that makes us sick. It’s the lack of cellular repair mechanisms.