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The Dr. Leaf Show

The Exhaustion Sleep Can't Fix — A Scientist Explains NAD Depletion

The Dr. Leaf Show

Dr. Caroline Leaf

Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.73.3K Ratings

🗓️ 27 May 2026

⏱️ 41 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

NAD is the molecule in every cell that powers your energy — and there's a kind of exhaustion, the kind a good night's sleep and a weekend off can't fix, that comes from running low on it. If you're a woman in your 40s, 50s, or 60s caring for aging parents while raising kids and running a career — the sandwich generation — that depletion is real, and it's happening at the cellular level. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf sits down with Mona Rosene, MS, RD, Global Director of Scientific Affairs at Niagen Bioscience, to explore NAD — the coenzyme that powers your mitochondria and fuels over 500 metabolic processes. NAD drops roughly 65% between the ages of 30 and 70, and chronic stress, menopause, poor sleep, and illness deplete it even faster. Mona explains what that means for your energy, brain fog, hormones, and inflammation — and what you can actually do about it. 🔬 What you'll learn: - Why caregiver exhaustion isn't fixed by sleep — and what's actually being depleted inside your cells - What NAD+ is, why it powers your mitochondria, and how it fuels over 500 metabolic processes in the body - How perimenopause, menopause, chronic stress, and aging compound to drain your cellular energy - Why an unmanaged mind "batters the brain and body" and burns through your NAD+ reserves - The lifestyle-first approach to rebuilding energy — and when supplementation actually makes sense - The connection between NAD+, inflammation, PCOS, brain fog, and hormonal health 📚 Resources: 🔗 Tru Niagen (use code DRLEAF20 for 20% off): https://www.truniagen.com 🔗 Guest: Mona Rosene, Niagen Bioscience 🔗 Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com 🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1 🔗 Neurocycle App: https://theswitch.app Sponsors helping make this show possible: • Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/leaf • OSEA: Get a spring-worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com • Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get UP TO $300 off today! • Veracity Health: So make the switch to GLP-1s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 60% off your order. • BetterHelp: Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf. • HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/drleaf10fm to get 10 free meals plus a FREE Zwilling Knife — a $144.99 value — on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one — new episodes every Wednesday. 💬 Have you felt the kind of exhaustion that sleep can't fix? Tell me in the comments.

Transcript

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0:00.0

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It turns a basic routine into a moment I actually look forward to.

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Their seaweed, powered, clinically tested formulas are designed to deliver visible results, and honestly

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it shows. Plus, they've got a full lineup. So no matter what your routine looks like, there's

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something that fits. Lately, I've been especially into Osea's Andaria-algae Body Oil. It's one of their

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It's lightweight, fast absorbing, not greasy at all, and it leaves my skin with this really

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beautiful, healthy-looking glow.

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The texture was the first thing that got me.

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It just melts in, and I usually apply it right after showering.

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I notice my skin feels softer, smoother and just

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more supple almost immediately. It's become part of my wind-down ritual, and it really

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helps create that sense of calm and serenity at the end of the day, and the results are backed

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up. A two-week clinical study showed 100% of participants had improved moisturization and

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elasticity and agreed their skin felt softer,

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smoother and looked firmer. Get a spring-worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skin care from

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order sitewide with code leaf at osia malibu.com.

1:32.2

Before we dive into today's episode, I want to tell you about some products and tools that have genuinely made a difference in my life. And I think they could do the same for you.

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