Livelong Weekend Pulse
Your weekly snapshot of the breakthroughs shaping how we live longer and better.
Hi friends,
Rachel Lehmann-Haupt here, Livelong’s new editorial director. I’m excited to share that I’ll be writing the Saturday edition of the Livelong newsletter each week. Think of it as your weekend dose of science-backed strategies for closing the gap between how long we live and how well we feel.
This week’s highlights:
Is your gut health really that important?
How our phones quietly drain our energy
Your arteries may be older than you are
Longevity isn’t just about adding years. It’s about making them vibrant, independent, and joyful.
See you each Saturday.
Longevity Starts in the Belly
Dietitian Ella Davar on food, mindset, and prevention
Ella Davar, RD, is a dietitian, gut-health expert, and creator of The Gut-Brain Method. She serves as President of the Global Longevity Association and is a published author, focusing on personalized nutrition and the gut–brain axis.
Gut health is no longer optional, it’s fundamental.
If there’s a single doorway to better health and longer life, Ella says it’s the gut. Think of it as the first brain: everything you eat arrives there before it’s used to fuel your cells, shape your hormones, or sharpen your mind.
If inflammation is the silent enemy, food is our first line of defense.
Low-grade inflammation, driven by processed foods, chemicals, and stress, shows up as fatigue, bloating, and an increased risk of chronic disease. Prevention isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistent, doable habits: raw fiber at lunch, cooked vegetables at dinner, protein and fiber before carbs, and no late-night eating.
Stress, too, lives in the gut. Her approach to healing combines nutrition with breath, sleep, and mindset. Quiet the nervous system, and digestion follows.
When you start with the gut, the rest of you follows.
Why this matters
Root cause: the gut is where inflammation—and prevention—begin.
Personal, not trendy: don’t let trendy diet advice scare you off entire food groups. Figure out what works for your biology.
Gut–brain axis: Stress has a direct impact on digestion and longevity.
The gut-longevity playbook
Favor nature over packages—simple, whole ingredients.
Time your fiber: raw at lunch, cooked at dinner.
Build your microbiome with fermented foods, bitter greens, diverse plants, and omega-3s.
Dining out rules: protein/fiber first, then carbs; never drink on an empty stomach.
Mindset is medicine: skip the shame; consistency beats perfection.
The takeaway? Small daily choices about what you eat, when you eat, and how you manage stress can significantly impact your gut health. And your gut shapes your future health.
Community poll
What else do you need to know about longevity this week?
👩The Paradox of Women’s Longevity: More Years, More Health Risks
A woman born today can expect to live 5–7 years longer than a man. But here’s the paradox: many of those extra years are spent managing chronic illness, pain, or memory decline. This “longevity gender gap” is seen worldwide.
👉 Why this matters for you
❤️ Your Arteries May Be Older Than You Are
Chronological age isn’t the whole story. Stiffer arteries can make you biologically “older,” raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia, especially in postmenopausal women. Protecting vascular health in your 30s, 40s, and 50s may be the best longevity insurance.
👉 See the science
⌚ Wearables That Reveal Your Heart’s True Age
Fitbits, Oura rings, and Apple Watches aren’t just tracking steps. They can now estimate arterial stiffness and biological heart age. Women with older vascular profiles had dramatically higher risks of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and early death. Technology may help close the gender health gap.
👉 Explore the research
📱 When Phones Age Your Hands Before Their Time
Doctors are seeing 20-year-olds with painful hand conditions once reserved for people in their 40s and 50s. A new study found that over a quarter of college students spend 8+ hours daily on phones, with more than half reporting chronic hand pain.
👉 Read the findings
Have a great weekend!
The information provided about wellness and health is for general informational and educational purposes only. We are not licensed medical professionals, and the content here should not be considered medical advice. Talk to a doctor before trying any of these suggestions.
Longevity Media LLC
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