Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,

Could difficulty hearing conversations today affect your brain health, independence and quality of life in the years ahead? Hearing loss is often treated as a minor inconvenience of growing older, yet it can affect communication, relationships, social connection, confidence and independence. In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with hearing-health advocate and author Robert "Bob" Keefer, MD, about the association between hearing loss and cognitive decline, why so many people delay seeking help for hearing deficits and what questions to ask before choosing a hearing-care provider. Listeners will learn how hearing is assessed, why the fitting of a hearing aid matters, and how proactive hearing care may support brain health and healthy longevity. Dr. Gillian also shares her own experience of unequal hearing following a minor head injury, feeling she had no time to follow up, and her decision to arrange a new audiology assessment after this podcast. Bob Keefer,is a physician, hearing-health and Alzheimer's-prevention advocate, author and former founder of an audiology clinic. After discovering that many hearing-care professionals were not consistently using their profession's recommended fitting practices, he created a clinic centred on evidence-informed care. His books, Hear Better, Live Longer and The Alzheimer's Hearing Aid Paradox, explore the relationship between hearing, cognition and quality of life, as well as the importance of properly assessed and fitted hearing aids.  Episode Timeline: 00:11 — Welcome to Growing Older Living Younger  00:30 — Why hearing health matters for brain health and independence  04:31 — Bob Keefer's path from medical-product consulting to hearing-health advocacy  07:59 — Why millions of people delay hearing tests and hearing aids  11:19 — Dr. Gillian's personal experience with unequal hearing after a head injury  13:56 — When family members notice hearing loss first—and how to start the conversation  16:23 — Hearing loss, cognitive decline and dementia: what the research can and cannot show  24:02 — How better hearing may improve connection, confidence and quality of life  26:03 — Choosing a hearing-care provider and asking about real-ear measurement  27:50 — What to expect during hearing testing and hearing-aid fitting  30:54 — One practical action to take for hearing and brain health  32:22 — Closing thoughts and invitation to create your healthy-aging roadmap  Contact Robert C Keefer MD Website: https://www.hearbetterlivelonger.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrobertkeefer Book information: https://www.hearbetterlivelonger.com/  Books: Hear Better, Live Longer by Dr. Robert Keefer The Alzheimer's Hearing Aid Paradox by Dr. Robert Keefer  Contact Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch Explore the Growing Older Living Younger approach to extending healthspan, protecting independence and aging youthfully. Website: https://www.askdrgill.com/ Podcast page: https://www.askdrgill.com/podcast  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianlockitch/  Subscribe to the Growing Older Living Younger NewsletterMessage  Dr. Lockitch to schedule a one on one conversation about healthy longevity

Health care professionals emphasize optimizing cholesterol, blood sugar and hormone levels and from that assessing biological age. These measurements can provide useful information, but do they tell us whether the body is still resilient, adaptable and capable of recovering from illness, injury or stress? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch and Dr. Sean Fletch explore the difference between moving a laboratory number into the desired range, and addressing the upstream conditions that caused it to change.  Dr. Fletch reframes healthspan as more than the number of years lived without disease. It is the functional capacity to meet life's demands, recover from disruption and continue doing the things that matter to you. Measures such as grip strength, gait speed, balance, cardiovascular recovery and the ability to get down to and rise from the floor may reveal changes in resilience that conventional blood tests can miss.  Drawing on more than 30 years of clinical, athletic-performance and rehabilitation experience, Dr. Fletch introduces his HealthSpan Framework. He describes the body as an orchestra rather than a machine: light, sleep, movement, nutrition, stress and recovery must work together, while circadian rhythm helps keep the entire system synchronized.  The conversation also examines fasting insulin, insulin resistance and continuous glucose monitoring; the limits of chasing individual biomarkers; and the growing enthusiasm for GLP-1 medications and peptides. Dr. Fletch explains why an intervention should be evaluated not only by whether it changes a number or symptom, but by whether it restores underlying biological capacity.  You will also hear how concussion rehabilitation has evolved, why appropriate graded rehabilitation matters, and how movement supplies essential sensory information to the brain. Dr. Fletch concludes with one deceptively simple practice: obtain outdoor light early in the day to help synchronize circadian biology and support the many systems involved in long-term health.  Episode Timeline: 00:00 — Why reassuring biomarkers may not reveal declining resilience  03:52 — How a college neck injury changed Dr. Fletch's career  07:48 — Biological resilience, health literacy and upstream signals  13:33 — Why biomarkers are a map—not the terrain  20:13 — The HealthSpan Framework and functional self-assessment  26:56 — Peptides, GLP-1 medications and the difference between regulation and resolution  29:56 — Concussion recovery, brain metabolism and movement  34:08 — The first practical step: reset your circadian clock with outdoor light  38:39 — Closing reflections and key takeaways   Connect with Sean Fletch Website: DrSeanFletch.com  Practice: BeyondSports.ca  LinkedIn: Dr. Sean Fletch  Book: HealthSpan: Redefined—Biological Principles for the Long Game of Health  Newsletter: The Long Game  Contact Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch Explore the Growing Older Living Younger approach to extending healthspan, protecting independence and aging youthfully. Website: https://www.askdrgill.com/ Podcast page: https://www.askdrgill.com/podcast  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianlockitch/  Subscribe to the Growing Older Living Younger NewsletterMessage  Dr. Lockitch to schedule a one on one conversation about healthy longevity 

What does a physician-scientist actually do each day to support her own healthy aging? This is a question Dr. Gillian Lockitch hears often. Her answer is not a prescription, a shopping list or a collection of fashionable biohacks. Healthy longevity is personal: our genetics, health histories, medications, priorities and goals differ, so the most useful routine is one designed for the individual. In this solo episode, Dr. Gillian organizes her approach around the seven pillars of healthy longevity described in her book, Growing Older, Living Younger. She explains how epigenetics offers a more hopeful way to think about aging, how food and movement send biological signals, why skin must be treated as an important organ, and how sleep, curiosity, purpose and relationships help protect health and independence. Dr. Gillian also shares her own daily routine—from nutrient-dense foods and time-restricted eating to walking, resistance and balance work, skincare practices and carefully selected supplements. She discusses mitochondrial support, CoQ10, collagen peptides, carotenoid antioxidants, nutrients for bone, joint and eye health, and support for autophagy. She emphasizes that supplements complement beneficial lifestyle habits such as healthy nutrition,  movement, sleep, stress management and where needed, medical care. Her own post-retirement health challenges—including emergency spinal surgery, myopic macular degeneration, and atrial fibrillation have made prevention, resilience and measurement deeply personal concepts. Blood pressure, laboratory testing, bone density, fitness and carotenoid scanning can provide useful feedback, but no single measurement tells the whole story. Her central thesis is simple: do not simply copy someone else's routine. Begin with the fundamentals of your lifestyle, work with healthcare professionals you trust, measure what matters, notice how your body responds, and remain willing to adapt as evidence and circumstances change. Noting that as a retired physician she does not treat or prescribe for medical diseases, she offers one on one conversations on constructing your own Roadmap for Growing Older Living Younger and extending healthspan not just lifespan. A plan for healthy longevity is not a fixed blueprint; it is a lifelong practice developed through curiosity, consistency and purposeful choice and she would love to work with you on your plan.  Episode Timeline 00:11 — Introduction: why Dr. Gillian is sharing her routine—but not prescribing it  03:10 — Pillar 1: Your genes are not your destiny and the promise of epigenetics  06:14 — Pillars 2 and 3: Food is information and movement is medicine  10:00 — Pillars 4 and 5: Caring for skin and nourishing the brain  15:00 — Inside Dr. Gillian's daily healthspan, nutrition and supplement routine  17:59 — Pillars 6 and 7: Lifelong learning, curiosity, connection and community  21:30 — How health challenges reshaped her approach to prevention and resilience  25:00 — Measure what matters: testing, carotenoid scanning and guiding principles  28:40 — Closing invitation: create your own healthy-longevity roadmap with Dr. Lockitch About Dr. Gillian Lockitch  Dr. Gillian Lockitch is a physician, medical biochemist, professor emerita, researcher, international speaker, author and host of the Growing Older Living Younger podcast. After retiring from academic medicine, she began a new chapter in entrepreneurship and healthy-longevity education. Through her book, podcast and Growing Older Living Younger programs, she helps people understand how lifestyle, epigenetics, measurement and purposeful action can support vitality and independence across the lifespan. Dr. Gillian Lockitch is an independent Nu Skin Brand Affiliate. You can join her team as an affiliate ( and build your own business), or a member to buy product or devices at member prices. She may earn a commission from qualifying product purchases. Products and devices mentioned in this podcast reflect her personal routine and are shared for educational purposes only. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, and individual results may vary. She emphasizes  that supplements and skincare devices should complement—not replace appropriate nutrition, movement, sleep or healthcare professionals advice.  Call to Action  Your best healthy-longevity plan is the one designed with you for your lifestyle. Visit askdrgill.com or email [email protected] to begin a conversation about your personal Growing Older Living Younger Roadmap. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode and the show link with someone ready to invest in extending their healthspan.  Website: www.askdrgill.com  Podcast: Growing Older Living Younger on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms Join the evolving Growing Older Living Younger Community

Could retirement actually become the beginning of your most meaningful work? In this personal solo episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch shares how spinal surgery, ballroom dancing, entrepreneurship and podcasting transformed her understanding of healthy longevity. You'll discover why curiosity, consistency and a renewed sense of purpose can help you remain mentally sharp, physically engaged and excited about the future at any age.  For most of her professional life, Dr. Gillian Lockitch was a physician, medical biochemist, researcher, university professor and department head. She expected retirement to bring more travel, reading, dancing and time with her family—not a new career as an entrepreneur, author, podcast host and healthy longevity advocate. Her journey changed when severe spinal stenosis led to emergency surgery and a lengthy recovery. Faced with the challenge of regaining her strength, mobility and independence, Gillian began exploring healthy aging not simply as a scientist, but as someone personally determined to age differently. That shift in perspective became the foundation of Growing Older Living Younger. In this episode, Gillian describes how curiosity led her from exploring a Wellness Trade Show into entrepreneurship at 70. She explains how her scientific training shaped the way she evaluated wellness products and opportunities, why she remained committed to evidence, and how she discovered that people were looking for trusted guidance rather than another sales presentation. She also shares the lessons she learned from ballroom dancing, building a business, adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic, writing a book and launching a podcast on her 76th birthday. Each new undertaking required her to become a beginner again, develop unfamiliar skills and learn that consistency is more important than occasional intensity.  Finally Gillian reflects on the setbacks and opportunities that have shaped her purpose. Her message is simple but powerful: your purpose has no expiry date, retirement does not have to mean withdrawal from action, and reinvention is possible for anyone who remains curious. Although we inherit our genetic blueprint, everyday lifestyle choices can affect how our genes are expressed—and ultimately  help us live gracefully as we grow older. Episode Timeline: 00:00 — Introduction: How did a physician and scientist become an entrepreneur at 70?  06:00 — Spinal stenosis, emergency surgery and the decision to reclaim an active life  08:15 — A visit to the Vancouver Wellness Show changes the direction of retirement  11:22 — Scientific skepticism, personal experimentation and the beginnings of entrepreneurship  16:19 — Becoming a beginner again and the lessons learned from ballroom dancing  19:05 — Adapting during COVID-19 and discovering the possibilities of podcasting  21:52 — Launching Growing Older Living Younger and finding a new mission  24:00 — Atrial fibrillation, patience and the lessons hidden within setbacks  26:53 — Purpose, legacy and the promise of epigenetics  30:15 — Why reinvention belongs to anyone who remains curious   Connect with Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch Dr. Gillian Lockitch is an independent Nu Skin Brand Affiliate. You can join her team as an affiliate (and build your own business), or as a member to buy products or devices at member prices. She may earn a commission from qualifying product purchases. Any products and devices mentioned in this podcast reflect her personal routine and are shared for educational purposes only. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, and individual results may vary. Dr. Lockitch emphasizes that supplements and skincare devices should complement not replace appropriate lifestyle habits — nutrition, movement, sleep  and others, nor healthcare professionals advice.  Call to Action  Your best healthy-longevity plan is the one designed with you for your lifestyle. Visit askdrgill.com or email [email protected] to begin a conversation about your personal Growing Older Living Younger Roadmap. Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode and the show link with someone ready to invest in extending their healthspan.  Website: www.askdrgill.com  Podcast: Growing Older Living Younger on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms Join the evolving Growing Older Living Younger Community Email: [email protected] website: https://askdrgill.com To learn how to become an affiliate with the "World's Number 1 Home Beauty Device Brand" contact Dr. Lockitch at [email protected] or message her through The Growing Older Living Younger community.

