Blog
News and ideas worth your attention.
Four decades of writing on living long and living well, with 1,000+ posts on functional and longevity medicine.
Apr 28, 2025 · Healthy AgingAre You ‘Inflamm-aging’? 8 Tips for Aging Well – With Loads Less Inflammation
It’s chronic inflammation that’s implicated in just about all of our common “diseases of aging”: cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, even some forms of cancers. But what more recent research is telling us is that chronic inflammation isn’t just driving individual diseases, it’s driving aging itself – it’s one of the key “hallmarks of aging” and it’s linked to most of the other hallmarks as well. In fact, chronic inflammation is so important, scientists often use the term “inflammaging” as a way to grapple with aging in its entirety. To live as long and well, learning how to “inflame-age” as slowly as possible is an essential first step.
Apr 25, 2025 · RelaxationHow Meditation Changes Your Brain
Discover the power of meditation when it comes to your brain health.
Apr 23, 2025 · Health Coach TipsHealth Coach Tip - Healthy Fat Sources
It’s cliché but true – not all fats are created equal. Healthy fats are essential for brain function, hormone production, and heart health. Here are five of the best sources of good fats to include in your diet.
Apr 21, 2025 · Healthy Aging10 Smart Supplements to Preserve Your Mitochondria – and Your Energy Supply
Research indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and ultimately decay is a key contributor to the aging process and to any number of age-related diseases, including ones that impact the brain and the cardiovascular system. The good news is that we have a good bit of say over how slow or fast we age, and a lot of that leverage has to do with how well we care for our mitochondria. For them to thrive, healthy habits are non-negotiable, but you can also give your ‘mitos’ an added boost with some carefully chosen supplements. The right combo of habits and supplements translates to more energy, mental sharpness, and an added layer of protection against the most common diseases of aging. There’s no better therapy than that!
Apr 18, 2025 · Healthy AgingThe Mouth-Body Connection
Discover why good dental health depends on more than brushing and flossing — and why a clean, happy mouth gives your whole body something to smile about.
Apr 16, 2025 · NutritionRecipe - 3 Low Carb, High-Protein Ways To Break Your Fast
Breaking your fast with the right combination of nutrients can set the tone for the rest of your day. A high-protein, low(er)-carb meal helps stabilize blood sugar, curb cravings, and support muscle recovery - while also keeping you fuller for longer. Here are three delicious, nutrient-dense options to break your fast while keeping your energy levels high and your metabolism firing.
Apr 14, 2025 · Healthy AgingYes, Your Cocktail is a Cancer Risk: 7 Thoughts on Why Alcohol Is Such Bad News
Here’s a hard truth: alcohol contributes to cancer. The statistics are sobering. Globally, an estimated 4% of all cancers are linked with alcohol consumption. Best estimates suggest that alcohol contributes to, every year, 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths in the U.S. Think that’s way, way too many? So do I. Here’s the topline of what you need to know about the carcinogenic substance that most Americans are imbibing on a regular basis, usually with no clue of how they’re putting their health at risk.
Apr 11, 2025 · Health & WellnessThe Seven Central Nodes of Functional Medicine: Decoding Symptoms for Lasting Wellness
The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) has developed a framework of seven central nodes to identify imbalances, uncover root causes, and restore the body’s natural equilibrium. You can think of these nodes as key pillars that support your overall health. Here's a rundown:
Apr 9, 2025 · Health Coach TipsHealth Coach Tip - Nutritional Needs Throughout Your Menstrual Cycle
Throughout your cycle, hormonal shifts affect your metabolism, cravings, and nutrient processing. By aligning your nutrition with these changes, you can boost endurance, stabilize mood, and improve overall well-being.
Apr 7, 2025 · Healthy Aging10 Do-Right-Now Tips to Slow Brain Aging and Keep It Vital for Decades
While there’s no side-stepping the aging process – if you’re lucky enough to wake up every day, aging is coming for you – there are a lot of moves we can make today to start slowing it down. One of the most essential areas to focus on? Let’s begin with your grey matter. Start treating it right now, and your brain (as well as the rest of you) will reap a lifetime of benefits. The more brain health-supportive behaviors you can pile on now, the slower it will age, and the longer and better it will function.
Apr 4, 2025 · MovementWant to Reduce Low-Back Pain? Take a Walk
When it comes to low-back pain, walking might be better than rest, according to a recent study. Here's why.
Apr 2, 2025 · Health Coach TipsHealth Coach Tip - Cycle-Syncing Your Workouts for Your Menstrual Cycle
What if the secret to unlocking your best workouts wasn’t in a new training program, but in your body’s own natural rhythm? Learn all about it here.
