Expensive pee

Some critics say that supplements simply make your pee very expensive. No one wants to literally flush money down the toilet, so it’s fair to question whether the supplements you’re taking are effective. There’s more to just absorption when it comes to effectiveness, so let’s look at how you can make sure that your investment is indeed worth the money!

We’ll also look into some of the most commonly-taken supplements and give you some pointers to look at.

Effectiveness of supplements

In general, to assess the effectiveness of supplements, It is recommended that we consider the following factors: Bioavailability; Dosage; and Quality.

Bioavailability

This refers to the ability of an ingredient to be absorbed by the body. Without proper absorption, the supplement can never be effective. Bioavailability is influenced by the following factors:

• Pairing — certain foods or supplements can help or harm absorption)

• Method of administering — for some supplements it makes a difference whether you take them orally or under the tongue (sublingual) or in special capsules

• Timing — supplements boost body processes and it’s best to adjust taking the supplements to the timings of these processes. NMN is for example best taken in the morning or the early afternoon as that coincides with the naturally occurring process of increasing NAD+ levels in your body

Dosage

Although the labels on bottles of supplements usually communicate one message, the story around what dose to take might be a bit more complicated.

• Gender — men and women might have different needs

• Age — body processes change as we age; NAD+ levels go down naturally as we get older. For NMN, for example, it might be necessary for people of older age to take a higher dose

• Goal — the effect might be stronger if you take more, but always do research into what levels are deemed to be safe

Quality

The aspect of quality lies completely in the hands of the brand. You need to trust that you’re getting what you think you’re getting and it's very difficult to find out whether that’s the case.

There are three aspects of quality:

• Substance (if the supplement actually contains the ingredients on the label)

A recent American study had some extraordinary findings. The top 22 NMN brands were analysed and it was found only 3 brands had the amount of NMN stated on the label. Another 5 were just below stated, while 14 brands contained less than 1% NMN (!) and 3 didn’t contain NMN at all.

• Purity (substance is one thing, but how much of the weight is the actual ingredient)

• Contamination (heavy metals are a source of contamination for many supplements)

For Youth tests their products for these three focus points. Our pills indeed contain 99% pure NMN with the remaining 1% being another precursor of NAD+ that is a byproduct of the extraction process. We also test whether the levels of heavy metals are below the maximum levels and they are. We have published the results on the NMN product page.

The effectiveness of some of the most commonly-taken supplements

Different supplements are absorbed differently into our body, and it is good to know how best to consume them in order to get the most out of them. Some supplements for instance dissolve better in oil so it would be ideal to consume them together with food.

Iron

Iron supplements can help reverse low iron levels or treat iron deficiency anemia. They can produce results quicker than diet interventions and are often considered the treatment method of choice.

DO:

Consume in the morning on an empty stomach, ideally with Vitamin C to help absorption.

DON’T:

Avoid taking it with calcium supplements or antibiotics.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues. It's involved in many body functions, including formation of collagen, absorption of iron, the proper functioning of the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.

DO:

Take small doses daily (90 mg for men and 75 mg for women), and with calcium-rich foods for better absorption.

DON’T:

Taking Vitamin C in excess can cause diarrhoea and abdominal bloating.

Calcium

Your body needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones. Your heart, muscles and nerves also need calcium to function properly. Some studies suggest that calcium, along with vitamin D, may have benefits beyond bone health: perhaps protecting against cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.

DO:

Do take with food and in small doses (less than 500 mg) for better absorption.

DON’T:

Avoid caffeinated drinks or high-salt foods as those can interfere with absorption.

Fish Oil

EPA and DHA are omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish oil. Consuming these regularly supports heart and cardiovascular health, maintains healthy eye function, and reduces mild joint inflammation and reduces the symptoms of mild arthritis.

DO:

Take fish oil before or after a meal.

DON’T:

Do not take fish oil on an empty stomach.

Probiotics

Probiotics promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria and have been linked to a wide range of health benefits. These include benefits for weight loss, digestive health and immune function.

DO:

Take them 15 to 30 minutes before a meal.

DON’T:

Do not take them with chlorinated water.

NMN

NMN has been able to suppress age-associated weight gain, enhance energy metabolism and physical activity, improve insulin sensitivity, improve eye function, improve mitochondrial metabolism and prevent age-linked changes in gene expression. Read our full article on the dosage of NMN in one of our other blog posts.

DO: Take NMN in the morning or early afternoon, as that coincides with when NAD+ levels in your body naturally rise. 

DON’T:

Do not worry too much about the method of administering NMN. Recent research has proven that NMN is well-absorbed orally whether by taking capsules or under the tongue.

-FY