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12 Anti Aging Supplements You May Not Have Heard of Before
August 16, 2022
The aging process is an inevitability in life. And while getting some wrinkles on your face or crow’s feet around your eyes can be a frustrating side effect of getting older, there are ways to help temporarily reduce the signs of aging.
Why does aging happen? Aging occurs due to something called oxidative stress, which happens when there is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in your body. Free radicals, in short, break down your cells while antioxidants work to slow down this process.
When free radicals are in excess, it can lead to signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. There are tons of different factors that go into the speed at which you age. But by changing up your skincare routine or diet, you might be able to help improve your appearance.
Here are some of the best anti-aging supplements that you may have never heard of before.
1. Collagen
Collagen accounts for 30% of your body’s protein. It is a structural protein that supports and strengthens your skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissue. Collagen also helps support skin elasticity, which works to reduce the signs of aging skin.
In fact, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It is essential for your skin health and overall wellness. Proteins are made of amino acids, which are essential for cell growth and development.
Collagen is produced by the body naturally, but as you age, existing collagen begins to break down at a faster rate. Unfortunately, your body produces collagen at a slower rate. This means that collagen levels naturally decrease as you get older.
While there is no way to measure collagen, signs of depleting collagen include muscle aches, wrinkles, less flexibility in muscles and tendons, as well as joint pain.
You can take collagen supplements to help offset the decrease as you get older, and potentially promote the appearance of young, healthy skin. Oral collagen supplements can be taken by mouth, and these can be effectively absorbed into the body.
However, you can also find topical collagen products and creams that can be used in specific problem areas, most notably on the face.
2. Curcumin
Curcumin is the main active compound in the spice, turmeric. It is touted for its slew of anti-aging effects, including management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, arthritis, and more. This is thanks to its powerful cellular protective properties.
Cellular senescence is the process in which cells stop dividing and regrowing. As you age, these types of cells become more abundant, and it might accelerate aging and disease progression.
However, research has found that curcumin supplementation can activate certain proteins that delay senescence and promote longevity. You can increase your curcumin intake by using fresh or dried turmeric in your cooking.
You can also take curcumin or turmeric dietary supplements in oral form.
3. CoQ10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant. Antioxidants, as the name implies, combat oxidation to help slow down the process of cell death, which ultimately leads to signs of aging. This powerful antioxidant plays a key role in energy production and protects against cellular damage.
Levels of CoQ10 produced naturally by the body decline with age. Some people then supplement them in order to try and reduce oxidative stress and cut back on the number of free radicals in the body. You can take these supplements as capsules, tablets, liquid syrups, or as an I.V.
In addition to reducing oxidative stress, increasing the intake of CoQ10 can help improve heart health, regulate blood sugar, promote healthy blood pressure levels, and assist in preventing other heart diseases.
4. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for the human body that helps to protect your cells against the effects of free radicals through its antioxidant properties. It also helps you form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and collagen in your bones.
Your body doesn’t produce vitamin C on its own, so you need to get this essential vitamin from supplements or food sources. Luckily, it’s a common nutrient that you can find in most fruits like berries and citrus, as well as peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, broccoli, and spinach.
Most people get enough vitamin C, but you might lack these nutrients if you are a heavy smoker, have gastrointestinal conditions, or have a limited diet that does not include enough fruits and veggies.
5. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another nutrient that can have amazing effects for anti-aging. While vitamin E is imperative for proper vision, reproduction, and also blood health, it has been found to provide a number of potential benefits for skin health.
Vitamin E is fat-soluble and acts as an antioxidant, which helps protect cells from damage throughout the body. It’s naturally created by sebum, which is oil produced by the body to lubricate the skin. People with oilier skin have greater amounts of vitamin E.
You can get more vitamin E by eating foods that are rich in this nutrient. This includes most vegetable oils, like canola and olive oil, as well as almonds and peanuts. Meats, dairy, and leafy greens all contain vitamin E, but you can take it as oral capsules or drops too.
With that said, taking vitamin E supplements in excess has been associated with certain types of cancer and other health complications. Speak with a doctor before you start taking this supplement for its potential health benefits.
6. NAD+
NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is an essential cofactor required for cellular transfer and is central to regulating energy in mitochondria. It’s found in all living things and exists in two forms, with NAD+ being one of them and NADH being the other.
Products made with NAD+ can help mitigate the effects of aging and supplement cells. It is often used for enhancing athletic performance or reducing aging effects because it can improve mental clarity, alertness, memory, and concentration.
