Why You're Exhausted After 40 (It's NOT Just Aging!) NAD, Creatine, And The Enzyme Draining Your Cellular Energy | Baran Dilaver #1397

November 2, 2026

Why You're Exhausted After 40 (It's NOT Just Aging!) NAD, Creatine, And The Enzyme Draining Your Cellular Energy | Baran Dilaver #1397

November 2, 2026

Get a free 7-day Youngr™ supply with any Wonderfeel order.

Use code FREEDOM Get a free 7-day Youngr™ mini pouch with any Wonderfeel order. Use code FREEDOM in the longevity access box after you put your info at: ⁠https://bit.ly/4jdCsH1⁠

You sleep 8 hours and still wake up tired, and everyone tells you it's just age. Baran Dilaver explains what may actually be happening inside your cells: the molecule your mitochondria depend on, the enzyme that eats it faster every year, and why the expensive IV drip might not be the best way to get it back.

If you had zero NAD in your body, you'd be dead in 10 seconds.

That's how fundamental this molecule is. It's involved in over 500 enzymatic processes, and about 70% of it goes toward producing energy. But as we get older, our NAD levels drop, and an enzyme called CD38 ramps up and starts shredding what's left.

So most people over 40 are fighting on two fronts. They're making less energy, and they're losing it faster.

That's why I wanted to sit down with Baran Dilaver, co-founder and CEO of Wonderfeel. We get into what's really draining your cellular battery, whether NAD IVs live up to the hype, and why creatine might be the missing partner to NAD that most people overlook.

That afternoon crash around 2 or 3 PM? It's common, but it isn't normal.

In this episode, I sit down with Baran Dilaver, co-founder and CEO of Wonderfeel, to talk about NAD, creatine, mitochondrial health, and what may be draining your energy as you age. NAD powers hundreds of processes in your cells, and when levels drop, it may not just show up as fatigue. It can show up as brain fog, mental fatigue, and organs that just don't work the way they used to.

Baran explains NAD with an analogy I won't forget: a river feeding a valley full of farms and villages. When the river runs low, every valley suffers differently. That's why two people with the same root cause can have completely different symptoms.

We also get into CD38, the enzyme Dr. Andrew Salzman calls the "NAD shredder," and why focusing only on boosting NAD while ignoring what drains it may leave you missing half the equation.

Then we tackle a question I get all the time: are NAD IVs worth it? Baran breaks down why NAD struggles to get inside your cells, what the research shows about oral precursors like NMN, and why he still keeps an open mind about IVs. He also shares a warning about NMN product quality you'll want to hear before you buy anything online.

Plus: why NAD makes the energy but creatine delivers it, the nutrient your body can't make that collects where tissue is damaged, the longevity breakthroughs Baran sees coming in the next 5 to 10 years, and why loneliness may matter as much as any supplement.

If you're dealing with low energy, brain fog, or just want to age slower, this one's for you.

Baran Dilaver is the co-founder and CEO of Wonderfeel, a longevity-focused wellness biosciences company known for its Youngr™ NMN supplement and ChocoCreatin™ bars.

A UC Berkeley graduate and former scholarship athlete there, Baran led companies as CEO before going all in on NAD research. Since meeting Dr. Andrew Salzman in 2017, he has worked closely with him to develop Wonderfeel's formulas, with a focus on cellular energy, mitochondrial health, and slowing down aging.

Health Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, supplements, or health routine.

Get a free 7-day Youngr™ supply with any Wonderfeel order.

Use code FREEDOM Get a free 7-day Youngr™ mini pouch with any Wonderfeel order. Use code FREEDOM in the longevity access box after you put your info at: https://bit.ly/4jdCsH1

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