What helps people stay active, strong, and independent as they age—luck, genetics, or habits built years earlier? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Carl Daikeler, co-founder and CEO of BODi, about why healthy longevity is rooted in consistency: regular movement, supportive nutrition, and the discipline to care for your body before a health crisis forces the issue. Carl shares his personal story of discovering a congenital heart block at age 59, receiving a pacemaker, and using that experience to deepen his commitment to healthspan optimization and aging youthfully. Listeners will come away with practical insight into how strength, cardiovascular fitness, and realistic daily routines can support metabolic health for longevity, preserve mobility, and help prevent age-related decline. Carl Daikeler is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of BODi, formerly Beachbody, a company that has helped shape the home fitness and wellness industry for nearly three decades. He is an entrepreneur and fitness innovator best known for making structured exercise and nutrition support accessible to millions of people through at-home programs and digital wellness platforms. Before founding BODi in 1998, Carl co-founded Tell America Media, where he created the breakthrough fitness program 8 Minute Abs. He later led the development of BODi's expansion into nutrition and proactive wellness, including the creation of Shakeology and a broader focus on long-term health rather than short-term appearance goals. His current work emphasizes sustainable fitness, metabolic health, mobility, and daily practices that support healthy aging and lifelong vitality. Beyond the wellness world, Carl is also a three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer.   Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  02:03 – Why healthy aging begins long before old age: movement, consistency, and resilience  05:46 – Carl's origin story: from personal frustration in his 20s to creating 8 Minute Abs  07:06 – Building Beachbody/BODi: the Power 90 model and making home fitness practical  10:56 – Broadway, purpose, and Carl's unexpected heart diagnosis  12:04 – Discovering a congenital complete heart block and choosing a pacemaker  14:27 – From vanity fitness to longevity thinking: why exercise helps prevent lifestyle disease  15:32 – What Carl learned from watching aging and mobility loss in assisted living  17:00 – Dr. Gillian shares her own recovery journey after atrial fibrillation and ablation  18:34 – Medical vigilance, informed decision-making, and choosing high-quality care  20:21 – The foundations of healthspan optimization: movement, nutrition, connection, and lifestyle  21:35 – Whole food nutrition, supplementation, and why quality matters in wellness products  26:05 – Carl on formulation integrity, ingredient quality, and why cheaper is not always better  30:04 – Natural variability in whole-food products and what "nutrition insurance" means  34:05 – Carl's message for people who did not stay active earlier in life: start now  36:11 – The "comfort crisis," discipline, and how to protect mobility, strength, and independence  36:49 – Final thoughts and key takeaways  Connect with Carl Daikeler BODi / Beachbody: Shakeology: https://www.instagram.com/carldaikeler/  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected]  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community   

What if the path to healthy longevity lies not in choosing between ancient healing traditions and modern science, but in learning how to integrate both? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Dr. Mao Shing Ni—38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine, co-founder of Tao of Wellness, and author of Secrets of Longevity—about how Traditional Chinese Medicine can complement modern approaches to healthspan optimization. Dr. Mao explains the foundational principles of Chinese medicine, including balance, the five elemental systems, and the links between organ function, emotional health, stress, and aging. This conversation also explores why daily habits, Tai Chi, Qigong, meditation, and purposeful movement remain some of the most powerful healthy aging strategies for preserving vitality, resilience, and independence over time.  Dr. Mao Shing Ni is board certified in anti-aging medicine and trained in acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, Tai Chi, Qigong, and integrative East-West healing approaches. Dr. Mao is the author of more than 20 books, including Secrets of Longevity and Second Spring, and has spent decades translating traditional healing wisdom into practical modern health guidance. His work integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine with contemporary research in preventive health, resilience, and preventing age-related disease. A longtime advocate for aging youthfully, he focuses on helping people improve daily habits, restore balance, and build sustainable foundations for lifelong vitality. He is internationally recognized for bringing Taoist medicine, mind-body practice, and lifestyle medicine into the mainstream longevity conversation.  Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome, introduction, and why ancient wisdom still matters in modern longevity  04:05 – Dr. Mao's personal healing story and the family lineage that shaped his life's work  07:37 – The core principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine: yin and yang, balance, and the five elemental systems  13:11 – How Chinese medicine views the liver, lungs, gut, kidneys, stress, and emotional regulation  17:28 – Wearables, AI, and the intriguing intersection of modern health data with Chinese medicine principles  21:36 – Why Secrets of Longevity focuses on practical, habit-based actions rather than theory alone  24:08 – The fundamentals of longevity: sleep, movement, stress reduction, purpose, and healthy daily habits  28:02 – Tai Chi and Qigong as powerful mind-body tools for cardiovascular health, balance, bone strength, and brain health  30:21 – Ballroom dancing, movement diversity, coordination, and cognitive resilience  32:00 – Where longevity science is headed: regeneration, organ support, prevention, and extending healthspan  36:04 – Dr. Mao's final message: healthy longevity is built on habits, consistency, and personal responsibility  Connect with Guest  Tao of Wellness https://taoofwellness.com/  Yo San University https://yosan.edu/  Secrets of Longevity by Dr. Mao Shing Ni https://taoofwellness.com/product/secrets-of-longevity/  Second Spring by Dr. Mao Shing Ni https://taoofwellness.com/product/second-spring/  Connect with your host, Dr. Gillian Lockitch Connect with your host, Dr, Gillian Lockitch email: [email protected]  For a personalized one on one conversation about health aging strategies Website: www.askdrgill.com https://www.facebook.com/gillian.lockitch/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianlockitch/    

How does our immune system change as we age, and what role can vaccines play in supporting healthy longevity? In this informative episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch welcomes physician, healthcare executive, and medical writer Dr. Michael Myers for a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion about immunosenescence—the age-related decline of immune function—and its implications for healthy aging. Together they explore how vaccines work, why vaccine recommendations evolve throughout life, and the importance of understanding both the science and the uncertainties surrounding public health recommendations. Listeners will gain practical insights into immune health, healthspan optimization, brain health and aging, and informed healthcare decision-making. Dr. Michael Myers is a physician, healthcare executive, medical writer, and educator with more than 35 years of experience in clinical medicine, healthcare leadership, and public health. He trained at Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Medical School before pursuing a career in primary care medicine and physician leadership.He most recently served as Chief of Primary Care and Chief of Pediatrics for one of New Jersey's largest medical group practices. His work focuses on preventive medicine, vaccine education, public health communication, and helping patients understand complex medical science. He is the author of The Vaccine Bible: A Comprehensive, Commonsense Guide to What Keeps Us Safe from the Flu, Hepatitis Measles and More. In the Guide he explains how vaccines are developed, how they work, their safety, effectiveness, and the diseases they help prevent. Episode Timeline 00:00 – Welcome and why vaccines matter to healthy longevity 04:15 – Dr. Michael Myers' medical career and what inspired The Vaccine Bible 09:45 – Understanding the immune system: innate immunity, adaptive immunity, and immune memory 17:45 – Immunosenescence: how the immune system changes with age 23:30 – Individualizing vaccine recommendations throughout adulthood 30:25 – Vaccines most relevant for older adults, including influenza, pneumococcal disease, RSV, COVID-19, and shingles 32:30 – Emerging research linking shingles vaccination with reduced dementia risk 34:00 – COVID-19, children, public health messaging, and lessons learned from the pandemic 42:55 – Vaccine confidence, public trust, and addressing misinformation 52:20 – Autism research, vaccine myths, and current scientific understanding 55:35 – Dr. Myers' key message on vaccines, prevention, and healthy aging Connect with Dr. Michael Myers The Vaccine Bible—Amazon The Vaccine Bible—Bookshop.org The Vaccine Bible—Audiobook Dr. Myers' Website Connect with your host, Dr, Gillian Lockitch email: [email protected]  For a personalized one on one conversation about health aging strategies Website: www.askdrgill.com https://www.facebook.com/gillian.lockitch/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianlockitch/

What role does muscle strength play in healthy aging, longevity, and independence? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Jeanne Phares about why maintaining and building muscle becomes increasingly important for women during and after menopause. Drawing on her personal experience as a leukemia survivor and decades of strength training, Jeanne explains the connections between muscle mass, metabolism, bone health, resilience, and recovery. Listeners will learn practical strategies for strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle habits that support vitality and healthspan at every age. Jeanne Phares is Founder of Sage Lifestyle Collective and creator of the Sage Strength Transformation Program. She is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Strength Trainer, and author specializing in women's health after 50. Prior to entering the health field, she enjoyed a successful career as a Certified Public Accountant and executive mentor. Her work focuses on strength training, nutrition, menopause education, and healthy aging for women. She helps women build muscle, improve metabolic health, and maintain independence throughout midlife and beyond. A leukemia survivor, she credits decades of strength training with helping her withstand intensive treatment and recovery.  Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  03:00 – Why muscle strength predicts healthy aging and longevity  04:36 – Jeanne's journey from CPA to health and wellness coach  05:30 – Leukemia diagnosis and the role of physical resilience in recovery  09:30 – Stem cell transplant and rebuilding strength after illness  13:15 – Turning health challenges into opportunities for growth  15:46 – Common misconceptions about lifting weights after 50  18:35 – Why walking and yoga alone may not be enough  20:00 – Muscle health, bone strength, and menopause  23:53 – Strength training as the foundation of healthy aging  25:15 – Nutrition mistakes women commonly make after menopause  28:49 – Hydration, electrolytes, and healthy aging  30:23 – Whole foods nutrition and listening to your body  34:44 – The one simple change that supports lifelong health  36:23 – Final thoughts and key takeaways  Connect with Jeanne Phares Sage Lifestyle Collective  www.sagelifestylepress.com Free Gifts for Listeners: Each guest will receive all three: 1. Free Chapter Download: "Your Body Changed the Rules. Here's the New Playbook" from Eat for Strength for Women Over 50 2.Free Starter Guide: The Sage Strength Starter Guide 3.Lottery Entry: A chance to win one of 10 discount codes for the 8-Week Sage Strength Transformation Program or one of 10 free audiobooks of Eat for Strength for Women Over 50 Books: The Beginner's Guide to Strength Training for Women Over 50 Eat for Strength for Women Over 50  Sage Strength Transformation Program : Free strength training and healthy aging resources  Connect with Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch Email: [email protected] website: https://askdrgill.com  

THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the impact of low carbohydrate and ketogenic nutrition on health and aging well. Today's Featured Expert is Anne Mullens, an award winning Canadian journalist and author specializing in Health and Science Writing, At a time when the twin hazards of diabetes and obesity are so prevalent in our society that we say that there is a diabesity epidemic, we are bombarded with discordant messages about what, when, and how to eat, to stay healthy and age gracefully. A goal of this podcast is to cut through the noise and provide you with evidence-based insights, thought-provoking discussions, and practical tips to empower you to change your aging trajectory and stay active and vibrant. In this episode we dive deep into the ketogenic diet, and explore the science behind ketosis, its potential benefits for weight management, brain health, and overall longevity.  We'll also take a critical look at the narratives perpetuated by food corporations, examining their influence on our dietary choices and exploring how these messages shape our perceptions of what is really nourishing and beneficial for our bodies. Episode Timeline  0:11 Introduction to this episode  4.21 How Anne began in health journalism.  9:42    How low carb and keto helped her recover from pre diabetes.15:09 The impact of the corporate media narratives on healthy aging.22:21 Fasting and monitoring blood glucose26:53 What we can learn from animal genetics33:57 Nutrition is the foundation of our health41:34 Sustainable change comes from small incremental habits. Speaker Biography:Anne Mullens has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Guelph, and a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University. As a medical reporter at the Vancouver Sun in the 1980s and early 1990s, she has written for numerous Canadian and international newspapers and magazines, and authored two critically acclaimed books, Missed Conceptions: Overcoming Infertility and Timely Death: Considering our Last Rights, which won her the Edna Stabler award for creative nonfiction. Anne has been a health communications consultant to a wide variety of clients, and won more than a dozen national awards for her book. After reversing her own pre-diabetes through therapeutic carbohydrate restriction, she has written extensively on the role of personalized therapeutic nutrition to address chronic conditions. She has received her professional certification in low carb nutrition. After several years with Diet Doctor, she now is Director of Communications for the Institute for Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition To learn more about Anne Mullens' writing www.annemullens.com Twitter: @annemullens  https://www.facebook.com/annemullensjournalist/ IPTN twitter: @IPTN_Canada For more information on Growing Older Living Younger  Email  Dr. Gillian Lockitch at [email protected] Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community and if you have not already done so, please follow,  rate and review the show.

Is chronic pain really an inevitable part of aging—or could it be a warning sign that deeper imbalances are affecting your healthspan, mobility, and quality of life? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with physical therapist, registered nurse, educator, and functional wellness expert,Stacey Roberts, about the root causes of chronic pain and why conventional treatments often focus on symptom relief instead of true healing. Stacey explains how chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, hormone imbalance, gut health issues, biomechanics, and lifestyle factors can all contribute to persistent pain and reduced function. Listeners will learn how a personalized, root-cause approach may help reduce pain naturally, restore mobility, improve resilience, and support healthy aging and longevity. Stacey Roberts is the Founder of New You Health and Wellness and creator of The Pain-Free Formula. She is a licensed Physical Therapist, Registered Nurse, educator, and functional wellness practitioner with more than 30 years of clinical experience. Her work spans orthopaedics, sports medicine, chronic pain, pelvic health, women's health, and functional wellness. Stacey specializes in uncovering the root causes of chronic pain through an integrative approach that includes biomechanics, nutrition, hormone balance, gut health, and lifestyle medicine. Her current mission is to help people reduce inflammation, improve mobility, and reclaim quality of life without relying solely on medications, injections, or surgery. She is also the host of The Pain-Free Formula Podcast and the author of multiple books on women's health and hormones. Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  03:54 – Stacey's journey from physical therapy to functional medicine  05:00 – Discovering the connection between gluten sensitivity and chronic pain  10:27 – Why pain is a protective signal rather than the enemy  15:07 – Muscle cramps, nutrient deficiencies, hormones, and gut health  17:52 – Optimizing versus personalizing nutrition for pain relief  18:44 – Food sensitivity testing and unexpected inflammatory triggers  23:03 – The story behind The Pain-Free Formula  26:11 – Hidden risks of long-term NSAID and pain medication use  27:10 – The gut-joint connection and holistic pain management  30:46 – First steps for people who feel they have tried everything  32:57 – Key takeaways for reclaiming health, mobility, and independence  Connect with Stacey Roberts  New You Health and Wellness : https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-roberts-pt-rn-mba-msn-6a26997    https://www.youtube.com/@newyouhealthandwellness2178  The Pain-Free Formula (Book)  The Pain-Free Formula Podcast  Connect with Your Host,  Dr. Gillian Lockitch Email: [email protected] Email me for complimentary iintroduction to Growing Older Living Younger  website: https://www.askdrgill.com/

