What are NMN foods and how do they help us age better?
Read on to learn more about these foods, how they support healthy aging, and how you can start increasing the anti-aging effects of your diet today!
What is NMN?
NMN is short for Nicotinamide Mononucleotide.
It is a molecule that occurs naturally in our bodies and certain foods. It is the precursor of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+).
NMN: A Precusor to NAD+
NAD+ helps turn the food we eat into energy for our cells. It also helps enzymes that repair DNA and prevent damage to our cells.
As we get older, our levels of NAD+ decrease, which may contribute to aging and age-related symptoms and diseases.
By middle age, our NAD+ levels have plummeted to half that of our youth
Aging itself has also been shown to significantly compromise the body’s conversion of NMN to NAD+.
NMN Health Benefits
Preliminary research suggests NMN may support healthy aging.
Researchers have mainly conducted NMN studies in vitro or in animal models.
Therefore, more human studies are needed.
Potential Health Benefits of NMN Include:
- Improved energy metabolism / reduced age-related fatigue
- Brain cell protection & improved cognitive function
- Reduced inflammation / decreased risk of age-related chronic diseases
- Slowed aging
NMN Foods
The body gets NMN from certain foods containing niacin, a B vitamin.
An enzyme called nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) converts niacin into NMN.
Foods high in NMN:
- Cucumbers
- Avocados
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Edamame
- Beef
- Shrimp
- Milk
Other healthy lifestyle factors including exercise, stress management, and quality sleep can increase NAD+.
Tips to Add NMN Foods to Your Diet
- Top salads with cucumbers.
- Try out avocado toast.
- Use cabbage as a base for salads.
- Roast a sheet pan of broccoli.
- Snack on edamame.
- Choose lean cuts of beef like sirloin, flank steak, and round steak.
- Substitute chicken for shrimp on Taco Tuesday.
- Drink a glass of milk as part of a healthy snack.
Interested in more foods that support healthy aging? Check out “The 10 Best Foods That Tighten Skin“.
What about NMN Supplements?
Researchers suggest that taking NMN supplements may help with age-related symptoms and diseases.
However, the FDA announced in late 2022 that NMN is not allowed as a dietary ingredient because of its prior investigation as a drug.
A quick Google search reveals companies continue to market and sell NMN supplements.
The FDA has warned that these products may be unsafe and should not be taken.
NAD injections are also a hot topic in healthy aging. Check out this Age-Defying Dietitian blog post – “NAD Injections: Could These Shots Unlock Vitality?“
Takeaways on NMN Foods
NMN is a molecule that occurs naturally in our bodies and certain foods. It is the precursor of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+).
As we get older, our levels of NAD+ decrease, which may contribute to aging and age-related symptoms and diseases.
Including foods high in NMN may support healthy aging by increasing our bodies’ levels of NAD+.
Hungry for More?
Interested in more information on nutrition for healthy aging?
Check out the Age-Defying Dietitian’s blog for more healthy aging content!
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Kathryn is a Registered Dietitian and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. She is also Certified through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Weight Management. She has 20+ years of nutrition experience working in a variety of healthcare settings. Her passion is to provide evidence-based nutrition information that supports vitality and longevity!