Ask The Expert: Are Supplements The Key To Boosting Longevity?

Whether it’s boosting your immunity, improving your gut health or delivering some much-needed energy, supplements can help tackle a myriad of health goals. And with longevity-focused wellness at an all-time high, supplements have never been more in-demand. To give some insight into the boom, we ask Edward Van Harmelen, Founder of Youth & Earth, everything we need to know to longevity-driven supplements.

A Guide To Longevity Supplements

Quick Refresher: What is a supplement?

Think of supplements as a targeted body boost – concentrated formulas with vitamins, minerals, and active ingredients that complement your daily diet. Whether you’re looking for more energy, better focus, or overall wellness, these additions can fill in nutritional gaps when your regular meals aren’t quite covering all the bases.

Are there different types of supplements?

The supplement world offers various options, each designed with specific wellness goals. You’ll find classic vitamins and minerals (think vitamin D and magnesium), potent botanicals (like adaptogenic herbs), targeted powders for fitness enthusiasts like protein and creatine, and specialised blends that can focus on longevity and healthspan.

One of the fastest growing categories within the supplements market is longevity and healthy ageing. What exactly do these terms mean in the health space, and why is there such a demand for products that cater to this goal?

Actual ageing happens deep within our cells – that’s precisely where the new wave of longevity supplements aims to work their magic.

Think of your body like a luxury car: it’s not just about keeping the exterior polished but maintaining what’s under the hood. Scientists have discovered that certain compounds can mimic the effects of healthy habits like exercise and calorie restriction at the cellular level. These ‘lifestyle in a bottle’ supplements support your body’s natural repair processes, energy production, and cellular health.

(c) Getty Images

What drives biological ageing?

As mentioned, your body is like a sophisticated machine with multiple systems that can be fine-tuned. Scientists have identified key hallmarks of ageing that, surprisingly, we can influence. You can discover more about that here.

The fascinating part? These aren’t just inevitable decline buttons – they’re more like switches that can be influenced by how we live and what we put into our bodies. It’s a whole-body approach to ageing that starts at the cellular level but impacts everything from energy to resilience.

How do supplements help improve our longevity?

Let’s connect the dots between ageing science and supplementation. Today’s advanced supplements work by targeting the key ageing processes we just discussed – like giving your body’s natural maintenance systems an extra boost.

• NAD+ boosters support your cellular powerhouses, helping maintain energy production even as you age. It’s like giving your internal batteries a recharge.
• Antioxidants and specialised compounds act like cellular bodyguards, helping protect your DNA from daily wear and tear.
• Certain compounds help maintain protein quality control in your cells – this includes ingredients that support autophagy, your body’s natural cleanup crew.
• Anti-inflammatory compounds help keep your cellular communication networks running smoothly, like maintaining clear reception between all your body’s systems.
• Select nutrients and compounds that can help maintain your stem cells’ regenerative potential, supporting your body’s natural renewal processes.

With so much to target within the longevity space (energy, cognitive function, mobility, immunity, etc), do we need multiple supplements to ensure we’re getting everything?

In the past, you did, but now you can find supplements that target multiple goals in one capsule.

V14: Longevity Reds from Youth & Earth provides 14 of these longevity-focused ingredients that target the hallmarks of the swing while focusing on improving health span. It can be taken once a day in a convenient sachet and is full of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. It also includes essentials like Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2, and Vitamin C.

(c) Getty Images

What are some of the ingredients/substances that make a good longevity supplement?

A top-tier longevity supplement should focus on these:

1. Energy & Repair: NMN ramps cellular energy through NAD+ production, while Spermidine activates the body’s natural renewal process. Calcium AKG joins in to support metabolic health and longevity pathways.
2. Protection & Renewal: Resveratrol and Pterostilbene are powerful antioxidants, while Quercetin and Fisetin help clear away aged cells. Think of them as your internal cleanup crew.
3. Daily Vitality: Magnesium Malate, Glycine, L-carnitine, and Taurine team up for better sleep, energy, and heart health. Add carotenoids for brain and eye support, plus ginger and superfoods for whole-body wellness.