'You live as long as you dance'( Rudolph Nureyev) 'You got to just move. It doesn't matter how efficient your movements are, what matters is that you are moving.' (Susan Bock Smith) In this early Flashback Friday episode from Growing Older Living Younger 05, Susan Bock Smith and Judy Bjornson indicate that though balance, strength and flexibility may decline as we grow older, if you're willing to learn and adjust, you can protect your body from this risk of falling that increases with advancing age.  Adversities may limit our abilities but if we're willing to learn and adjust we can continue to do what we love. So they suggest you constantly challenge yourself, and never tell yourself that you're too old to do anything Susan earned a Bachelor of Education with a Major in Physical Education from McGill University and taught Elementary Physical  Education prior to raising her family. She is FallProof certified (California State Fullerton)  as a Fall Prevention Balance & Mobility Specialist. Through Surefeet, founded to deliver Seniors' Balance & Mobility Training, she has instructed over 4300 Balance & Mobility classes to over 3900 registrants. She is a PWR!Moves (Parkinsons' Disease) Certified Instructor and a certified Urban Poling (Nordic Walking) Instructor. Susan combines cognitive activities with physical exercise as a staple of the Surefeet program. Her mission is to reduce the fall risk of Seniors and enhance well-being, quality of life and independent living ability  Judy  received her FallProof Balance & Mobility Specialist certification from California State University in 2010 and has been a Surefeet co-owner, trainer and educator since, She is a Certified PWR!Moves Instructor and an Aquatic Rehabilitation Specialist. Judy is a Certified Master Trainer for WaterART Fitness International, teachesl aquatic certifications and one of two WaterART specialists in Central/Western Canada qualified to administer WaterART Certification examinations. Judy was selected as Program Coordinator to head the Brain Gain program of the Vancouver Brain Injury Association. Judy strives to positively affect the lives of all those she encounters.   Surefeet Website: http://www.surefeet.ca/  | https://www.facebook.com/pg/surefeet/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-bock-smith-51268737/  Reach out to Judy at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-bjornson-a877992a/  Contact  Dr. Gillian Lockitch to learn how you can decelerate your aging trajectory,  stay vibrant and vigorous, or start your own online business in wellness and anti-aging: Email: [email protected] to schedule a complimentary Living Younger Call  Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community

Grief is not a problem to be solved or something we simply "get over." In this profound conversation, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with philosopher and grief expert Thomas Attig about mourning as a lifelong process of relearning how to live in a world forever changed by loss. Drawing on decades of scholarship and personal insight, Thomas explains how grief can deepen our love, strengthen resilience, and help us find wisdom and meaning in life's most difficult transitions. This episode offers compassionate guidance for anyone grieving a loved one or supporting someone through loss. Thomas Attig is an internationally recognized philosopher, educator, and authority on grief, death, and bereavement. He earned his BA and PhD in philosophy from Northwestern University and Washington University in St. Louis. During his career at Bowling Green State University, he helped establish the world's first PhD program in applied philosophy. He is a Fellow of the International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement. Dr. Attig is the author of several influential books, including How We Grieve and Seeking Wisdom in Death's Shadows. Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  00:30 – Why grief is central to healthy aging and emotional well-being  04:06 – Tom Attig's early experiences with death and family loss  08:45 – Teaching the first university course on death and dying  11:30 – Grief as relearning how to live in the world  13:11 – Dr. Gillian shares the loss of her husband  15:44 – Grief reaction versus grief response  18:00 – Learning to love in separation  22:00 – Moving from sorrow to gratitude  24:52 – The purpose and structure of Seeking Wisdom in Death's Shadows  27:00 – Problems versus mysteries in life and grief  31:42 – One essential truth for anyone who is grieving   Connect with Thomas Attig PhD Book: Seeking Wisdom in Death's Shadows: Collected Writings on How We Grieve  Publisher: Oxford University Press  Website: Thomas Attig Author Page  30% Discount Code: AUFLY30  Dr. Lockitch Call to Action  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected]  Download Guide to Nature's Colorful Antioxidants 2026 

Albert Einstein wrote 'We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.'  This Flashback Friday episode from Nov 2021 reminds us that too often we may listen but what do we actually hear?  The intent of the Growing Older Living Younger podcast is to introduce new ways of thinking about the problems of how we age, to help our listeners discover their personal roadmaps to aging well. As this episode kicked off Season 2, we reflect that we have listened to many experts, but what did we actually hear them say?  I talk with Brian Morgan. President of Think Deeply, Write Clearly about bridging the many divides that are polarizing our society, by creative thinking and communication. We discuss the rampant proclamations of unsubstantiated information through myriad digital platform and social media, and the replacement of informed and constructive debate by 'cancel culture'.  As communicators how can we best share valuable information or ideas, knowing that our listeners will interpret our words in the context of their unique lived experience?  As listeners how do we find the underlying context of the facts or opinions that are being put forward in discussion, to have a civilised discussion even though we may disagree? Listening to our expert guests, how can we best hear what they say, and put it into the context of our lifestyles to make  decisions that are appropriate for ourselves.  The act of thinking deeply and creatively, being curious and laying down new neural pathways and connections, is one way to help our  minds stay active, and our brains age youthfully.  To connect with Brian Morgan https://www.thinkdeeplywriteclearly.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmorganthinkdeeplywriteclearly  To learn how you can decelerate your aging trajectory,  stay vibrant and vigorous, or become an entrepreneur in wellness and  healthy aging: Contact  Dr. Gillian LockitchEmail: [email protected] to Schedule a complimentary Living Younger Call check out the GOLY website at https://www.askdrgill.com

What if fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and declining strength after 50 are not inevitable signs of aging, but signals of underlying metabolic dysfunction that can be corrected? In episode 275, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with metabolic restoration practitioner, Lori Balue, about how women can restore energy, reduce inflammation, preserve muscle, and regain metabolic resilience through personalized nutrition and functional testing. Lori shares her remarkable journey of losing 100 pounds, reversing prediabetes and chronic inflammation, and transforming her health in midlife. Listeners will learn how to identify hidden barriers to wellness and take practical steps toward aging with strength, confidence, and vitality. Lori Balue specializes in helping women over 50 overcome fatigue, weight gain, and metabolic dysfunction. She combines functional diagnostic testing with personalized nutrition, targeted supplementation, and lifestyle strategies. Her work focuses on  blood sugar regulation, inflammation, hormones, gut health, and mineral balance to help women rebuild resilience, restore metabolism, and age with strength and confidence.   Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and Introduction  Dr. Gillian introduces Lori Balue and the concept of metabolic restoration for women over 50.  05:07 – Lori's Personal Transformation Story  Lori shares how years of obesity, asthma, depression, and prediabetes led her to discover low-carb nutrition and keto.  12:10 – Why Women Feel Different After 50  The role of declining estrogen, protein deficiency, adrenal stress, and mineral imbalances in metabolic dysfunction.  15:58 – What Is Metabolic Restoration?  Why Lori focuses on root causes rather than quick-fix weight loss.  22:54 – Identifying Inflammatory Foods  How wheat, dairy, and food sensitivities can contribute to chronic inflammation.  28:22 – Functional Diagnostic Testing Explained  The GI-MAP stool test, DUTCH hormone test, and MRT food sensitivity test.  33:27 – The Most Important First Step  Why increasing protein and improving protein digestion can be transformative.  35:14 – Animal vs. Plant Protein  Which protein sources are most bioavailable and effective for healthy aging.  36:51 – Final Words of Encouragement  Metabolic dysfunction is fixable, and lasting change is possible at any age.   Connect with Lori Balue  Website: https://agingadventurously.com  Free Recipes and Resources: Available on Lori's website https://contact.loribalue.com/recipebook  Connect with your host, Dr. Gillian Lockitch https://www.askdrgill.com/ email: [email protected] Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community 

THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the effect of aging on  brain functions, affecting many attributes of cognition, like memory and processing speed; and on the importance of recognizing the early warning signs of dementia for early treatment. Today's guest is neuropsychiatrist and creator of the SAGE test,  Dr. Douglas Scharre. Dr. Scharre  is board certified in neurology, behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry with special interests in cognitive assessment, degenerative dementias and dementia-related behaviors. He joined The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center faculty in the Department of Neurology in 1993. Dr.  Scharre's publications cover a broad range within the area of cognitive neurology including dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia,  Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and much more.  His research also covers neuropsychiatric aspects of disease,  biomarkers,  functional neuro-imaging and treatment of behavioral disturbances in dementia. Episode Timeline: 0:11 Intro to this episode 3:19 Aging and memory loss 6:33 Distinguishing between normal aging and dementia. 11:23 The SAGE Test (Self Administered Gerocognitive Examination) and its benefits 15:38 Why use the SAGE test?  19:36  Differentiation of forms of dementia 24:38 Lifestyle changes for healthy mind and healthy body 27:42 New biomarkers for Alzheimer's 32:17 The genetics of Alzheimer's 37:56 Best ways to challenge your brain Learn more about Dr. Scharre's work here: https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/neurological-institute/researchers/douglas-scharre-md Access the SAGE test to check yourself  at home: https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/brain-spine-neuro/memory-disorders/sage Get to know Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch website: https://www.askdrgill.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gillian.lockitch/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianlockitch/ X: https://twitter.com/GilliansReviews To get your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably click here  And if you have not already done so, I would love you to follow, rate and review the show.

What if the future of aging is no longer defined simply by lifespan, but by how long we can remain mentally sharp, physically active, emotionally connected, and fully engaged with life? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with documentary filmmaker,  David Donnelly, director of the acclaimed documentary,  Forever Young, about the rapidly evolving science of longevity and the questions for humanity, emerging alongside the science. Together, they explore the difference between lifespan and healthspan, the growing role of biomarkers, wearables, epigenetics, and lifestyle medicine, and the ethical and emotional implications of extending human life. Listeners will gain insight into the science driving the longevity revolution while reflecting on what it truly means to age well in a technology-driven world. David Donnelly is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and director. His work focuses on science, human performance, creativity, technology, and the evolving human experience. His first internationally distributed documentary, Maestro, explored musical mastery and Estonia's Singing Revolution through the life of conductor Paavo Järvi. He later directed documentaries including Nordic Pulse, Forte, and The Cost of Convenience, examining culture, technology, and human autonomy. In Forever Young, Donnelly spent three years documenting leading longevity scientists and exploring the biological, ethical, and philosophical dimensions of extending human healthspan and lifespan. His work bridges scientific complexity with accessible storytelling that invites audiences to reflect on the future of aging and humanity itself.   Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  02:35 – The longevity revolution and redefining healthy aging  03:58 – David Donnelly's journey from pre-med student to filmmaker  05:30 – The documentary Maestro and Estonia's Singing Revolution  08:37 – Why longevity science became the focus of Forever Young  10:59 – Dr. Lockitch's personal journey into epigenetics and healthspan  13:17 – Healthspan versus lifespan and the science-fiction future of aging  15:06 – The "Death Doula" concept and the death-positive movement  17:46 – Death meditation, grief, and facing mortality consciously  19:43 – Longevity science, biomarkers, and rethinking how we spend our lives  22:15 – Wearables, biological age testing, and tracking healthspan  26:28 – Hallmarks of aging and emerging biomarkers of longevity  29:01 – Ethical questions around lifespan extension and "escape velocity"  31:13 – Human trials targeting aging itself and the future of longevity medicine  33:27 – Epigenetics, lifestyle medicine, and personal responsibility for health  35:47 – Environment, socioeconomic factors, and the cultural barriers to longevity  37:00 – Digital dementia, screen addiction, and modern threats to brain health  38:40 – The powerful message: Your genes are not your destiny  41:12 – Where to watch Forever Young and connect with David Donnelly   Connect with the work of David Donnelly Forever Young Film Official Website  Forever Young Substack  Watch the documentaries  Forever Young  and Maestro  Call to Action  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community at Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at Ask Dr. Gill Official Website or email: [email protected]  Download Guide to Nature's Colorful Antioxidants 2026: Nature's Colorful Antioxidants Guide 

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: A recurring theme in this podcast is the importance of mindset in supporting consistency, when making the small changes in lifestyle and habits that can have a big positive impact on your health and vitality as you age. Your beliefs shape how you think, feel and act. And if you are to overcome life's challenges when they strike, you have to believe in your ability to do so.My guest today, Adena Sampson, is the founder of Outloud Productions & The Unbreakable Spirit movement,  a breakthrough coach, and best-selling author of the book. The Road Back to Me: 9 Principles for Navigating Life's Unexpected Twists and Turns.As an accomplished singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer, Adena has been emcee, narrator and presenter, for workshops and seminars, voiceovers and jingles, commercials and broadcasting. An entrepreneur at heart, Adena has an extensive background in event management, media, marketing and sales and has built and trained solid teams. In the network marketing industry, as a high-performance leader with an online technology company, ranking in the top 40 of 20,000, she was responsible for the growth and expansion of over 500 affiliates.We talk about the compelling story that led her to become an inspiring coach, teaching  how to overcome challenges and turn them into victories. We discuss how getting Lyme disease, changed the direction of her life. Adena shares details the 3 top principles of the 9 she describes in her book. To discover how to Reset Your Aging Blueprint and create your own roadmap to living younger as you grow older, schedule a free 0ne on 0ne Call with me. by emailing [email protected] Learn more about Adena Sampson and the book: The Road Back to Me: 9 Principles for Navigating Life's Unexpected Twists and [email protected]  www.AdenaSampson.com

