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Is Spermidine Good For My Body?

Spermidine is a weird-sounding name, right? It’s actually not that strange and this compound has many benefits for our health.

This article covers:

• What is Spermidine?
• What Does Spermidine Do?
• What Foods Contain Spermidine?
• All About Spermidine Supplements
• FAQs about Spermidine

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What is Spermidine?

Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine compound that has quite a lot of properties that benefit our lifespan and healthy aging. It’s easily absorbed into the body and is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory with longevity and brain benefits!

Spermidine works the same way as rapamycin by mimicking the effects of intermittent fasting and calorie restriction through autophagy, so it’s often used in weight loss.

Its strange name comes from its discovery. First discovered in 1678, Dutch scientist Anton Van Leeuwenhoek found it in human sperm! In the body, it’s created from the compound putrescine and is the precursor for another polyamine called spermine, also important for cell function.

Men and women who are worried about visible signs of aging, want to improve their cardiovascular health and are looking to boost their vitality and sexual performance may benefit from taking spermidine supplements.

Since, as we age, our spermidine levels decline, taking spermidine supplements and eating spermidine-rich foods can help restore our spermidine levels. More on that below!

What Does Spermidine Do?

The benefits of spermidine vary, but here are just a few of what supplementing with this compound can do for you:

• Helps with strong hair and nails: As a polyamine, spermidine can benefit hair and nail follicles.
• Benefits longevity: Spermidine naturally activates autophagy, improving our cellular health. It supports cell growth, division and repair, so it’s quite important for optimal cell function.
• Weight management: Spermidine can actually mimic intermittent fasting in the body, helping with weight loss, especially on days you can’t incorporate intermittent fasting, and can also improve insulin resistance.
• Energy booster: Due to the autophagy benefits of spermidine, it can give you energy to go about your day. It also helps produce cellular energy due to it regulating lipid metabolism.
• Benefits heart, cognition and liver health: It may also provide neuroprotective benefits in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Spermidine may also reduce blood pressure and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and related death.
• Balances hormones: Spermidine can also increase our reproductive hormones, such as men under 50 experiencing a 48.9 per cent increase in testosterone. In this way, it also benefits sexual performance.
• Immune function support: Spermidine can boost immunity due to its effects on autophagy as well as it boosting the memory of cell responses to influenza and certain infections.

What is autophagy? Autophagy is a cellular process that helps remove dead cells and recycle damaged or unnecessary cell components. By doing this, it benefits our overall cell health and can protect against age-related diseases, such as by preventing the build-up of toxic substances.

Further reading: Spermidine and Weight Loss

As you can see, spermidine benefits are great for healthy aging, but how can you experience these benefits?

What Foods Contain Spermidine?

If you’re looking for how to increase spermidine levels, you can try incorporating more spermidine foods into your diet.

Foods high in spermidine include grapefruit, aged cheeses, shiitake mushrooms, wheat germ, amaranth grain, fermented products like miso, dark leafy greens, peas, chicken, soybeans, mango, cauliflower, broccoli, lentils, red beans and durian.

These spermidine foods are common in the Mediterranean diet, but you can also take supplements if these foods aren’t common in your daily life.

Does spermidine have gluten?

Spermidine itself does not include gluten. If you see a spermidine supplement label with gluten, this is due to the capsules and additives in that particular manufacturer’s product. Xandro Lab’s Spermidine 10mg supplement is gluten-free.

If you’re unable to incorporate these foods into your diet, spermidine supplementation might be something you want to look at.

All About Spermidine Supplements

Spermidine Dosage

• Recommended daily dosage of spermidine: 2 to 10g.
• Spermidine supplements should complement your diet, so aim to include spermidine-rich foods as well.

Spermidine Side Effects

• Spermidine is generally well-tolerated with no major side effects, but choose supplements from reputable manufacturers.
• Some drugs, like codeine, amantadine and nicotine, may increase potential side effects.
• There are potential interactions with certain medications, like antidepressants and blood thinners, when combining them with spermidine so speak to your doctor before use.

When to Take Spermidine

• It’s best to take spermidine with food, preferably with your first meal, to enhance its intermittent fasting effects.
• Once your body is used to taking spermidine, it can be taken on an empty stomach in the morning or around 3 to 4pm for better absorption.

How to Use Spermidine

• Take one to two capsules daily with food.
• Start with one capsule and gradually increase to two over about two weeks, depending on your body's tolerance.

End Note

While not a well-known supplement, spermidine is actually used by many around the globe. Dr. David Sinclair, known for his research on aging and epigenetics, and Shawn Stevenson, a health and wellness expert, both take spermidine.

Before adding any new supplement to your diet, make sure to speak with your medical professional to get their opinion about whether it’s right for you and your medical history.

Looking to buy spermidine and trying to find the best spermidine supplement? Grab your hands on a bottle today or read our Xandro Lab Spermidine reviews to see what others are saying!

FAQs about Spermidine

What is spermidine good for?

Spermidine is known for its potential health benefits, including promoting cellular health, supporting heart function, improving brain health and potentially extending lifespan.

Is spermidine heat sensitive?

Yes, studies have shown that spermidine is heat-sensitive in the case of baked products. High temperatures can degrade spermidine, reducing its effectiveness.

Is spermidine a senolytic?

While spermidine is not a senolytic, it does still promote autophagy and remove dead cells, helping improve cell health.

Does chlorella have spermidine?

Yes, chlorella supplements contain spermidine, along with various other nutrients like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Does spirulina contain spermidine?

Yes, spirulina contains spermidine, but we wouldn’t recommend switching a spermidine supplement for a spirulina one. Spermidine has longevity benefits, such as its role in autophagy, that spirulina doesn’t have.

Does wheat germ oil contain spermidine?

Yes, one of the natural sources of spermidine is wheat germ, with the oil being rich in the polyamine, among other nutrients like vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids and protein.