We’ve always known that healthy skin is as much (or more) about what you put in your body as it is what you put on your skin, but there’s only so much a nutrient-rich diet and eight glasses of water a day can do to slow the natural processes that cause our skin to age.
Thankfully, the anti-ageing puzzle is one that scientists never stop trying to piece together, and with each passing year, new discoveries are made and products formulated that help bring us closer to ever-lasting youth.
2020 has been a boom year for anti-ageing supplements that do just that with a new supplement, NR, and advanced formulations of the Collagen and Probiotics we’ve grown to love leading the pack.
NR, NAD + cellular ageing
We spoke to Tru Niagen’s pioneering scientist and researcher, Professor Charles Brenner, to find out more about NR and what it does for the skin.
RESCU: What is cellular ageing and how does this reflect on the outside?
Professor Brenner: Cellular ageing is the accumulation of damage over time to the trillions of cells in your body. Under conditions of metabolic stress, your body comes under attack and levels of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) decrease. NAD+ is critical to helping you metabolize nutrients, and support general health and well-being, as well as repair your tissues.
RESCU: What can we do naturally to help slow down the process?
Professor Brenner: NAD+ levels decline substantially as we age. Research shows that cellular NAD also declines to stressors like overeating, alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyle.
If we move more, eat better and do our best to manage metabolic disruptions, our cells have to use less energy for repair and more will be available to support cellular energy production. I advise people to set goals and keep themselves mentally, physically, and socially active, being cognizant of physical distancing as well.
RESCU: Is there an ability to reverse ageing? If so how?
Professor Brenner: Our goal is to support healthspan, or the time one is in good health. By consuming nicotinamide riboside (NR), we think you will be better able to maintain your energy levels, tissue repair, and maintain cellular resilience in the face of stresses. That’s not an endorsement of the age reversal concept but the idea is to age better.
RESCU: What is the breakthrough science behind TRU NIAGEN® supplement?
Professor Brenner: I discovered that a naturally occurring nutrient called nicotinamide riboside (NR) is actually an NAD+ precursor vitamin. When taken orally, NR converts to NAD+ and maintains cellular energy production so that our bodies remain energised and resilient.
NR has been commercialised into Niagen®, a nature-identical ingredient and the sole active ingredient in a product called TRU NIAGEN®, now listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), making it the first NR product commercially available in Australia (AUST L 328365).
RESCU: How does it work and what else do you need to do/ take with it?
Professor Brenner: To put it simply, TRU NIAGEN® is the building block that allows our bodies to maintain and increase our NAD+ levels.
There’s nothing else to take with it—stressed cells have a gene program showing that they are actually looking for this compound.
If we stay physically and mentally active, socially engaged, eat well, drink water, and think of ageing as mastery and maturity rather than incapacitation, we’ll live our best lives age better.
RESCU: What are the results you can expect to see by taking the supplement? How long after you commence the supplement?
Professor Brenner: What you can expect is a new and higher level of NAD+ in approximately two weeks’ time. The idea is that you will be better able to maintain your energy levels, tissue repair, and cellular resilience to the stresses of life.
RESCU: There’s a lot of talk around NMN supplements combined with diabetes medication as an age reversal and cellular regeneration protocol
Professor Brenner: There is no point to take NMN over NR for any reason—scientifically, NMN must convert into NR in order to penetrate the cell. Furthermore, there are no human data to support NMN’s safety and efficacy in humans; the research on NR is many years ahead. I recommend people speak with the doctors and look at published, human data before taking new supplements.
Rescu. Loves: TRU NIAGEN®
This science-based supplement is proven to be effective at increasing NAD+ levels and is backed by 100 years of research that has established that NAD+ as central to cellular metabolism and to cellular health.
Available from truniagen.com.au $54.00 RRP per bottle, when you sign up for a 3-month supply
Activated Probiotics
We know probiotics are good for a happy gut and microbiome, but what does that mean for our skin? We asked Blair Norfolk, creator of Activated Nutrients and Activated Probiotics, to explain.
“Inflammation is the main cause of redness, dryness, oiliness, and puffiness in the skin- everything getting in the way of a healthy glowing complexion. The best way to address skin inflammation is from the inside out, and we know that the health of our skin is highly dependent on the health of our gut and its microbiome (the community of microorganisms living inside the colon),” Norfolk explained, continuing,
“Our gut microbiome can either be the creator or extinguisher of inflammation in our body. A healthy gut microbiome interacts with the immune system in a way that reduces inflammation in the gut, and this anti-inflammatory effect is transferred to every organ in the body including the skin.
What’s more, as an organ of elimination and detoxification, a healthy gut and its microbiome can help prevent the reabsorption of inflammatory metabolic wastes which can otherwise accumulate in the skin and contribute to inflammation.
Naturally, a high-quality probiotic, full of beneficial bacteria, is a great way to support healthy digestion and elimination, and a healthy balance of microbes living in the gut.”
Rescu. Loves: Activated Probiotics Biome Daily Probiotics
This one-a-day, shelf-stable formula promotes healthy digestion and good gut balance, with a clinical dose of probiotics. Activated Probiotics use a trademarked Microbac Technology to ensure 5x more effective delivery.
Available from activatedprobiotics.com.au & selected pharmacies
Collagen
We’ve known that collagen plays an important role in keeping the skin youthful for a long time now, but it’s only started finding its way into our smoothies and baked goods over the last few years. Now, collagen supplements have had a glow up, with additional antioxidant-rich ingredients that help support the body’s ability to absorb and produce collagen, like vitamin C, antioxidants, and vitamin A.
Rescu. Loves: Skin Physics Collagen Beauty Elixir
Made with 100% pure Marine Collagen, and other antioxidant-rich ingredients including super berries and activated turmeric; this innovative inner beauty supplement harnesses the scientific proven benefits of Collagen-Bio Peptides to support our skin’s natural production of collagen and elastin, and help counteract the premature signs of ageing. And as a bonus it tastes delicious!
Available from skinphysics.com.au RRP $49.95
