Plus, a new Rapamycin cousin that mimics fasting, HRT’s second act, microdosing Ozempic for longevity, and Jane Goodall’s timeless vitality.
Hi friends,
I generally exercise three to four times a week, a mix of my favorite Soul Cycle class, swimming, and weight training. After a busy few days balancing work and parenting, and a few glasses of wine with friends, my muscles went on strike, feeling sore and overworked this week.
Dr. Nayan Patel’s podcast interview about oxidative stress, the invisible wear and tear that quietly accelerates aging, inspired me to slow down. Oxidative health is the balance between harmful molecules (free radicals) that can damage your cells and the antioxidants that protect them.
Instead, I enjoyed a couple of relaxing walks with friends along the Sausalito waterfront. Sometimes, doing less and trusting your body is the most radical longevity practice of all.
Not a single conversation this week went by without mention of the remarkable Jane Goodall. Her astonishing vitality was not about biohacks; it came from purpose, connection, and time spent in nature.
It reminds us that meaning and making space for the habits that quietly sustain us might be the ultimate antioxidant.
Here’s to a lighter, longer weekend.
Spotlight
Body That Heals Itself
Pharmacist and longevity researcher Dr. Nayan Patel on oxidative stress, glutathione, and why doing less might help you live more.
image credit: Freepix
“It’s not what glutathione does for you—it’s what it lets your body do for itself.”
Dr. Nayan Patel, PharmD, calls glutathione “the body’s ultimate garbage system.” It’s your body’s master antioxidant made in every cell that helps detoxify the liver, protect against cellular damage, boost immunity, and slow the effects of aging by keeping your cells healthy and resilient.
Patel’s longevity equation is simple:
Reduce oxidative stress.
Free the body to self-heal.
Extend healthspan.
Why this matters:
Glutathione = longevity’s unsung hero. It’s a tripeptide produced in your mitochondria, the powerhouses of your cells, that neutralizes free radicals and helps detoxify the liver.
Oxidative stress is the root cause of aging. It’s the gap between the oxidation your body produces and the antioxidants it can supply. The wider the gap, the faster you age. Oxidative stress drives nearly every chronic disease of aging.
Lifestyle first. Before you spend on supplements, “reduce the expenses,” Patel says. Alcohol, processed foods, stress, and pollution all deplete glutathione. Supporting glutathione naturally can delay disease onset by decades.
Less is more. Over-exercising, over-supplementing, and constant biohacking can create more oxidative stress. His philosophy: give your body fewer stressors, not more. Longevity is about removing what drains you.
4 Questions
As Chief Scientific Officer at Thivelab and adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California, Dr. Nayan Patel is pioneering research on glutathione and antioxidant science, advancing innovation that targets cellular health and longevity.
Q: Why do you call oxidative stress the “root of aging”?
A: At around age 30, your body starts producing fewer antioxidants. That imbalance, the gap between oxidation and antioxidant production, widens over time. Every known age-related disease stems from that gap.
Q: Can you increase glutathione naturally?
A: Yes. Stop depleting it first, which means alcohol, smoking, stress, and overtraining. Then eat cysteine-rich foods, such as eggs, garlic, lentils, and oats. Your body can make what it needs.
Q: You say ‘less is more.’ What does that look like?
A: Exercise 30 minutes, not 2 hours. Don’t overload your body with 30 supplements. The body thrives when it’s not overwhelmed. We don’t need $2 million longevity routines. We need fewer daily stressors.
Q: What does longevity look like to you?
A: It’s not living to 180. It’s being 89, walking six miles a day, traveling, and dancing at your grandkids’ weddings. My father did that. That’s what I call success.
Quick Poll
What helps you find more balance in your life?
This week’s must-reads in longevity
Rapamycin’s next-gen cousin shows new anti-aging promise.
A new study using Rapalink-1 suggests that targeting the TORC1 pathway can slow cellular growth and mimic the benefits of calorie restriction without inducing starvation.
HRT’s longevity comeback.
Updated research shows hormone replacement therapy can protect bone, brain, and heart health when started within 10 years of menopause.
Microdosing Ozempic: real anti-aging or placebo?
Early studies suggest that GLP-1 drugs may reduce inflammation and improve mitochondrial function; however, data on microdosing are still limited.
Jane Goodall’s longevity playbook: rooted in purpose, plants, optimism, lifelong engagement, and time in nature, Goodall was a role model for how a meaningful life, a positive mindset, and a balanced lifestyle can keep both body and mind remarkably vital.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.” —Jane Goodall.
Poll Response
We asked, you answered:
What most affects your gut health?
More than 40% of you said stress and anxiety.
Thanks for reading!
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.