Mar 31, 2025 · Healthy AgingMicroplastics Are Everywhere — Here are 18 Ways to Keep Them Out of Your Body
When it comes to living healthy for as long as possible, purging plastic from your life will get your longevity wagon rolling in the right direction. What a few decades ago was seen as the ultimate modern living must-have – Tupperware Party anyone? – we now know that plastic is an incredibly problematic, disease-triggering product that hovers near the top of the must-to-avoid list. A big part of the problem is the matter of ‘microplastics,’ and ‘nanoplastics’ – those bazillions of plastic particles, some smaller than a grain of rice and some not visible without a microscope. They’ve infiltrated just about every aspect of our environment. Consequently, most of us are consuming countless microplastic particles annually, putting us in the path of multiple damaging health effects.
Mar 28, 2025 · Relaxation4 Tips for Finding Mindfulness
It’s challenging to stay present in an age of multitasking and increasing distractions. Practice awareness with these ideas.
Mar 26, 2025 · Health Coach TipsHealth Coach Tip – Swim Into Better Health
Curious about the benefits of swimming? From enhancing cardiovascular health to promoting muscle strength, discover them here.
Mar 24, 2025 · Healthy AgingUrolithin A: The Anti-Aging, Possibly Life-saving Supplement You’ve Never Heard of
One of my favorite complimentary supplement/longevity compounds is probably one you’ve never heard of – and it’s called urolithin. What makes this one so noteworthy? Well, it comes with a wide array of health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects. It also supports muscle and mitochondrial health, contributes to slowing the aging process, and helps protect against kidney damage – good news for now and even better news down the road.
Mar 21, 2025 · Health & WellnessHow Making Time for Fun Can Recharge Your Life!
When was the last time you cut loose and had true fun — for real? Learn why fun is so good for your health and how to find your way back to whatever brings you joy.
Mar 19, 2025 · Health Coach TipsHealth Coach Tip - How To Steer Clear Of Red Dye
Let’s dive into the not-so-pretty truth about artificial red dyes.
Mar 17, 2025 · RelaxationTo Maintain a Youthful Brain, Meditation is the Perfect Prescription
The idea that meditation, is great for you may not be breaking news, but we both know you should be working on developing your stress-relieving meditation practice. Question is, are you actually doing it? If the answer is no, then here’s a bit more motivation: a regular meditation practice can help rescue your brain health and enhance your sense of well-being for years to come. How and why it does so much good for your brain and body? Let us count the ways – and give you a few tips on how to get into – and stay in – a consistent, brain-saving, meditation groove.
Mar 14, 2025 · Movement8 Powerful Ways Exercise Benefits The Brain
The benefits of physical activity are more than muscle-deep. Moving your body builds and conditions your gray matter, making you smarter, happier, and more resilient.
Mar 12, 2025 · Health Coach TipsHealth Coach Tip - The Benefits of Colostrum
Colostrum, often referred to as "liquid gold," is the first form of milk produced by mammals after giving birth. Rich in antibodies, growth factors, and essential nutrients, colostrum plays a crucial role in supporting immune function, gut health, and overall well-being. While it is most commonly associated with newborns, bovine colostrum supplements have gained popularity for their wide range of health benefits.
Mar 10, 2025 · Healthy AgingThe Multi-tasking Miracle Mineral for a Longer Life: Magnesium's Role in Longevity
Good health is like a good recipe – it’s the combination of ingredients that makes the dish. By now, I’m sure you know that the combination of essential ‘ingredients’ – as in, a whole foods diet, plenty of movement, restorative sleep, relaxation and stress reduction – is the right “recipe” for your body to function optimally for a long, long time. What else to add to the good health and longevity recipe? Well, it’s my business to have a number of ideas on that score, but one of the simplest is – just add magnesium to the mix.
Mar 7, 2025 · Healthy AgingHormone Health and Longevity: Making the Connection
Elizabeth Yurth, MD, explains some of the key hormones that affect our wellness, the role they play in our health, what happens if they’re not appropriately balanced, and how to be proactive about addressing hormonal changes.
Mar 5, 2025 · Health Coach TipsHealth Coach Tip - Grow Your Own Food
Whether you have land for a large garden, access to a community garden, a small raised bed, a city fire escape, or just a window sill, there is something magical about planting your own seeds and watching them grow. Gardening also gives us the opportunity to really understand seasonal food, eat a little healthier, and feel connected to our meals in a mindful way.