Is it enough to take supplements alone when looking to improve longevity?

Supplements are just one piece of the longevity puzzle. Think of them as enhancers, not magic pills. The real foundation for lasting health starts with your daily choices:

1. Move Your Body: Regular physical activity smoothly energises your cells and systems. Whether it’s yoga, walking, or dancing, just keep moving.
2. Sleep Like You Mean It: Quality sleep is your body’s time for repair and renewal. Your cellular maintenance crews do their best work during those precious hours of rest.
3. Eat For Life: Fill your plate with nutrient-rich whole foods. Think colourful vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of fibre—these are the building blocks your body needs.
4. Ditch What Doesn’t Serve: Smoking accelerates ageing at every level, while excessive alcohol can disrupt your body’s repair systems. Letting these go is one of the most powerful moves you can make.
5. Manage Stress: Chronic stress ages us from the inside out. Find what helps you unwind: meditation, time in nature, or connecting with friends. Take a look at Barack Obama before and after serving as president.

Remember that supplements can support and enhance these healthy habits, but they can’t replace them. The combination of smart supplementation and healthy lifestyle choices creates the strongest foundation for longevity. Think of supplements as the finishing touch to an already healthy lifestyle, not the other way around.

Do you want to debunk any misconceptions within the supplement/longevity space?

The goal isn’t to stop ageing – it’s to age better. As Dr. David Sinclair often emphasises, ageing should be viewed as a treatable condition we can influence, not an enemy to defeat. The focus should be supporting our body’s natural maintenance systems, not fighting against time. And while the field is advancing rapidly, we still don’t have a definitive biological age test. Multiple markers must be considered together to understand how well our longevity interventions work.

It’s also worth noting that no single pill will dramatically extend your lifespan overnight. Longevity is about consistent, small actions that add up over time. Think of supplements as supporters of your healthy habits, not replacements for them.

This leads to our next point: a higher doses don’t always mean better results. Some supplements work best in specific combinations or cycles. The key is strategic supplementation based on your individual needs and biology.

There’s also the ‘it’s too late to start’ argument, which is perhaps the biggest myth. The body has remarkable repair capabilities at any age. The best time to start supporting your longevity is now, regardless of where you are.

(c) Youth & Earth

Tell us about V14 – what sets it apart from other longevity supplements?

V14: Longevity Reds is Youth & Earth’s ultimate longevity solution – a complete 14-ingredient blend plus 24 superfruits in a daily sachet. Unlike most longevity supplements that focus on just one or two areas of ageing, V14 takes a full-spectrum approach, supporting:

• Cellular energy (NMN, L-Carnitine, Magnesium Malate)
• Metabolism & longevity pathways (Calcium AKG, Spermidine, Pterostilbene)
• Antioxidant protection (Resveratrol, Bioflavonoids, Superfruits)
• Cognitive health (Fisetin, Quercetin, Taurine, Carotenoids)
• Inflammation control (Ginger, Black Pepper, Polyphenols)

On top of that, V14 is convenient, great-tasting, and eliminates the need for multiple supplements. The ingredients in V14 are science-backed, high purity, highly bioavailable, and free from artificial fillers. V14 is vegan, GMO-free, soy-free, and GMP-certified, ensuring the highest quality and safety standards.

We also offer a certificate of analysis, which ensures the quality and safety of our ingredients. The CoA includes testing for heavy metals, purity levels, and other critical safety parameters.

Anything else we should know?

Remember that longevity isn’t just about living longer – it’s about living better. Mental well-being, social connections, and finding purpose are just as crucial as physical health when it comes to ageing well. Think of longevity as a lifestyle, not a quick fix. It’s about making consistent, informed choices that support your body’s natural ability to thrive now and in the years ahead.

About The Expert

Edward Van Harmelen founded Youth & Earth in 2017 after a personal quest to combat ageing and restore his energy. Frustrated by ineffective supplements, he delved into longevity science and discovered the key role of NAD+ decline in ageing. This led him to create a brand dedicated to science-backed, high-purity supplements that help people live healthier, longer, and more vibrant lives. youthandearth.com