Are the so-called "heart-healthy" vegetable oils in your kitchen truly supporting your health—or could they be contributing to inflammation and metabolic imbalance? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with nutrition expert Cherie Calbom, MS, CN, about industrial seed oils such as canola, soybean, sunflower, and corn oil, and the growing concerns surrounding their role in oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and healthy aging. Cherie explains how highly processed oils may affect metabolic health, brain function, and overall wellness, and shares practical guidance on choosing healthier fats and using nutrition strategies—including juicing—to support vitality and longevity. This conversation offers actionable insights for anyone who wants to reduce inflammation, make more informed food choices, and age with greater energy and resilience.Cherie Calbom, MS, CN, is a certified nutritionist, wellness educator, and bestselling author widely known as "The Juice Lady." She holds a Master of Science degree in nutrition and has written 36 books, including the classic Juicing for Life. Cherie has received two Lifetime Achievement Awards for her pioneering contributions to nutrition and wellness education. She has served on the Board of Regents at Bastyr University and has advised high-profile leaders, including George Foreman. Her latest book, The Truth About Seed Oils, challenges conventional dietary advice and offers practical strategies to reduce inflammation and support better health.  Episode Timeline  00:00 – Introduction and episode overview  Dr. Gillian introduces the controversy surrounding industrial seed oils and their potential role in inflammation and chronic disease.  03:13 – Cherie's healing journey  Cherie shares how she overcame chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia through juicing and whole food nutrition.  07:53 – The first healing juice recipes  The vegetable juices Cherie used to restore her health and why variety matters.  10:20 – The NAMA J2 juicer  Cherie describes her favorite hands-free juicer and how it simplifies daily juicing.  11:50 – What are seed oils?  A historical overview of vegetable oils and how they became mainstream.  16:48 – Why canola oil became so dominant  The economic reasons manufacturers favor cheap industrial oils.  18:57 – The chemistry of oxidation and inflammation  How polyunsaturated fats become unstable and generate harmful byproducts.  21:10 – The worst oils to avoid  Soybean, canola, corn, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, grapeseed, and rice bran oils.  22:43 – Healthy fats to use instead  Olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, ghee, tallow, and sesame oil.  25:14 – Seed oils, weight gain, and brain health  Why reducing industrial oils may support body composition and cognitive vitality.  29:13 – One simple change to start today  Read labels, eliminate seed oils, and choose traditional fats.  30:09 – Final thoughts and favorite health maxim:  "Nothing on earth tastes as good as good health."  Connect with Cherie Calbom IG @juiceladycherie FB @thejuicelady YouTube: TheJuiceLadyCherie LinkedIn: Cherie-Calbom X @juiceladycherie Call to Action: Find Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably at www.gillianlockitch.com (North America) Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected] Download Guide to Nature's Colorful Antioxidants. 2026 

FLASHBACK FRIDAY FB 29 Dec 2021 Agnes de Mille, American dancer and choreographer expresses the power of dance: "To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking."  Does dance also have the power to  ward off dementia?  Today's guest is Dr. Joe Verghese, Professor of Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. His research centers around the effects of aging  and disease on gait and cognition in older adults, and whether cognitively stimulating activities such as dance, can reduce the risk of losing mobility, falling, developing dementia and general poor health.  In an  early study of the association of Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly, 3 of 6 cognitive activities included (reading, playing board games and playing musical instruments) were associated with a lower risk for dementia, but of the 9 listed physical activities, only dancing was associated with a lowered risk. We touch on current studies of physicality and cognitive training for those at risk for Alzheimer's. One recent  pilot study into the impact of regular social dancing as an intervention in older adults at high risk for Alzheimer's disease had to be cut short during the pandemic with only half the expected participants completing the study. Another recent study is investigating  whether computerized cognitive training could enhance mobility in older adults.  There remains some controversy about cognitive training. It is clear that there is a 'near transfer' effect, improvement on testing because you're training on that same process on which you're testing them. And  consistently, almost every study shows that there is a near transfer effect. The challenge is whether that translates into improvement of executive function for real life skills, ie, a 'far transfer effect.'  For those of us looking to age youthfully, keeping active both physically and mentally, Dr Verghese suggests: "Pick  a few leisure activities that you enjoy and then engage in them at least  five days a week, but every day, if you can. It's good if you do it as part of a group, because then there's a group dynamic; when  you get together in a group, there's peer support that you get. And also increasingly we are recognizing that socialization itself might have cognitive benefits. So people who socialize more tend to have better cognitive function. and seem to be at less risk of cognitive decline"  To learn how you can decelerate your aging trajectory,  stay vibrant and vigorous, or start your own online business in wellness and anti-aging, Contact  Dr. Gillian Lockitch Email: [email protected] a complimentary Living Younger Discovery Call through the above email Order your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably at www.gillianlockitch.com (N. America only)

What if one of the most powerful anti-aging tools already exists within your body? This episode explores autophagy, the body's natural cellular renewal system, and how activating it can support healthy aging and longevity. Longevity expert Leslie Kenny shares her personal journey of reversing autoimmune disease and translating cutting-edge science into practical strategies. Listeners will discover how autophagy promoting spermidine, proper nutrition, and baseline lifestyle habits influence cellular repair, resilience, and biological aging.  Leslie Kenny is the founder of Oxford Healthspan, a company focused on translating longevity science into practical health solutions. She is a longevity researcher with expertise in cellular aging, autophagy, and immune system modulation. Her career includes work in finance and policy before a personal medical crisis led her to transition into health science. She specializes in spermidine research and its role in activating autophagy and influencing the hallmarks of aging. She is co-founder of the Oxford Longevity Project, a nonprofit dedicated to education in healthy aging.  Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  02:00 – Reframing aging as a modifiable biological process  03:50 – Leslie Kenny's autoimmune diagnosis and turning point  10:50 – Limitations of modern healthcare and the need for prevention  14:50 – What autophagy is and why it matters for longevity  17:00 – Spermidine and its role in cellular renewal pathways  21:30 – Nutrition, mushrooms, and dietary sources of spermidine  24:30 – Hallmarks of aging and systemic cellular decline  31:00 – Development of Primadine and supplement formulation science  37:00 – Practical strategies: fasting, diet, and supplementation  41:30 – Key takeaways on influencing biological agin  Connect with Leslie Kenny  https://oxfordhealthspan.com  Instagram: @lesliesnewprime @oxfordhealthspan @oxfordlongevityproject To try Primadine Spermidine Supplement:Code: GOLY15 Link: https://www.oxfordhealthspan.com/GOLY15 Please note that Dr. Lockitch retired from medical practice and does not diagnose, prescribe for or treat any medical conditions. Before ordering any product discussed in these podcasts, consult your health care practitioner. Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch  at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected]  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show.   Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/growingolderlivingyoungercommunity  Download Guide to Nature's Colorful Antioxidants 2026 

Flashback Friday - Episode 32  dates from Dec 2021 but ageism is still a hot topic in 2026 "Too old at 72? Careful. Ageism is out. We'll have the law on you! (Melvyn Bragg)" Hubris? I avoid 'isms' but I open this conversation with an anecdote of the first overt instance of ageism that I personally encountered, just before recording this podcast. Today's guest explores the structural ways we tolerate and promote behaviors toward people based solely on their age and how cultural norms and prejudices unconsciously shape our treatment of others and expectations about our own aging.   We talk about what ageism, ableism and successful aging means and how these concepts affect both societal attitudes but also our own perceptions of ourselves extending into every factet of life including technology.   Learn more about Dr. Gendron's work at www.traceygendron.com Her book: Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It.   Dr. Gillian Lockitch To learn how you can decelerate your aging trajectory,  stay vibrant and vigorous, or start your own online business in wellness and anti-aging, book a call with me by email at [email protected] Order your personal copy of Growing Older Living Younger, the Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably at www.gillianlockitch.com    

What if aging is not only driven by what happens inside our cells, but also by factors circulating in our blood? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch talks with Brad Younggren to explore the emerging science behind therapeutic plasma exchange and its potential to influence inflammation, biological aging, and chronic disease. Drawing on human clinical trial data, including the Circulate Trial, he explains how removing pro-aging factors from plasma may impact biomarkers, biological age, and overall healthspan. This conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the future of longevity medicine while reinforcing the importance of foundational lifestyle strategies for aging youthfully. Dr. Brad Younggren is the CEO and co-founder of Circulate Health, a company focused on advancing human healthspan through innovative therapies. He is a board-certified emergency physician and former U.S. Army combat physician, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Medical Badge. Dr. Younggren has held multiple leadership roles at the forefront of healthcare innovation, including President and Chief Medical Officer at 98.6, where he helped develop AI-powered primary care solutions. His career spans digital health, medical devices, and global healthcare delivery. Today, he leads research into therapeutic plasma exchange and its potential role in longevity science and chronic disease.  Episode Timeline:  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  02:30 – Aging beyond the cell: circulating factors in the bloodstream and their role in inflammation and disease  05:00 – Dr. Younggren's journey from emergency medicine to healthcare innovation and longevity science  09:00 – The evolution of digital health and smartphone-based diagnostics  12:00 – What is therapeutic plasma exchange and how it has been used in medicine for decades  15:45 – The Circulate Trial explained: study design, treatment groups, and control methodology  18:30 – Measuring outcomes: biomarkers, cognitive testing, grip strength, and biological clocks  21:00 – Key findings: biological age reduction and changes in proteomic markers  24:30 – Translating complex science into practical biomarkers patients can track  26:30 – Applications beyond longevity: chronic disease, Alzheimer's research, and long COVID  30:30 – Microplastics and plasma exchange: emerging research and early findings  33:00 – Evaluating longevity therapies: why human data matters  35:30 – Foundational health habits versus advanced interventions  36:50 – Wrap-up and key takeaways   Connect with Dr. Brad Younggren  Circulate Health: https://www.circulate.health  Circulate Trial publication (Aging Cell journal)  Information on plasma exchange and ongoing research initiatives   Call to Action:  Find Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably  (North America) or on Kindle  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show.   Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch  at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected]  Download Guide to Nature's Colorful Antioxidants. 2026

FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE 008 May 2021 'A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.' (John Barrymore) 'Miracles are objects and events in nature and in our lives, that cannot be fully explained or recreated' (Dr. Harley Rotbart) Dr. Harley Rotbart is the author of "No Regrets Living: 7 keys to a life of Wonder and Contentment", is an infectious disease specialist, Professor and Vice-Chair Emeritus of Paediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Having over 175 medical and scientific publications, his career is deeply rooted in science. Yet his experiences as a physician at Children's Hospital Colorado, taught him to believe in miracles, and that there are things beyond our ability to know.  His 7 Keys to a life of content encompass belief in a power greater than ourselves, discovering the messiah within each of us, healing evil whether within ourselves or in the world around us, appreciating and giving thanks, accepting things we regret by putting them into the context in which they  occurred, seeking purpose and also self-forgiveness and finally growing, by looking back and seeing how far we have come and knowing there is growth still to come. Dr. Rotbart suggests that we have to discover miracles around us in order to appreciate the non-miraculous moments in our lives, that is, discover the magnificence around us. Live like you are dying and don't put off important things to the future. Accept that there is something greater than us, whatever your unique belief may be, and be humbled by knowing there are some things that are out of our control. Connect with Doctor Rotbart at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/harleyrotbart  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harleyrotbartmd/  Website: https://www.harleyrobart.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harley-rotbart-m-d-4817a66/  Contact Dr. Gillian Lockitch to learn how you can decelerate your aging trajectory,  stay vibrant and vigorous, or start your own online business in wellness and anti-aging:Email: [email protected] Website. https://www.askdrgill.comEmail me to book a complimentary Living Younger Call  Order your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably at www.gillianlockitch.com  

What if the most powerful determinant of how you age is not your biology, but your inner dialogue? In this episode, Anne Poirier explores how self-talk shapes emotional wellbeing, behavior, and ultimately healthspan. Negative inner dialogue can reinforce stress, limit confidence, and influence lifestyle choices that impact aging. Drawing from her lived experience and three decades of professional work, Anne explains how shifting from self-criticism to self-compassion can transform both mental and physical health. Listeners will learn practical strategies to reframe their inner voice, adopt body neutrality, and support healthier, more empowered aging. Anne Poirier is a nationally recognized body image expert and founder of Shaping Perspectives. She is a certified Intuitive Eating counselor, self-talk trainer, and eating disorder specialist with a degree in Exercise Science. She is the author of The Body Joyful, Not a Fat Annie, and The Body Neutrality Playbook.  Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction04:30 – The role of self-talk in shaping behavior and identity 05:06 – Anne's early experiences with body image and eating disorder 10:32 – How childhood messaging and environment shape self-talk 16:39 – Body neutrality vs body positivity explained 18:37 – The "body bully" and transforming inner criticism 23:02 – Steps to heal your relationship with your body 25:16 – How self-talk impacts physical health and aging 30:03 – Overview of Anne's books and frameworks 32:41 – One simple daily practice to shift self-talk 34:45 – Wrap-up and key takeaways  Where to connect with Anne Poirier  https://shapingperspectives.com LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/annepoirier11  Free gift: Body Confidence Unlocked https://shapingperspectives.com/confidence/  Call to Action  Download: Holistic strategies to Build Back a Better Body Schedule a complimentary introductory call or video call Contact Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch Find Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably (North America only) or on Kindle Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community   Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. 

