How Does Cellular Repair Work?

Every day, our bodies carry out all manner of tasks for us. From the moment we wake through the deepest phase of our sleep cycle, our cells continually manage the internal wear and tear of life. Cellular repair plays a fundamental role in maintaining our health. Regardless of environmental circumstances, life on earth unfolds the same way for us all: we start anew each day, expend energy, then rest in order to recoup for the day to come. Without cellular repair, this universal process would be impossible.

What is cell damage?

At some point in time, we’ve all seen images of cells: ethereal, rounded orbs that come in a variety of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes. Some cells are squishy and fragile. Every day, our cells are exposed to environmental toxins, hazardous compounds, and pathogens that are attempting to damage them.

These environmental factors and pathogens attempt to attack our DNA. Every time DNA is assaulted, our cells must figure out how to repair the damage.

Cell damage causes cell cycle arrest, where duplication and division are placed on hold and cells must find a way to repair any damage before the cell cycle can resume.

What sparks cellular repair within the body?

A vital coenzyme called NAD+ plays an important role in getting cellular repair processes started.

NAD+ is a “helper molecule” that assists in generating cellular energy and activating sirtuins, which regulate our cellular health across the board.

Unfortunately, many factors contribute to lower NAD+ levels over time. Examples of NAD+ damaging stressors and metabolic insults include:

Sedentary lifestyle
Alcohol consumption
Overeating and poor nutrition
Sleep deprivation
Sun exposure

With enough cellular energy, your cells regenerate by re-creating any structures that were damaged or lost. Most cellular repair works this way, with various components working together to carry out different stages of the process until the cell is restored to its original structure.

Not all cells or cellular units operate in the same way when it comes to regeneration, either. In a study published in the Science journal, scientists demonstrated that in multi-cellular cases, some cells can generate entirely new cells to replace any lost ones. But at the single-cell level, regeneration becomes a more involved process.

In such cases, the cell usually rebuilds and replaces missing components after the damage has been stabilized. Restoring structure and functionality at the single-cell level requires more time, energy, and steps—and in some cases, the cellular structure becomes altered permanently.

Maintain NAD+ levels to support cellular repair.

Maintaining healthy NAD+ levels will help keep your cells ready to assist with all kinds of restorative action. From assisting with basic autophagy to helping rectify various forms of cell damage that come with aging, high levels of NAD+ can support cellular resilience across the board.

All in all, unparalleled repair capabilities make our cells biological superstars— and NAD+ boosting supplements can help support their function. Whatever your wellness regimen, take care of your cells. They constantly work to keep us healthy, energized, and resilient.