The longevity shift happening right now
The focus on longevity is happening; more and more research is coming out on how the body ages and how we can support our body's cells so we can live a long but healthy life. The interest in chronological age (your age since birth) vs biological age (the age and function of your biology) has shown us that we can in fact have a body that functions either worse for our age or better.
There are 12 hallmarks of ageing which include mitochondrial dysfunction, cell senescence, weakened cellular signalling, chronic inflammation and telomere attrition to name a few.
NAD+ is a molecule found in every cell that's essential for energy production and healthy cellular function. Levels naturally decline with age, this may influence several hallmarks of ageing, particularly mitochondrial function and cellular resilience.
In this article we are going to look at the role that supplements play in the longevity or healthy ageing space.
What is healthspan and why does it matter?
People are now living longer than ever before, but how do we live longer and better? You may have heard the term "lifespan", but the new term on the block is "healthspan". What does this actually mean?
Lifespan is simply the length of our life, while healthspan refers to the number of years we spend living in good health, remaining active, independent and able to enjoy the things we love.
The foundations for a healthy healthspan start much earlier than most people think. From our 30s and 40s, it becomes increasingly important to support our body through good nutrition, regular movement, quality sleep and healthy lifestyle habits. These are the building blocks for maintaining healthy cellular function as we age.
While ageing is inevitable, how we age is something we have far more influence over than we once believed. Supporting our health today may help us stay active, resilient and independent for many years to come.
What do longevity supplements actually do?
When it comes to supplementation, it helps to first understand what is happening inside our cells as we age. This gives us clues about the areas that may benefit from additional nutritional support.
Scientists have identified several biological processes, known as the Hallmarks of Ageing, that gradually change over time. While they sound complex, they all contribute to the same outcome—our cells become less efficient at producing energy, repairing themselves and communicating with each other.
Longevity supplements are designed to support one or more of these processes. Rather than promising to "stop ageing", they aim to support healthy cellular function so your body can continue performing at its best.
Some supplements focus on supporting energy production within cells, while others support the maintenance of healthy blood sugar metabolism, cardiovascular health, healthy inflammatory responses, sleep quality or skin health. Together, these systems all contribute to healthy ageing.
Can supplements slow ageing?
This is probably the question everyone wants answered.
The simple answer is no supplement can stop or reverse ageing. Ageing is a natural biological process.
However, research suggests that supporting healthy cellular function, alongside healthy lifestyle habits, may help maintain health and vitality as we age. This is why scientists increasingly focus on extending healthspan rather than chasing the impossible goal of living forever.
Think of longevity supplements as supporting the body's natural maintenance systems. Just as regular servicing helps keep a car running smoothly, good nutrition, exercise, sleep, sunlightand targeted supplementation may help support the systems that naturally become less efficient with age.
The best longevity supplements in 2026
There is no single "magic" longevity supplement. Different ingredients support different aspects of healthy ageing, which is why many experts now recommend building a personalised longevity strategy rather than relying on one product.
Here are some of the most researched areas of support.
1. NMN and NAD+ support
One of the biggest discoveries in longevity research is the role of NAD+.
NAD+ is a coenzyme found in every cell of the body and is essential for cellular energy production. It also supports many enzymes involved in DNA repair and healthy cellular function. Unfortunately, NAD+ levels naturally decline as we age.
NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide) is a precursor that the body uses to produce NAD+. By providing the building blocks for NAD+, NMN has become one of the most talked-about ingredients in the healthy ageing space.
Best suited for people wanting to support:
Read more: NMN vs NAD+: What's the Difference and Which One Should You Take?
2. Berberine for healthy metabolic ageing
Healthy metabolism plays a much bigger role in ageing than many people realise.
As we age, maintaining healthy blood sugar metabolism becomes increasingly important for overall wellbeing. Berberine has been widely researched for its ability to support healthy glucose metabolism, cardiovascular health and healthy cholesterol already within the normal range.
Newer forms using Phytosome® technology have also improved absorption by 4 times compared with traditional berberine.
Best suited for people wanting to support:
Read more: Why metabolic health may be one of the biggest predictors of healthy ageing.(Article 4)
3. Cardiovascular support
Your heart and blood vessels deliver oxygen and nutrients to every single cell in your body.
Supporting healthy circulation becomes increasingly important with age, making cardiovascular health a key pillar of longevity.
Ingredients that support healthy circulation, blood vessel health and heart function can complement an overall healthy ageing programme.
Best suited for people wanting to support:
4. Liver support
Our liver performs hundreds of functions every day, including processing nutrients, supporting metabolism and helping eliminate waste products.
As we age, supporting optimal liver function becomes another important part of maintaining overall wellbeing.
Liver support formulations often combine herbs and nutrients that traditionally support healthy liver function and natural detoxification processes.
Best suited for people wanting to support:
5. Sleep support
Sleep may be one of the most underrated longevity tools available.
While we sleep, our body carries out important repair and restoration processes. Poor sleep affects energy, mood, immune health, cognitive performance and metabolic health.
Ingredients such as L-theanine and lemon balm have been studied for their ability to support relaxation and healthy sleep patterns.
Best suited for people wanting to support:
Read more: Why sleep may be the ultimate longevity supplement.
6. Skin health from within
For many people they want to match how vital they feel on the inside with what they look like on the outside.
Our skin naturally changes with age due to collagen decline, oxidative stress and environmental exposure. Our skin is also our first line of defence, so we want to keep that intact.
Ingredients including antioxidants, glutathione, ergothioneine and vitamin C help protect cells from oxidative stress while supporting healthy skin appearance.
Best suited for people wanting to support:
7. Men's healthy ageing
Healthy ageing looks different for everyone.
For men, maintaining energy, vitality, healthy testosterone levels already within the normal range, muscle function and prostate health often become increasing priorities with age.
Targeted men's vitality formulations combine nutrients and herbs selected specifically for men's health throughout midlife and beyond.
How do I know which longevity supplement to take first?
With so many products available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
Instead of trying everything at once, think about your biggest health priority.
Ask yourself:
• Do I want to support my cellular energy?
• Am I concerned about healthy ageing overall?
• Is my metabolism something I want to improve?
• Is sleep my biggest challenge?
• Do I want to support my heart health?
• Am I looking after my skin as I age?
Once you've identified your main goal, choose one high-quality supplement that targets that area while continuing to prioritise your foundations.
Remember, supplements work best alongside:
These lifestyle factors continue to have the strongest evidence for supporting healthy ageing.
Are longevity supplements safe to take together?
In many cases, longevity supplements can be combined because they support different aspects of healthy ageing.
For example, someone may choose a product that supports NAD+ production alongside a sleep formula and a cardiovascular supplement because each targets a different area of health.
However, more is not always better.
It's important to:
The future of healthy ageing
We're entering one of the most exciting periods in nutrition science.
Researchers are learning more every year about how our cells age and how lifestyle and nutrition influence that process. While no supplement can stop the ageing process, there is growing evidence that supporting healthy cellular function may help us maintain vitality for longer.
The future of longevity isn't about trying to live forever.
It's about having the energy to play with your grandchildren, staying active on the weekends, travelling confidently in your retirement, live independently, thinking clearly, sleeping well and continuing to enjoy life as you grow older.
That's what healthspan is really all about.
Where to start?
If you're just beginning your healthy ageing journey, don't feel like you need to overhaul everything overnight.
Start with the foundations:
Small, consistent habits often have the biggest impact over time.