Flashback Friday:   'What creates our reality is not really the action we're taking. But the being state that stands behind the action.'  (Esra B. Ogut) One of the seven key pillars of the Growing Older Living Younger roadmap to aging youthfully, is comprised of the 3 attributes Mindset, Mindfulness and Mindkeep. Earlier episodes of this podcast have focused on beliefs, behaviors and consequences, resilience and healing from trauma, living with purpose, and keeping your cognitive functions sharp.    Today we talk about transformation. How the myths we create through our life experiences can hold us back, or help us achieve what we desire, and how we can transform limiting beliefs into a force for positive growth.   Esra Ogut is a transformational coach, yoga teacher, and author of a new book. Money Does Grow on Trees: The Myths We Create and Live By. Transforming her own mythology, took her from working as a shoe salesgirl to living a millionaire life. With her husband, Ike, they run a certification program in transformational coaching.  Her key takeaway is the suggestion to do this  simple exercise every day, Be grateful and express your gratitude in 10-15 sentences for 2 to 3 different subjects that are already present in your life. Speak this and be grateful, until you sense a change of state within you;  until you start feeling different,  until you feel your frequency rise.  Then move on to start being grateful for things that you would want to happen in your life as if they have already happened. That's a very, very big tool of manifestation.  Connect with Esra: www.ikeandesranow.com [email protected]  Contact Dr. Gillian Lockitch to learn how you can decelerate your aging trajectory,  stay vibrant and vigorous, or start your own online business in wellness and anti-aging: https://linktr.ee/askdrgill   Email: [email protected] a complimentary Living Younger Discovery Call  by emailing Dr. Lockitch at [email protected] Order your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably at www.gillianlockitch.com - North America only    

What if one of the most powerful tools for aging youthfully isn't found in a supplement, a diet, or even an exercise routine—but in how you think, play, and respond to life's most difficult moments? In this deeply moving and insightful conversation, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Kym Coco, who shares how profound loss became the catalyst for transformation, resilience, and renewed purpose. Drawing on her background in sports kinesiology, emotional awareness, and performance coaching, Kym reveals how mindset, movement, and intentional play can help rewire emotional responses and restore vitality. Listeners will discover how grief can become a gateway to growth, how simple shifts in self-talk can transform your inner critic into a supportive coach, and how engaging fully in the present moment—through activities like golf or dance—can restore joy, clarity, and resilience at any age. This episode offers both science-informed insight and practical tools to help you take control of how you age—mentally, emotionally, and physically.      Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  Overview of the episode theme: healing through play, mindset, and emotional resilience  02:30 – Kym Coco's story and the origin of Miracle on the Mountainside  A powerful journey through trauma, recovery, and conscious healing  05:00 – Life-changing accident and mindset transformation  How surrender, belief, and active participation in healing shaped a new path  08:30 – Mind, body, and emotions as interconnected systems  How sensory input, beliefs, and emotional states influence physiology and decision-making  11:30 – Golf as a tool for healing and rebuilding life  Using structure, presence, and play to move through grief and uncertainty  14:30 – Dr. Gillian's personal story of dance and renewal  From loss to ballroom dancing and rediscovering joy and purpose  20:00 – Creating new pathways: the "100 golf courses" vision  Using challenge, novelty, and environment to rebuild identity and resilience  23:00 – The power of symbolic reminders: the "rock ritual"  Simple daily practices to reinforce agency, intention, and emotional choice  25:00 – Communication, emotional triggers, and conscious response  Tools to create space between reaction and response for better relationships  27:00 – Transforming the inner critic into a supportive coach  Practical strategies to shift self-talk and build resilience  29:00 – Daily practice for emotional resilience and vitality  Morning awareness, reframing thoughts, and integrating body and mind  30:50 – Key takeaways and closing reflections  Choosing joy, presence, and purposeful aging    Connect with Kym Coco https://swagtail.com/  Book: Miracle on the Mountainside  https://swagtail.com/podcastbonus/    Call to Action  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected]      Download  Holistic Strategies to Build Back a Better Body  2026  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community      Download  Holistic Strategies to Build Back a Better Body  2026   

FlashBack Friday THIS EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on super aging - how to help transform longer lifespan into longer healthspan via  7 A Pillars of longevity. Today's Featured Experts are David Cravit and Larry Wolf, co-authors of " SuperAging: Getting Older Without Getting Old - A Boomers Guide to living well after 65.We discuss the 7 A's of the Pillars of Superaging, how default aging has been the - well- default, for past generations and continues to be for many today. And how social, cultural, political, and economic forces oppose living younger longer.Episode Timeline0:11 Introduction to SuperAging4:04 How did the idea for the book come about?8:19 Defining default-aging and super-aging, and the forces underlying them14:11 The 7 A Pillars of Super Aging.20:10 Attitude and awareness: the two core pillars27:47 Pillars 3 to 7 of SuperAging (Accomplishment, Achievement, Autonomy, Attachment, Avoidance)30:50 Social, cultural, political, and economic drivers that oppose super aging.33:34 Insidious issues about superaging: ageism, economic fears38:50 An independent individual needs to take responsibility for their own lives.45:57 How to make sense of the tsunami of information and misinformation flooding our media platforms50: 53 Larry and David's  takeaways from today's episode. Speaker Bios: David Cravit earned his BA in Political Science and Economics from the University of Toronto. He is author of two previous books on the subject of aging. The New Old," which described how the Baby Boomers are reinventing aging, and "Beyond Age Rage," which examined the so-called "war of the generations" . David is an executive at ZoomerMedia, the only media company in Canada specializing in covering the "older" market. He is also a member of the Board of C.A.R.P., the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, the largest and most influential association advocating for the rights and interests of Canadians as they age.Larry Wolf has a BA in Psychology from Cornell University, and an MBA in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Larry is the founder of the Wolf Group, an international marketing communications agency with over 300 employees in seven cities throughout North America. Larry has served on a number of boards, including the National Advertising Review Board, the Huntsman program in international studies at the University of Pennsylvania, the Eye Research Institute of Canada, and has chaired the Canadian Glaucoma Research Society. His special expertise is in identifying trends and understanding how to capitalize on them. Learn more about the work of David Cravit and Larry Wolf here.Link to the book SuperAging: Getting Older Without Getting Old,  https://superaging.info/about-3/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcravit/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-wolf-15a18a10/ Io get your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably click here Email: Dr. Gill at [email protected] And if you have not already done so, follow,  rate and review the show.

What if essential carotenoid antioxidants you consume today, could protect your vision and cognitive functions now and in the future? In this episode, Professor John Nolan explains how specific carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin play a critical role in protecting the retina and brain from oxidative stress, a key driver of damage and age-related decline. As a leading researcher in ocular and brain nutrition, he shares ground- breaking insights from clinical trials showing how targeted supplementation can improve visual function and support cognitive performance. Listeners will learn why prevention must begin early, how to identify effective nutritional strategies, and how to take control of long-term eye and brain health to extend their healthspan.Professor John Nolan is a full professor at South East Technological University in Waterford, Ireland, where he holds the Howard Chair in Human Nutrition. He is a nutritional biochemist specializing in the role of carotenoids in vision and cognitive health. As Director of the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland he has led major international clinical trials, including the CREST studies,  published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and is founder and chair of the International Brain and Ocular Nutrition Conference. His research focuses on targeted nutrition to prevent and manage age-related diseases such as macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease, advancing evidence-based nutritional strategies to support lifelong eye and brain health.  Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  04:25 – Origins of carotenoid research and macular degeneration  Early work identifying nutrition as a key modifiable risk factor  09:30 – What carotenoids are and why they matter  Role as antioxidants and "internal sunscreen" for the eye  13:55 – Can macular degeneration be reversed or improved  Distinguishing regeneration, slowing progression, and functional improvement  17:30 – Brain and eye connection  How nutrition may reactivate neural pathways and support cognition  20:27 – Challenging the current medical model  Why prevention must replace late-stage intervention  25:16 – The importance of meso-zeaxanthin  Why some individuals cannot convert nutrients effectively  28:37 – Supplement quality and evidence-based formulations  Risks of unregulated supplements and importance of clinical validation  32:18 – Nutrition, lifestyle, and informed decision-making  Why education and professional guidance are essential  33:21 – Starting early for lifelong protection  "From the cradle to the dance floor" approach to nutrition  35:55 – Declining nutrient density in modern food  Why diet alone may no longer be sufficient  37:18 – Wrap-up and key takeaways  Connect with the research of Prof John Nolan https://profjohnnolan.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profjohnnolan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmnolan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profjohnnolan/ Upcoming Vision for Vision documentary (watch the trailer )   Calls to Action :   Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community   Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected] for a personal consult Download Guide to Nature's Colorful Antioxidants 2026  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show.  

 Flashback Friday: Episode 52 from Season 1 May 2022 Audrey Hepburn, a Screen Legend and a truly iconic beauty, said "The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years."  I was reflecting on previous discussions I have had on ageism as I read yet another comment on beauty and aging youthfully. The debate centered around the question of whether we should accept and indeed celebrate the aging of our appearance as a reflection of the wisdom gained as we grow older, or whether, as I believe, we should do all we can to delay the wrinkling, dryness and loss of radiance that naturally accompanies aging, and endeavor to look vibrant and healthy as we age. Our appearance, the quality of our skin, hair, teeth, eyes, is as much a window to our overall as is our posture, gait and mental acuity. Choosing to ward off dull, wrinkled skin and thinning, lack-luster hair is not a question of vanity but a celebration of our inner vitality. Today's conversation brings to you an expert in the biology of skin and hair, to discuss how our  outward changes of aging may reflect our inner state of health. Dr. Helen Knaggs, is the Vice President of Global Research and Development for Nu Skin. With over 30 years of experience in skin research and product development, including years spent specializing in acne research, her expertise in skin and hair biology has led to numerous publications and patents.  Dr. Knaggs earned bachelor's degrees with honors in biochemistry and pharmacology, and a doctorate degree from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Leeds, England. She spent several years as a research biochemist in the dermatology department of Leeds General Infirmary where her work involved clinical and lab research, interpretation of trial results and data reporting to corporate and scientific communities. As vice president of Nu Skin Global Research and Development, she works closely with the Nu Skin Scientific Advisory Board to identify the latest research and trends in skin care for the Nu Skin brand. We discuss how lifestyle as much as inheritance affects the aging of your skin, and what you can do to   preserve both the health and the beauty of your appearance from inside out and outside in. To learn more about the nutritional and skin care products that will promote your youthful aging, schedule a Living Younger Discovery call with me at [email protected] To discover how you can  create your personal lifestyle roadmap to Growing Older Living Younger, visit www.askdrgill.com to order your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably.

What if the fatigue, brain fog, and loss of strength many women experience after 50 are not simply hormonal, but reflect deeper shifts in metabolism, muscle, and mitochondrial function? In this insightful episode, Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink reframes midlife as a metabolic and neurological transition rather than a purely hormonal one. She explains how muscle acts as a longevity organ, how mitochondrial efficiency impacts both energy and cognition, and how targeted lifestyle and nutrition strategies can restore resilience. This empowering conversation offers practical, science-informed steps to help women take control of how they age. Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink is a naturopathic doctor, women's health researcher, and founder of Wellex. She has more than 16 years of clinical experience supporting women's hormonal, metabolic, and immune health. Dr. Goldspink is a published author in peer-reviewed medical journals and has completed advanced training in mind-body medicine at Harvard University. Her work focuses on translating complex scientific research into practical, personalized health strategies. She has helped thousands of women restore energy, resilience, and long-term well-being. Her current focus is on evidence-based supplementation and metabolic health optimization for women in midlife and beyond. Episode Timeline 00:00 – Welcome and introduction 02:30 – Midlife symptoms reframed: beyond hormones to metabolism and mitochondria 04:00 – Dr. Goldspink's personal journey from marketing professional to naturopathic medicine 06:00 – Why brain fog, fatigue, and strength loss signal deeper biological shifts 08:00 – Muscle as a longevity organ and its role in metabolic and cognitive health 11:00 – The metabolic functions of muscle and the importance of myokines 13:30 – Resistance training and why lifting weights matters for women over 50 16:00 – Nutrition fundamentals: protein intake, glycemic stability, and whole foods 19:00 – Mitochondrial health and its connection to energy and cognition 22:00 – Practical strategies to optimize mitochondria without complex protocols 25:00 – Creatine explained: benefits for muscle, brain, and aging 29:00 – Real-world recovery and rebuilding strength after health setbacks 31:00 – Brain training, lifestyle habits, and community connection 33:00 – Managing stress, social media overload, and mental resilience 35:00 – Supplement strategy after 50: what to use and what to avoid 37:30 – Common mistakes: overuse of antioxidants and low-quality supplements 40:00 – The origin of Wellex and a mission to support underserved women's health needs 43:00 – Practical daily steps to rebuild resilience and support healthy aging 45:00 – Wrap-up and key takeaways Connect with Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink Website: https://wellex.co Science-backed supplements for women's metabolic and hormonal health Information on clinical research and product formulations Call to Action Find Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably at www.gillianlockitch.com (North America) or on Kindle Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected] Download Guide to Nature's Colorful Antioxidants. 2026 

