This Year’s Top Longevity Secrets from Leading Experts
As I spoke with several longevity experts, I discovered that their suggestions for good health surprisingly aligned with their own personal practices. Dr. Frank Lipman, a doctor of functional medicine, emphasized, “Almost everything I recommend to my patients, I do myself.”
Here are the three key takeaways from my conversations with Dr. Lipman, Dr. Andrea Maier, Valter Longo, and Dan Buettner:
1. Time-Restricted Eating is a Common Practice
Most of the longevity experts I spoke with advocate for time-restricted eating, also known as intermittent fasting. This involves eating all meals within an 8-hour window and fasting for 12-16 hours a day. Dr. Maier, for instance, often skips breakfast, and her first meal is around 2-3 pm.
Valter Longo developed his own “fasting-mimicking” diet, which includes a high-fat, low-calorie, and low-carbohydrate diet, as well as 12 hours of daily fasting. This diet has been linked to a lower risk of diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart conditions in mice.
2. They Allow Themselves Some Leeway
Despite their commitment to healthy habits, longevity experts make room for occasional indulgences. Dr. Maier, for instance, still enjoys Diet Coke, while Longo has a big dinner late at night, which may not be ideal but suits his lifestyle. Dan Buettner, who studies longevity in “blue zones,” acknowledges that going out for dinner with friends may not align with a longevity diet, but it’s part of his social routine.
3. Social Connection is Key
Maintaining positive relationships is crucial, as many experts emphasized. A Harvard study on happiness has shown that social connections play a significant role in longevity. Dr. Lipman, for example, values his time with his grandson and notes, “When he’s older, he won’t want to spend as much time, so I’m taking advantage.” Buettner, on the other hand, prioritizes social interaction by hosting guests at his home.