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Understanding NAD Therapy and the Many Issues It Can Help Remedy
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) therapy isn’t something most people know about yet. That’s changing as more patients discover how this cellular treatment can address problems that diet and exercise alone can't fix.
At El Cajon Weight Clinic in El Cajon, California, James Joachim, MD, and our team have seen NAD therapy help with everything from stubborn weight issues to chronic fatigue and brain fog.
NAD powers your cells
Your body needs NAD to convert food into energy. Without NAD, your cells simply can’t function. But once you hit your 30s and 40s, NAD levels drop and your cells no longer produce energy efficiently.
When your cells don’t have enough NAD, they struggle to produce energy efficiently. This affects everything from how you feel day-to-day to how well your metabolism functions. Many patients don’t realize that their fatigue or metabolism issues stem from this cellular energy problem.
You might have low NAD and not even know it
People rarely connect their symptoms to low NAD. Instead, they blame:
- Persistent fatigue on stress or poor sleep
- Weight gain on slowing metabolism
- Exercise intolerance on being "out of shape"
- Mental fog on aging or overwork
- Slow recovery on not being 20 anymore
These symptoms often improve with NAD therapy because they stem from the same root cause — cells that can't produce energy efficiently.
NAD therapy restores what your body naturally loses
The treatment works by replenishing your body’s supply of NAD. Your cells regain the ability to produce energy efficiently, helping systems throughout your body function properly again.
For metabolism, proper NAD levels allow your mitochondria (the power plants in your cells) to work effectively. When mitochondria function well, your body processes nutrients and burns fat more efficiently.
Your everyday habits affect your NAD levels, too
While NAD therapy boosts your levels, several factors determine how quickly they decline again:
- B vitamins from foods like chicken, tuna, and mushrooms help make NAD
- Regular exercise stimulates NAD production
- Intermittent fasting increases NAD
- Alcohol consumption depletes NAD stores
These factors don’t replace therapy if your levels are already low, but they help maintain the benefits between treatments.
NAD therapy works better alongside other treatments
At El Cajon Weight Clinic, Dr. Joachim often combines NAD therapy with other approaches. For weight management specifically, NAD works well with medications like semaglutide that regulate appetite and metabolism from a different angle.
This combination approach helps patients who haven’t succeeded with single treatments. The medications help control hunger while NAD ensures your cells can burn fat efficiently.
What you’ll notice when starting NAD therapy
Most patients experience improved energy first, usually within a few weeks. Mental clarity often improves around the same time. Metabolic changes and weight loss may take longer.
The full range of benefits unfolds over several months as your cells regain normal function. Unlike quick fixes that wear off rapidly, these improvements last as long as your NAD levels remain adequate.
If you’ve been struggling with unexplained tiredness, stubborn weight, or just don't feel like yourself anymore, NAD therapy might address the root cause. Call our El Cajon office at 619-440-8171 or schedule online to learn if this approach makes sense for your situation.