Flashback Friday Episode 50 - May 2022"Walk into any pharmacy and ask to examine a bottle of prescription medicine chosen at random. There is a one in four chance that the prescription medication you hold in your hand has an active ingredient derived from a plant. Most of these plant-derived drugs were originally discovered through the study of traditional remedies and folk knowledge of indigenous people." (M. Balick, P. Cox.)  As I read this opening paragraph in the chapter on PlantsThat Heal, from the book, Plants, People and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany by  Drs. Michael Balick and Paul Cox, I thought, what better way to celebrate the 50th episode of Growing Older Living Younger, than a conversation with ethnobotanist, Dr. Paul Alan Cox, Executive Director of the Brain Chemistry Labs, whose passion for learning about indigenous cultures and searching for new medicines, has taken him around the world.  Dr. Cox has worked in remote island villages and other locations including Polynesia, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka, East Africa, Scandinavia, the Arabian Gulf and the Colorado Plateau.  He was both a Danforth Fellow and a National Science Foundation Fellow at Harvard where he received his Ph.D. He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, sometimes known as the Nobel Prize of the Environment and was named one of TIME magazine's eleven "Heroes of Medicine" for his discovery of a new HIV drug candidate. His conservation foundation, Seacology, has set aside over 1.5 million acres of rain forest and coral reef in 66 countries around the world.  We discuss how plant derived bioactive substances can both heal and harm, and how learning about age-old healing traditions can guide discovery of new therapeutic drugs. A comparison of villages with the highest and the lowest known rates of Alzheimer's disease and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) led to the discovery in Guam of a neurotoxin produced by cyanobacteria that accumulates in the foods in their traditional diet. Ogimi in Okinawa has no record of Alzheimer's, ALS, or  Parkinson's disease, and has more women, over the age of 100, than almost anywhere in the world. At the Brain Chemistry Labs in Jackson, Wyoming, a not-for-profit research institute, studies are focused on finding new treatments for ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. You will find many more  fascinating stories about plants and human in the book,  Plants, People and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany. 2nd Ed. 2021 By Michael J. Balick and Paul A. Cox. CRC Press.Brain Chemistry Labs:  https://twitter.com/brain_chem_labs https://www.facebook.com/brainchemistrylabs To contact Dr. Gillian Lockitch info@askdrgill,comOrder your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably at the Growing Older Living Younger website: www.askdrgill.com Schedule your free Living Younger Discovery call by email to [email protected] 

What if one of the most powerful tools for protecting your brain health has been right under your nose all along? In this fascinating episode, Jonathan Askholm explores the science of olfaction and its direct connection to memory, emotion, and cognitive function. Drawing on emerging research and personal experience, he explains how intentional smell training may improve memory, mood, and even support healthy aging. This conversation opens a new and highly accessible pathway to brain health, reinforcing that a simple daily practice can have profound effects on how we age. Jonathan Askholm is a brain health educator and co-founder of Memorease, a company focused on olfactory training for cognitive wellness. He has a background in psychology and a passion for teaching practical strategies that support mental and emotional well-being. His work is deeply influenced by his personal experience of losing his father to dementia, which inspired his mission to help others take proactive steps toward brain health. Jonathan collaborates with experts in scent creation to develop structured olfactory training tools grounded in scientific research. He regularly delivers workshops and presentations to older adults and community groups across Canada. His current focus is on making this brain health practice, simple, accessible, and empowering for everyday use.   Episode Timeline  00:00 – Welcome and introduction  02:30 – The surprising link between smell, memory, and brain health  04:00 – Jonathan's personal journey and his father's experience with dementia  07:00 – Why the sense of smell is often overlooked in modern health conversations  10:00 – The neuroscience of olfaction: direct pathways to memory and emotion  14:30 – Smell as a survival sense and its decline with age  18:00 – What is olfactory training and how it works  21:30 – The four scent categories used in research and training  24:00 – Evidence from studies: cognition, mood, and brain structure changes  27:00 – Practical applications and how to begin smell training at home  29:30 – The role of mindfulness and attention in olfactory training  32:00 – Olfactory training for anosmia and post-viral smell loss  34:00 – COVID-related smell loss and implications for brain health  36:00 – Who benefits most from olfactory training  37:00 – Wrap-up and key takeaway  Connect with Jonathan Askholm Website: https://memorease.care  Olfactory training kits and resources available through the website Workshops and presentations available through direct contact  Call to Action  Order Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably at www.gillianlockitch.com (North America)  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch  at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected]  Download Guide to Nature's Colorful Antioxidants. 2026 

THIS EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on sleep and the ways we can achieve sufficient natural sleep. Today's Featured Expert is retired medical doctor and  longtime mindfulness teacher, Dr. Lucinda Sykes, on her approach to promoting deep natural sleep We discuss the importance of natural deep sleep, what happens to our brains during the stages of sleep, the adverse effects of sleep medications, and the importance of consistent sleep habits in a sleep conducive environment. Episode Timeline:0:11 Introduction to today's episode.7:18 Why is the quality of sleep so important?11:43 What are the three stages of sleep?17:43 Approach to her clients with a sleep problem24:01 The major factors in chronic insomnia.30:47 Insomnia and sleep medication use.36:59 Key takeaways Speaker Bio:Dr. Lucinda Sykes' background includes family medicine and Jungian psychotherapy. She has Certification in Analytical Psychology from the CG Jung Institute, Zurich as well as extensive training in MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction) at the U Mass Center for Mindfulness,More than 6000 patients attended medical programs of mindfulness at her Toronto clinic, Meditation for Health. When COVID ended the clinic's in-person teaching in 2020, Lucinda shifted her work online, directing her special interest in sleep and mindfulness to new coaching programs for Women 50+.   Learn more about natural sleep and Dr. Sykes www.lucindasykesmd.com https://www.facebook.com/joyfulafter50 https://www.happysleepsecrets.com Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch:To discover how to reset your Aging Blueprint or kickstart your wellness, beauty and healthy aging business, schedule a call with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at [email protected]  To get your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably click here   

Flashback Friday Episode 66 from 2022 "Brains at any age are capable of rewiring and changing. No one should be aging, thinking that it's all downhill from here' (Dr. Henry Mahncke).  This comment on brain plasticity, made by  research neuroscientist, Dr. Henry Mahncke, in Episode 10: Rewiring Your Brain, echoes in my head, whenever I reflect on the goal of Growing Older Living Younger, namely to extend our health span by preserving a healthy mind in a healthy body.   My brain is a year older since that episode but I'm sure that by following my personal roadmap for aging well, my cognitive functions have not aged in parallel with my chronological age. Preserving brain health, cognitive functions and warding off dementia, is a desire that is frequently expressed when I talk to men and women during the complimentary Growing Older Living Younger Discovery call I offer. Many people are living into their 80s or 90s and have relatives or friends diagnosed with dementia. They may be aware that the prevalence of dementia is increasing dramatically. Prevalence refers to the proportion of people within a population at a given time who have a specific characteristic. Since dementia occurs more in elderly people, the more  elderly people there are, the greater the number of people there will be who have dementia. But as individuals we are more concerned about individual risk. I was intrigued to read that a recent study showed that the incidence of dementia in people of European ancestry living in Europe and the USA (that is the number of new cases in a population) has actually declined an average of 13% every decade over the last 30 years. Reflecting on what could be causing this decrease in the incidence of dementia, I suspect that it reflects an increasing understanding of the effects of lifestyle management, nutrition, targeted wellness products, exercise, socialization, sleep, and. keeping mentally active. In that vein, I invited Dr. Mahncke back to Growing Older Living Younger to describe a new community based Brain Health Program that is being developed in conjunction with the YMCA of San Francisco  and also to share updates on some of the studies we discussed in the earlier episode. Dr. Mahncke is the CEO of Posit Science, the leading provider of plasticity-based brain training and assessments. BrainHQ is an online and app program of plasticity-based brain training exercises to improve cognitive measures like attention, memory, processing speed and executive functions. that impact real world activities  like driving, balance, gait, mood, confidence and everyday cognitive functions.   To Learn More:Connect with Dr. Henry Mahncke at:  www.brainhq.com - you can also download the BrainHQ App LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-mahncke-3b89072/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brainhq/  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch: [email protected] Order your copy of  Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably at www.gillianlockitch.com Here is how to rate and review Growing Older Living Younger on Apple podcast:  Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.   Search for  Growing Older Living Younger podcast and select it.  On the show page see where it lists all the episodes and scroll down to find "Ratings & Reviews."   Select "Write a Review" and rate. Hopefully you will give a 5 star rating  Pick a title for your review and write your review - no longer than 300 words.  Select  "Send" or "Save", enter a nickname and it's done. 

What if one of the most powerful influences on your health, your hormones, and even your longevity was something you rarely think about—your posture? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch explores the profound connection between structural alignment and the biological systems that govern how we age. Joined by scoliosis specialist and spinal health expert Dr. Mark Morningstar, this conversation uncovers the science behind how chronic postural distortions—like forward head posture and slouching—can reduce lung capacity, alter nervous system balance, and disrupt stress hormone regulation. These subtle but persistent changes can contribute to fatigue, anxiety, reduced resilience, and long-term decline.  This episode reframes posture from a cosmetic concern into a critical pillar of healthy aging. You will learn how spinal motion influences brain function, why breathing patterns are central to longevity, and how simple daily habits can shift your body from chronic stress into a state of balance and vitality. Dr. Mark Morningstar is a scoliosis specialist, researcher, and educator affiliated with Back Genius, a network dedicated to evidence-based, whole-body spinal care. A graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, he is triple board certified in clinical nutrition, spine care, and integrative medicine. With over two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Morningstar focuses on complex spinal and neurological conditions, including scoliosis and chronic pain syndromes. Episode Timeline 00:00 — Posture as a hidden driver of health 02:30 — Why posture is more than cosmetic 04:10 — Dr. Morningstar's journey into scoliosis care 09:50 — The multifactorial nature of scoliosis 12:10 — Forward head posture and breathing capacity 14:20 — Posture and stress hormones 16:00 — Autopilot vs conscious posture control 17:20 — Standing desks and movement awareness 20:30 — Vagus nerve and parasympathetic function 24:00 — Breathing patterns and anxiety 25:30 — Vagus nerve activation techniques 29:10 — Posture and longevity 31:00 — Movement and dancing 32:10 — Early warning signs of poor posture 34:10 — One key action for better posture 37:00 — Final thoughts on daily habits Links for Dr. Morningstar FB: facebook.com/backgenius IG: dr.mark.morningstar LI:  www.linkedin.com/in/mark-morningstar-dc-phd-facsp-dacbn-chs-a4085415 YT: @scoliosisworld Call to Action Download : Ten Tips to Build A Better Body 2026.  Find "Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracfully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably" at www.gillianlockitch.com (North America) or on Kindle Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected] to schedule a one-on-one zoom or phone call

Flashback Friday's  EPISODE 176 of GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on a vital topic for all who want to age in good health, namely preventing falls, and potential fractures. Falls are a leading cause of injury, disability and loss of independence among seniors, often resulting in fractures, hospitalizations and long term health complications. Maintaining mobility and preventing falls is absolutely key to promoting a healthier, independent form of aging. My guest today is Dr Wayne Gradman, author of The Fall Guy, How to Keep Gravity from Ruining your Day. Dr Gradman obtained his MD from Harvard Medical School, followed by postgraduate work, interrupted by military service, at UCLA and Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. His private practice was in vascular surgery. He has been married for 52 years, and credits his wife for a very  practical point, The 20-Foot Rule. 0:01 Introduction and Overview of the Podcast 2:17 Introduction of Dr. Wayne Gradman 3:54 Intrinsic and Extrinsic Fall Factors 8:48 Personal Experiences and Practical Tips 9:05 Practical Tips for Preventing Falls 14:18 Home Safety and Bathroom Precautions 18:27 Stairs and Banisters 22:09 Outdoor Safety and Exercise 29:00 Exercise for Fall Prevention 33:31 Key Takeaways and Conclusion Contact Dr. Lockitch ar [email protected] Check out the website for Dr. Gradman https://wgradman.com And if you have not already done so, please follow, rate and review this Growing Older Living Younger podcast.

Have you ever stepped on a scale and questioned whether the numbers truly reflect what is happening inside your body? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with nutrition expert Cheryl McColgan to unpack the confusion around body composition data, wearable devices, and the science behind tracking your health as you age. Together, they explore how to interpret trends rather than obsess over absolute numbers, and how lifestyle habits like sleep, stress management, and nutrition influence the data we see. This conversation empowers listeners to use technology wisely while focusing on the foundational habits that support vibrant, healthy aging. Cheryl McColgan is an author, coach, and the founder of Heal Nourish Grow, a wellness platform focused on nutrition, metabolic health, and sustainable lifestyle practices. With over 25 years of experience in psychology, addiction studies, fitness, yoga, and nutrition, Cheryl brings a multidisciplinary approach to health optimization. She is also the host of the Heal Nourish Grow podcast and has authored multiple books on keto nutrition and fat loss. At age 52, she became a competitive bodybuilder, demonstrating her commitment to strength, longevity, and aging powerfully.  Episode Timeline: 00:00 – Welcome and introduction  00:30 – A personal story of unexplained weight gain  Dr. Gillian shares her experience with atrial fibrillation, weight gain, and confusion over body composition data  06:35 – Cheryl's journey into health, nutrition, and bodybuilding  From early exposure to fitness to becoming a competitor in her 50s  10:48 – Can we trust wearable and scale data?  Why body composition devices vary and how to approach their accuracy  12:27 – The problem with body fat readings  Why scales may underestimate fat and how algorithms affect results  16:08 – Hydration, inflammation, and measurement variability  How fluid shifts, illness, and exercise impact bioimpedance readings  18:46 – Daily vs weekly tracking  Why trends over time matter more than isolated measurements  21:38 – How wearables measure stress, sleep, and recovery  Understanding HRV, skin signals, and algorithm-driven insights  24:16 – Are we becoming obsessed with health data?  Balancing measurement with mindset and wellbeing  29:04 – The most important habits for healthy aging  Sleep, stress management, and aligning exercise with life demands  31:32 – Rethinking productivity and rest  The importance of giving yourself permission to recover  33:18 – Keto, metabolic health, and personalized nutrition  Cheryl's journey from vegetarian to keto and evolving dietary flexibility  36:58 – Final reflections and practical takeaways  Using tools wisely while focusing on foundational health behaviors  Call to Action: Download Guide to nature's Colourful Antioxidants Find "Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably" at www.gillianlockitch.com  (N.America only)  Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5 star review to help others discover the show.   Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: [email protected] to book a one-on-one call.  Learn more about Cheryl's work at https://healnourishgrow.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/healnourishgrow Twitter: https://twitter.com/healnourishgrow Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/healnourishgrow YouTube: https://youtube.com/healnourishgrow Facebook: https://facebook.com/healnourishgrow    

THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE 132 OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on understanding how our unique internal circadian rhythms, derived from interaction of genotype with environment, define our chronotype, which can help us optimize the times at which we should sleep, eat, exercise, interact with others and much more.  Today's Featured Expert is Dr. Michael Breus, Clinical Psychologist, diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Breus is the author of The Power of When, a biohacking guidebook showing that, based on your genetic, biological chronotype, there is an optimal time to do everything from eating to exercising, to even asking for a raise. He is the author of two other books, focusing on sleep, The Sleep Doctors Four Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health, and The Sleep Doctor's Diet Plan. Known as the Sleep Doctor, Dr. Breus is recognised  for his characterization of 4 chronotypes, Lion, Bear, Wolf and Dolphin. Episode Timeline: 0.11 Intro to Sleep medicine and chronobiology 5:41 Genetics, time zones and personality traits 10:20 Circadian science and biological clocks. 21:06  Sleep disturbances and muscle cramps 26:55  Sleep apnea and its impact on daily life. 32:57 A Sleep Doctor's approach to Aging, Wellness and Genetics About this episode's Featured Expert: Dr. Michael Breus Website: www.sleepdoctor.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/thesleepdoctor/ About  Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch Download your free Guide to Living Younger Longer.  Schedule a free Discovery Call with Dr. Gill Email  Dr. Gill at [email protected] About  Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch website: https://www.askdrgill.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gillian.lockitch/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/growingolderlivingyounger Order Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably And if you have not already done so, please follow, rate and review the podcast Growing Older Living Younger.