There are plenty of NAD+ skincare products on the market, but they are often ineffective and can take a long time to actually activate.
However, at The I.V. Doc, we utilize NAD+ in infusion form, and individualize these infusions for our clients to better help them feel the positive effects.
See how an NAD+ infusion can help you achieve better mental clarity while also working to support your bodily health.
7. Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring antioxidant that can be found in the skin of certain foods, specifically grapes, peanuts, and berries. It’s even found in red wine. This plant compound neutralizes free radicals, which otherwise damage the skin.
It can help temporarily soothe the effects of environmental damage, dry skin, redness, or roughness. Your body does not create resveratrol on its own, so you’ll need to get it from foods, supplements, or topicals like moisturizers or serums. It works best when applied topically as opposed to oral ingestion.
8. Hyaluronic Acid
Also known as hyaluronan, this skincare supplement is one of the most widely used in the industry. In fact, you probably have used it before without ever even knowing. This is a substance that your body produces naturally to help lubricate joints, but in terms of aging, it works to help provide skin hydration and the appearance of a brighter, more youthful complexion.
You can take hyaluronic acid in many different forms. For skincare, it’s best to apply directly to your skin through a face soap or moisturizer formulation. But you can also get hyaluronic acid infusions or oral pills in order to help with joint lubrication that may help with conditions like joint stiffness or soreness.
9. Green Tea Extract
Green tea extract is commonly used in moisturizers, washes, and serums because it can work to calm irritation, help even out skin discoloration, and even protect against sun exposure. Some people believe that drinking green tea as well as applying it to your face can have hugely positive effects.
Green tea has been shown to work as a potent antioxidant to fight the signs of aging. A 2016 review found that a chemical in green tea has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Green tea can even support healthy mitochondrial function to help maintain energy levels.
There are many products that utilize green tea extract, but some people let green tea cool and apply it to their face directly.
10. Vitamin A
Vitamin A, which includes its forms known as retinol and retinoids, is a nutrient that supports the health of your skin, eyes, and even your reproductive organs. Topical retinoids can stimulate collagen production and even work to improve skin elasticity.
Additionally, vitamin A is often used in sunscreens because it can protect your skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Vitamin A can be found in lots of foods like cheese, butter, fruits, and vegetables.
Most people in the US get enough vitamin A, but if you’re trying to help minimize the signs of aging, you might need to get a little bit more. You can take vitamin A supplements or use topical retinoids for targeted effects.
11. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is often referred to as the sunshine vitamin because you get it most abundantly from the UV rays of the sun. The main function of vitamin D is to help the body absorb and retain calcium and phosphorus, but it can also help control inflammation and support your immune system. This can all assist in a healthy aging process.
Many people have insufficient levels of vitamin D because they live in places where sunlight is limited in winter or because they are inside too often. So while a Los Angeles native might not need to take supplements, an Alaskan citizen might need to fortify their body with a vitamin D supplement.
You can take vitamin D in pill form. Very few foods actually contain the vitamin unless they are fortified with it ahead of time.
12. Crocin
Crocin is a pigment found in saffron, a spice that’s commonly used in Spanish and Indian cuisine. Crocin has been found to possess a number of potential benefits to overall health and wellbeing, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-anxiety properties.
Some studies show it might even be able to protect against age-related cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s. More studies are needed.
It’s hard to get crocin from saffron because it is the world’s most expensive spice. However, you can take a concentrated crocin supplement to potentially reap its benefits without breaking the bank.
In Conclusion
Wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet are common byproducts of the aging process. But there are ways you can help age gracefully.
Collagen supplements, crocin, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, hyaluronic acid, and NAD+ are just a few examples of anti-aging supplements that can help you feel your best. And while applying them to your skin or taking them orally works well, you’ll need to try something else if you’re looking for fast relief.
I.V. fluid is absorbed into the bloodstream with 100% efficiency compared to only 50-60% or less for oral intake. Thus, it promotes faster recovery and takes just 30-45 minutes.
You don’t need to visit a hospital to get all the effects of an I.V. drip. From hangover recovery to sickness recovery, The I.V. doc is your telehealth specialist that’s ready to come to you with the relief you need.
Schedule your appointment now to get started.
Sources:
Collagen | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health | PMC.
CoQ10: What It Is and Health Benefits | Cleveland Clinic
Green Tea and Other Tea Polyphenols: Effects on Sebum Production and Acne Vulgaris | PMC
Vitamin D | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The Protective Effects of Crocin in the Management of Neurodegenerative Diseases: a Review | PMC.
