LONGEVITY UNLOCKED
Live longer
Your personal guide to looking after your body for successful ageing, from naturopath Danny Urbinder .
Pillar # 2: Metabolic health Your metabolism governs how your body generates energy, regulates blood sugar and processes fats. With age, metabolic flexibility declines, making us more prone to insulin resistance, weight gain and chronic inflammation. Modern research has shown that berberine (a plant-derived compound long used in herbal medicine) can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce blood glucose levels and lower triglycerides. It also activates AMPK, an enzyme that supports fat metabolism and cellular repair. In combination, nicotinamide and berberine may have synergistic effects on mitochondrial function and metabolic control, providing profound benefits for those wanting to preserve energy, cognition and metabolic balance as they age.
We are living longer than ever before, but the real question is – are we living well? While life expectancy steadily increases, too many people spend those final decades managing painful and life-limiting chronic conditions. That is why the focus is shifting from ‘lifespan’ to ‘healthspan’, meaning the number of years we can live in good health. At the heart of this shift lies a deeper understanding of how we can influence the process of ageing and improve cellular and metabolic health through nutrition, lifestyle and targeted supplementation. The Future Lab Five Pillars of Healthspan provide a framework for doing just that. Pillar # 1: Cellular integrity Ageing begins at a cellular level: over time, cells become less efficient at producing energy and enabling repair, contributing to a gradual decline across all body systems. An exciting development in prolonging cellular health is nicotinamide riboside (NR), a precursor to NAD+, a molecule that fuels cellular energy and repair. NAD+ levels decline naturally with age, and restoring them with NR improves mitochondrial function, DNA repair and resilience to stress. Resveratrol and
Top tip: Limit processed carbohydrates and follow a Mediterranean-style diet providing healthy fats, fibre and whole foods. Add regular movement, such as walking after meals, to improve insulin sensitivity. Consider Berberine Complex for targeted metabolic support.
quercetin, two polyphenols found in red grapes, berries and onions, support this pillar by reducing oxidative stress and promoting autophagy (the body’s natural cellular clean-up process).
Pillar # 3: Functional Strength
Muscle is a key predictor of longevity and independence. Sarcopenia (the loss of muscle with age) can lead to frailty, falls and reduced quality of life. While diet and resistance training are critical, cellular energy also plays a role. Low NAD+ levels impair muscle recovery and regeneration. Nicotinamide riboside helps maintain mitochondrial function in muscle tissue, while quercetin supports performance and lowers exercise-induced oxidative stress. Top tip: Prioritise strength training at least two to three times per week. Ensure adequate protein intake (1.2 - 1.6 g/kg body weight). Support cellular energy and recovery with nutrients that promote NAD+ and antioxidant protection.
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ISSUE 74 • 2025
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