Bone density loss and osteoporosis are among the biggest threats to independence after 50. In this episode, bone health expert Kyle Zagrodzky explains the science of bone remodeling, skeletal strength, fracture prevention, and how mechanical loading can help build stronger bones as we age. Bone health is often overlooked until a fracture occurs, yet skeletal strength is one of the most important factors determining mobility as we age. In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Kyle about how modern lifestyles contribute to declining bone density and muscle strength across generations, and why traditional approaches to bone health often miss a crucial biological trigger. The conversation explores practical strategies for strengthening bone, improving balance, and reducing fracture risk so that listeners can remain active, resilient, and independent throughout later life. Kyle Zagrodzky is the Founder and CEO of OsteoStrong, an international wellness franchise dedicated to improving skeletal health and preventing fractures through science-based conditioning protocols. A seasoned entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience building high-performance companies, he shifted his focus toward bone health in 2012 after discovering breakthrough bone density technology developed by inventor Dr. John Jaquish. Today OsteoStrong operates in more than 200 locations across multiple countries and serves hundreds of thousands of members seeking stronger bones, better balance, and improved musculoskeletal health. Kyle also hosted the Unbreakable Me podcast and is a leading advocate for proactive skeletal health as a central pillar of longevity. Episode Timeline 00:00 – Welcome and introduction Dr. Gillian Lockitch introduces the episode and highlights why bone health is essential for maintaining independence, mobility, and an active lifestyle as we age. 00:30 – Why bone health is often overlooked Dr. Lockitch explains how bone loss develops silently, particularly during menopause and aging, and why strengthening the skeletal system is critical for healthy longevity. 04:57 – Kyle Zagrodzky's entrepreneurial journey Kyle shares his background as a bootstrap entrepreneur, his experience in the fitness industry, and the turning point that led him to focus on bone health innovation. 06:30 – Discovering breakthrough bone density technology Kyle describes meeting scientist Dr. John Jaquish and learning about a prototype device designed to stimulate bone growth through mechanical loading. 08:47 – From prototype to global OsteoStrong franchise The discussion explores how Kyle helped transform a scientific concept into an international network of skeletal conditioning centers. 10:13 – The fundamentals of longevity Both hosts discuss the importance of focusing on core lifestyle practices such as movement, nutrition, resistance training, and social connection rather than chasing every new biohacking trend. 15:23 – Why bone density is declining in modern society Kyle explains research showing that younger generations are developing lower bone mass due to sedentary lifestyles and insufficient mechanical loading. 18:00 – The science of bone remodeling The conversation explores Wolff's Law and how bones respond to mechanical stress, along with the level of force required to stimulate new bone growth. 21:50 – How OsteoStrong works Kyle explains the technology behind OsteoStrong devices and how controlled high force loading can stimulate bone growth safely without traditional impact exercise. 26:21 – Practical solutions for people without access to OsteoStrong Kyle shares alternative strategies including resistance training, variable resistance systems such as the X3 bar, and the importance of balance and strength training. 30:45 – The overlooked role of protein Kyle discusses why adequate protein intake is critical for maintaining muscle mass and supporting skeletal health as we age. 32:13 – Dr. Lockitch's personal bone health journey Dr. Lockitch shares her experience with osteoporosis, maintaining bone health through lifestyle approaches, and rebuilding strength after atrial fibrillation limited her activity. 33:59 – The pros and cons of common osteoporosis medications Kyle explains how bisphosphonate drugs work, potential risks associated with long-term use, and why bone remodeling balance is important. 37:11 – Extending healthspan, not just lifespan Dr. Lockitch emphasizes the importance of maintaining vitality, independence, and quality of life rather than simply living longer. 37:50 – Final insights and closing thoughts Kyle and Dr. Lockitch reflect on the importance of empowering people to strengthen their bones and extend their healthy years. Connect with Osteostrong https://osteostrong.me https://x3bar.com Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch https://www.askdrgill.com [email protected] Find "Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably" at www.gillianlockitch.com or on Kindle. Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  

One of the most important personal choices you can make about your health and about aging well, centres on nutrition. The reality is that we are what we eat. Food and the social aspects of eating together is an important aspect of daily life. And society's hunger for knowledge about food and health is reflected in the tsunami of contradictory information that floods our newspapers, magazines, computers and televisions every day. It's hard for even a dedicated researcher like me to make sense of it. Sadly, as for many important issues of the day, discussion about nutrition and health has become a battleground rather than arena where investigation and thoughtful debate occurs so that we can make informed choices. And the key word is choice.As a medical specialist in human biochemistry with a particular focus on nutrition and micronutrients, I have been perplexed by the drive to force consumers onto a diet based solely on plants, with claims that this would be good for our health and the only solution to save our planet. Where in the battleground of extremes between vegans and carnivores is there a place for those of us who believe that we should have access to fresh, whole foods, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, vegetables, nuts, seeds, healthy fats, cheese or yogurt,  and  choose what feels right for us?  Today I talk to Jayne Buxton, journalist, former business analyst, entrepreneur and author of The Great Plant-Based Con: Why eating a Plants-only diet won't improve your health or save the planet.  There is much to unpack in this extensively researched and referenced book, but our conversation focuses on 3 key areas. How a plant-only diet affects human health, the mythology that asserts that a plant-only diet is best for the planet, and what are the powerful forces propelling us towards a plant-only diet, and  away from the freedom to choose what we put in our bodies. In this  conversation we could only touch on highlights from the book.  Learn more about "The Great Plant-Based Con: Why eating a Plants-only diet won't improve your health or save the planet" at www.jaynereesbuxton.com Find Jayne at   @jaynereesbuxt Contact Dr. Gillian Lockitch to discover how you can create your own roadmap to living younger as you grow older, You can schedule a free Discovery Call with me Order your copy of  Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably at  www.gillianlockitch.com.  And join our private Growing Older Living Younger Community, to meet people, who like you, are discovering and sharing ways to age in great health. Help spread the word by subscribing, rating and reviewing the show. Here is how to do it in 7 easy steps on Apple Podcasts 1. Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. 2.Search for Growing Older Living Younger podcast and select it. Navigate to the show page which lists all the episodes - 3. Scroll down to find "Ratings & Reviews." 4. Select "Write a Review." and rate between one and five stars. 5. Pick a title for your review. Write your review - no longer than 300 words. 6. Don't forget to "Send" or "Save" 7. Enter a nickname.

What if everything you're doing to stay healthy—your diet, your supplements, your exercise routine—is only part of the story? What if the real question is whether your body is actually absorbing, using, and benefiting at the cellular level? In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch invites you to rethink how you measure wellness and healthy aging by introducing a biomarker that is both completely personal and scientifically valid: your antioxidant protection score.Drawing from her background as a physician and specialist medical biochemist, as well as a life-changing personal health scare, Dr. Lockitch explains the invisible but relentless process of oxidative stress—the cellular damage caused by free radicals that accumulates over time and contributes to aging and chronic disease. Through a vivid and emotional story of her sudden diagnosis of myopic macular degeneration, she brings home the reality that aging is not just about time passing, but about what is happening inside your body every single day. This episode goes beyond theory to illuminate the science of antioxidants as your body's essential defense system. You will learn how endogenous antioxidants produced within your cells work in partnership with dietary antioxidants like carotenoids, and why this balance is critical for protecting your brain, eyes, heart, skin, and overall vitality. Dr. Lockitch also explains why nutrient intake alone is not enough—what truly matters is bioavailability, absorption, and delivery to target tissues.Most importantly, this conversation introduces a breakthrough in personalized health: the ability to measure your antioxidant status quickly, non-invasively, and in real time. By tracking carotenoid levels in your skin, with the new Prysm io, you gain a window into your body's internal resilience against oxidative stress. This transforms your approach from guessing and hoping to knowing and acting. If you've ever wondered whether your healthy lifestyle is truly making a difference, this episode will shift your perspective. It is both a call to awareness and a message of empowerment: when you understand what is happening inside your body, you gain the ability to change it—and to take control of how you age, from the inside out.  Episode Timeline: 00:00 – Welcome and introduction  Dr. Gillian introduces the episode and poses the powerful question: do you know your antioxidant score?  01:10 – Why antioxidant protection matters  Explores the gap between healthy habits and measurable protection against oxidative stress.  03:30 – A personal turning point  Dr. Gillian shares her diagnosis of myopic macular degeneration and the urgent treatment that followed.  06:10 – Lessons from the AREDS study  How targeted nutrients support eye health and why prevention is more powerful than treatment.  08:20 – Measuring what matters  Introduction to antioxidant scanning and the surprising results from early testing.  10:30 – Understanding oxidative stress  Clear explanation of free radicals, cellular damage, and environmental contributors.  13:00 – Internal vs dietary antioxidants  How your body's own defense systems work alongside nutrients from food and supplements.  15:10 – The role of carotenoids in healthy aging  How these plant compounds support the eyes, brain, heart, and skin.  17:00 – Introducing the Prysm iO device  How this non-invasive technology measures antioxidant levels in seconds.  18:30 – From guessing to knowing  Why tracking your antioxidant score empowers better aging decisions.  19:30 – Final thoughts and invitation  Call to action to measure, monitor, and take control of your biological aging.  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch Download your Guide to Nature's Colouful Antioxidants Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at [email protected] to request a  zoom call to demo the Prysm io: Email Subject: Prysm Podcast Join the Growing Older Living Younger Facebook Community here  Share the Growing Older Living Younger podcast link for anyone you care about and invite them to subscribe  

In this Flashback Friday EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER, we focus on helping women to achieve sustainable weight loss through uncovering the underlying beliefs leading to excess weight gain. Today's Featured Guest is Lori Aloisio, holistic health coach and registered nurse. Lori's passion for helping and healing initially led her to become a registered nurse but she always viewed health and well being from a holistic perspective. Knowing that she needed to look at a larger picture to understand the many factors that contribute to illness and disease, Lori went on to study alternative healing practices, including ancient Chinese medicine, therapeutic and other nutrition techniques. In helping women struggle with weight loss problems, she's focused on showing that there are sustainable options. Episode Timeline0:11 Introduction to today's episode 3:40 What led Lori to become a registered nurse? 6:29 Why Lori moved to Brazil 11:44 How to learn what the body wants to tell us. 14:47 The importance of choosing a healthy lifestyle. 18:52 How to embody who you truly want to be. 20:45 How long does it take to recover from the effects of weight gain? 23:39 Balancing the feminine and masculine in us. Key TakeawayThat there's always a reason behind excess weight and one needs to uncover the underlying cause. Why would my body think that I would need this excess weight? Was there maybe some trauma or some negative event in my life that makes me want to hide behind this protective shield as well? Learn more about Lori here:https://www.instagram.com/lorialoisio/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/manifestingweightlossnow https://www.youtube.com/healthyandfreelife Coupon Code ALIGNED for 11% off all my 1:1 programs Contact Dr. Gillian LockitchChange Your Aging Masterplan: Reversing Aging to Live Younger Longer :For more information book a  free Discovery Call with Dr. Gill or email at [email protected] To get your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably click here And if you have not already done so, follow,  rate and review the show.

