NAD+: hype versus evidence

We're living in a $150 billion supplement industry, where every scroll through social media tells you you're missing something. A pill for your gut, your sleep, your hormones, your brain. It's exhausting. And more often than not, people are spending real money on things they can't fully explain, chasing solutions to problems they haven't properly diagnosed.

As a nutritionist, these are the questions I get asked about the most, so I wanted to sit down and give you my honest, evidence-based verdict on the supplements that are everywhere right now. Not hype. Not fear. Just clarity, so you can make decisions that are actually right for you.

Before we dive into the individual supplements, I want to give you a framework that I think changes everything. Before taking anything, ask yourself three questions: Why do I actually need this? How will I know if it's working? And could food solve this instead? These questions alone can save you a small fortune and a lot of confusion.

Here's What We Dive Into:

- Why most people are taking supplements without a clear reason, and the three questions that change everything.

- What creatine research is now revealing about women's brain health, mood, and aging.

- Why vitamin D is the one supplement that food genuinely cannot replace.

- How your gut microbiome actually thrives, and why a probiotic pill usually is not the answer.

- The honest truth about collagen, NAD+, and where your money is better spent.

Love,

Sarah Ann 💛

***

This episode is sponsored by:

NOWATCH: The compassionate health tracker

Connecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today

15% off with code LWBW15 at https://nowatch.com/ 

Mojo: the app for expert-led courses in better sex.

Learn from world-class sex therapists and relationship experts with courses tailored to your needs.

15% off with code LiveWell15 at mymojo.com/livewellbewell

***

The Great British Veg Out

How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out

Reset Your Health

If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.

Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.

https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read

The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahannmacklin/

📹 Subscribe:http://www.youtube.com/@livewellbewellsarah

***

If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:

76% of People Don’t Get Enough Omega-3 - And It Affects Your Brain | Philip Calder

https://youtu.be/LkMKWzymU58

***

Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:

Science Simplified, Health Humanised.

Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.

https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:31 The 3 questions to ask before any supplement

00:01:07 Magnesium: which form actually gets absorbed

00:04:25 Creatine for women: brain, mood, and aging

00:06:00 Creatine and depression: what the research found

00:08:10 Creatine in menopause: muscle, sleep, and strength

00:09:17 Omega-3: the label number that actually matters

00:11:30 Why today's salmon has less omega-3 than it used to

00:12:46 NAD+: hype or worth it?

00:15:04 Vitamin D: the one supplement food cannot replace

00:17:23 Probiotics: why your gut needs more than a capsule

00:19:40 Collagen: what the research actually says

00:22:00 Final verdict: what surprised me most