In this conversation with Dr. Gillian Lockitch, Dr. Natalya Borakowski explains the neurological remodeling and hormonal shifts that occur during perimenopause and menopause — and why these changes can trigger identity disruption and appearance anxiety. You'll learn how understanding the biology behind midlife can restore self-trust, reduce fear, and support aging youthfully. Midlife often arrives with an unexpected sense of instability. Women describe feeling anxious, self-critical, emotionally reactive, or disconnected from their reflection — even when medical tests show nothing "wrong." Estrogen and progesterone influence neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine, and serotonin, and hormonal shifts temporarily alter emotional regulation, stress response, and self-perception This experience is not psychological weakness or hysteria. It is a biological and neurological transition that most women are never prepared for. If we misinterpret midlife symptoms as personal failure, we amplify stress and self-judgment — two drivers of accelerated aging. For women committed to healthy longevity and  extending healthspan, understanding the hormonal remodeling of the brain is essential. When we understand what is happening, fear lessens. And when fear lessens, physiology follows.  Natalya Borakowski is a naturopathic physician and founder of Desert Bloom Skincare. Her upcoming book, Emotional Esthetics: The Story of Aging, The Biology of Beauty, and the Art of Self-Trust, reframes midlife distress as a natural neurological transition rather than a cosmetic crisis.  Episode Timeline:  00:00 — Opening question: Is midlife distress biological, not psychological?  03:45 — Natalya's journey into medicine and skin health  07:30 — Cultural pressures, appearance & identity  13:15 — The "identity perception split" explained  18:40 — Hormones, neurotransmitters & brain remodeling  23:50 — Wellness vs performance and self-surveillance  26:30 — Personal stories: health crises & device tracking  31:10 — Nervous system safety and the vagus nerve  32:10 — The essential mindset shift: aging as transformation  34:10 — Closing reflections and resources   Connect with Natalya Borakowski We are happy to offer a complimentary download The Aging Out Loud Starter kit https://free-gift.unveilyou.life/ Instagram accounts @unveilyou.life @natalyaborakowski LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/natalyaborakowski Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch Download your guide toBuild Back a Better Body: Strengthen Bones, Muscles, Joint and Fascia  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at [email protected] to request a phone conversation or zoom call   Join the Growing Older Living Younger Facebook Community here  Share the Growing Older Living Younger podcast link for anyone you care about and invite them to subscribe  

THIS Flashback Friday EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on food addiction, in particular addiction to sugar and refined carbohydrates.Today's Featured Expert is Dr. Vera Tarman, author of Food Junkies: Recovery from  Food Addiction,  cohost of the popular Food Junkies Podcast and founder of the Facebook group called "I'm Sweet Enough: Sugar-Free for Life."We discuss the reality and the pathophysiology of sugar addiction, how to know whether you have an addiction and the impact that corporate sponsorship of research and disease-focused organizations have on the common narrative.  Episode Timeline0:11 Introduction to today's episode. 2:58 The difference between pleasure seeking and addiction. 7:45 How to decide if you have a true sugar addiction? 12:29 Dopamine re-uptake. 17:08 Are there genetic predispositions to addiction? 21:28 The connection between diabetes and sugar addiction. 25:27 You are what you eat 31:41 Why sponsorship of research by corporations is problematic. 37:52 Training yourself to say no to sugar addiction. Speaker Bio: Dr, Vera Tarman. MD, MSc, FCFP, ABAM, is a specialist in addiction medicine, Medical Director of Renascent  and a senior staff physician at Salvation Army. she is author of Food Junkies: Recovery from  Food Addiction and cohosts the  Food Junkies Podcast Learn more about  Dr. Tarman's work, and sugar addiction at the links in the show notes. Facebook: www.fb.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife Website: veratarmanMD.com and addictionsunplugged.com; You tube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VeraTarmanMD Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drveratarman/ Change Your Aging Masterplan: Seven Keys to Reversing Aging to Live Younger Longer  - with Dr. Gillian Lockitch, starts May 30th. For more information Email  Dr. Gill at [email protected]  or book a  free Discovery Call with me. To get your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably click here  And if you have not already done so, follow,  rate and review the show.

Why does weight loss feel harder with age—even when we "do everything right"? In this episode, award-winning health journalist Julia Belluz challenges the calorie-centric narrative of weight control and explains how metabolism, hormones, food environments, and ultra-processed foods shape how—and why—we eat. This conversation reframes weight, aging, and health through evidence rather than diet dogma.For decades, we've been told that weight control is simply a matter of discipline: eat less, move more, and the scale will comply. Yet for many people—especially as they age—this advice fails repeatedly, leading to frustration, guilt, and confusion. Midlife and beyond bring hormonal shifts, metabolic adaptation, and increasing exposure to highly engineered food environments. Understanding why our bodies resist weight loss—and how our environment pushes us toward overeating—is essential for protecting healthspan rather than blaming ourselves for biology. My guest, Julia Belluz, is an award-winning health and science journalist, New York Times opinion contributor, and co-author of Food Intelligence, written with metabolic researcher Kevin Hall. Together, they unpack decades of misunderstood nutrition science and explain what actually drives hunger, metabolism, and eating behavior.Listeners will learn why metabolism slows as a response—not a cause—of weight loss, what The Biggest Loser study revealed about long-term metabolic adaptation, how hormones interact with ultra-processed foods, and why environment often overrides conscious food choices. Episode Timeline: 00:00 — Why weight loss feels harder with age  03:50 — Julia's path into nutrition journalism   07:45 — The Biggest Loser metabolism findings   11:10 — "It's not metabolism, stupid"    15:55 — Hormones, hunger, and eating behavior     22:15 — Food environments and ultra-processed foods     27:30 — Nutrition studies: signal vs noise      30:40 — Supplements, misinformation, and risks       32:55 — What is hopeful moving forward ? Connect with Julia Belluz https://www.juliabelluz.com/ Find the Book "Food Intelligence" by Julia Belluz and Kevin Hall PhD.  Call to Action:  Order the book Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably  (North America only ) or find it on kindle Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show.  Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community Website: https://www.askdrgill.com/

Flashback Friday re-post of most popular episodes THIS EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on improving your cognitive functioning through playing computer brain training games.Today's Featured Expert discussing the neuroscience of cognitive training and the Lumosity brain training program, is Bob Schafer, President of Lumos Labs Medical, and Chief Science Officer at Lumos Labs (Lumosity)We discuss the neuroscience of cognition and Lumos Labs Human Cognition Project, how the Lumosity platform is built around training cognitive skills through engaging digital games, what you, the consumer, can learn from regularly training on Lumosity, and how Lumos Labs is working in the new frontier of digital medicine.Episode Timeline:   0:11 Introduction to this episode   5:16 Introduction to the Human Cognition Project 12:48 The Lumosity database  16:23 What percentage of users stick with the program? 21:03 The importance of engagement in brain training. 26:54 How to assess your performance 35:14 Are there mental barriers to progress?Speaker Bio:Bob earned his PhD in neuroscience from Stanford University and was a postdoctoral fellow at MIT. He has published original research in top journals including Science and Neuron. Prior to joining Lumos Labs, he was founder and CEO of a YCombinator-funded startup company that used neuroscience and predictive analytics to improve hiring decisions and team development. In 2015, Bob and his startup team joined Lumos Labs. Here, Bob has served in a number of roles leading research, product, and business initiatives, including the formation of the company's Lumos Labs Medical division. Over 100 million people in the Lumosity community have combined to play more than 7 billion cognitive gameplays across more than 15 years, providing, along with the Lumos Labs "Human Cognition Project,", unique insights into the brain and mind.Learn more about Lumosity at these linkshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-schafer-4171554/ Schedule a free Discovery Call with me to discover how to Reset Your Aging Blueprint or kickstart your wellness, beauty and healthy aging business. email: [email protected] Order your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably click here  - North America only . Otherwise available on Kindle  

Back pain is one of the most common causes of reduced mobility and loss of independence as we age. In this episode, spine surgeon Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo explains the causes of back and neck pain, when conservative treatment is appropriate, and when spine surgery may become the best option for restoring mobility and quality of life. Chronic back and neck often trigger fear. Many people assume pain is inevitable, that surgery always leads to long downtime, or that recovery means permanent limitation. In this episode, we explore modern advances in spine care, recovery, and how the right mindset and preparation can help people reclaim movement, confidence, and independence at any age. Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo is a board-certified, fellowship-trained spinal and orthopedic surgeon and founder of the Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care, with offices across New York and New Jersey. A graduate of Brown University and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he completed his orthopedic residency at Washington University in St. Louis and a spine fellowship at UPMC. He is also the creator of the 360 Dynamized Core system for spine-safe core strengthening.    Episode Timeline: 00:00 — A personal story: emergency spine surgery and recovery   05:40 — Why spine pain becomes more common with age   09:10 — Imaging vs symptoms: understanding the disconnect   12:55 — How surgeons decide who needs surgery    18:20 — Mindset, movement, and recovery outcomes    22:10 — Minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques     26:40 — Core strength, prevention, and daily habits      32:50 — A practical action for people in pain today   Connect with Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo  www.nynjspine.com 360coreboard.com Call to Action:   Find "Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably" (North America only) or on Kindle. Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show.  Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community  Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch   email: [email protected]

EPISODE 147 OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on protecting eye, brain and overall health with the antioxidant carotenoid pigments, especially lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin, as determined in the Central Retinal Enrichment Supplementation Clinical Trials (CREST). Download my free Guide to the Colourful Antioxidants in Your Food that explains the wellness benefits and food sources of these protective nutrients. To tell us how key nutrients can protect our eyes from macular degeneration, and  help preserve memory and mental acuity, I talk with today's Featured Expert, Professor John Nolan. He is a Fulbright Scholar, and a full professor at the South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford, Ireland, where he holds a Howard Chair in Human Nutrition, He is the Director of the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI). This research centre studies the role of nutrition for vision, cognitive function and prevention of age-related diseases. In 2011, Prof Nolan won a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) research grant to study the impact of nutritional supplementation on visual function via two Central Retinal Enrichment Supplementation Clinical Trials), and has  published 117 peer-reviewed scientific papers. Episode Timeline: 0:11 Why targeted nutrition for Eye Health 5:17 Nutrition and eye health with a focus on carotenoids. 10:02 Measuring macular pigment in the eye and its changes with supplements. 16:04 The importance of macula pigments in eye health. 21:07 Lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin.in eye health. 28: 07 Sources of antioxidants, micronutrient supplements, and their overall effects on health of the body. 31:53 Eye health and antioxidants. 37:41 Antioxidants and healthy aging Learn more about Prof John Nolan and the Carotenoid research: http://www.profjohnnolan.com/ http://www.bonconference.org/ https://ie.linkedin.com/in/johnmnolan https://www.instagram.com/profjohnnolan   Get to know Your Host: Dr. Gillian Lockitch Download Your free Guide to the Colourful Antioxidants in Your Food Download the Growing Older Living Younger app for your smartphone or tablet Schedule a free Discovery Call with Dr. Gill at [email protected] website: https://www.askdrgill.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gillian.lockitch/rlivingyounger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianlockitch/ X: https://twitter.com/GilliansReviews And if you have not already done so, follow, rate and review this Growing Older Living Younger podcast.

Modern medicine excels at treating disease, less so at prevention. In this episode, we explore how wearable technology powered by artificial intelligence is bringing together Western physiology biometrics and Traditional Chinese Medicine to support true preventive health. Ryan Yuen shares how continuous monitoring of subtle body signals can help identify imbalance long before symptoms appear—and what this means for healthy longevity. Aging well is not about acccepting decline—it's about identifying early warning signs and supporting body balance before disease is established. Traditional Chinese Medicine has emphasized this philosophy for thousands of years,. Modern wearable technology now allows us to monitor the body continuously, shifting how we approach healthspan extension ato live younger longer.Ryan Yuen, Digital Business Lead at Link2Care, is helping bridge ancient medical wisdom with modern data science. The Watch2Care Vital smartwatch integrates 38 Western physiological metrics with 18 Traditional Chinese Medicine functional indicators across five organ systems—using AI to translate data into actionable daily insights read in the Fitvibe app.  Episode Timeline: 00:00 — Prevention versus diagnosis and treatment in modern healthcare  03:10 — The aging population crisis and why healthcare systems need to change  07:45 — Integrating Western metrics with TCM philosophy using AI  12:30 — Understanding the five TCM organ systems  18:50 — Interpreting health scores and early warning signs  22:30 — Practical lifestyle actions based on daily data  26:30 — What preventive health could look like in the future  Connect with Ryan Yuen and Watch2Care Vital* Official Website and Shop: www.link2care.asia LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/link2careglobal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584628198577 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/link2care_global *To show our appreciation for your community, we would like to offer your listeners an exclusive, limited-time promotion. When listeners use the discount code on our official website, they will receive 30% off the Watch2Care Vital and can add two additional wristbands to their cart for free. Discount Code: GOLY30   Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch at [email protected]  to request a phone conversation or zoom call   Join the Growing Older Living Younger Facebook Community here   Share the Growing Older Living Younger podcast link   for anyone you care about and invite them to subscribe   https://www.facebook.com/groups/growingolderlivingyoungercommunity 

THIS EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in older adults. Today's Featured Expert is Kathleen Nadeau, PhD. We discuss how unrecognized  ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) may impact healthy aging and perhaps be confused with dementia in an older person; and whether there are alternative strategies to medication Speaker BioDr. Kathleen Nadeau is an internationally recognized authority on ADHD across the lifespan and is the author of 15 books related to ADHD. Her most recent book, Still Distracted After All These Years, is the very first book ever written for, and about older adults with ADHD. She is the founder and clinical director of the largest private ADHD specialty clinic in the US, The Chesapeake Center for ADHD in Bethesda, MD. She is known for her supportive, encouraging and practical approach to helping people with ADHD at every age. Episode Timeline 0:11 Introduction to this episode  3:11 What led Dr.Nadeau into this field of mental health?   7:12 Stereotypes about ADHD in adults. 10:29 ADHD or dysregulated attentional system. 15:12 What is ADHD and what does it mean? 19:21 Why ADHD is important for healthy aging? 22:51 What is the cost of undiagnosed ADHD? 26:54 The medicalization of ADHD 35:39 Are there clusters of disorders that contribute to ADHD? Learn more about Dr. Nadeau's work at these links Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087748066711 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stilldistracted/ Website - http://www.still-distracted.com/ Bit.ly link - bit.ly/still-distracted Links to: https://chesapeakeadd.com/whats-new/ To discover how to Reset Your Aging Blueprint or build your wellness, beauty and healthy aging business, schedule a free Discovery Call with me.To get your copy of Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and The Art of Retiring Comfortably click here