How to Reclaim Valuable Years of Your Life

A father of three, Alex is in his mid-40s and runs his own company. Although he was prediabetic and obese, it was a cancer diagnosis that gave Alex his wake-up call. He was found to have liposarcoma, a type of cancer that grows in fatty tissue. While the tumor was removed before it could spread to his vital organs, Alex knew he had to prioritize his self-care. If he didn’t, the reality set in that he could likely die prematurely and leave behind his wife and children. Alex turned to Google for assistance and found a functional practitioner online who helped him with his nutrition and guided him in making lifestyle changes as part of a concierge longevity program. In five short months, the changes in Alex’s health were radical. As you will see from the data below, based on test results from a reputable diagnostics laboratory, Alex reversed the speed of his aging, reversed his prediabetes, and dropped a significant amount of weight. 

Upon starting the program, administered by health coach and licensed dietitian-nutritionist Kristina Hess, Alex took several tests, including the DunedinPACE aging test, telomere length test, GI Spotlight stool microbiome test, the P88 Dietary Antigen food sensitivity test, and a nutrigenomics test by 3X4. His program also included devices such as a continuous glucose monitor and a Lumen. Each month of his program included a new test, and weekly one-on-one meetings with Kristina, to review the data and keep him focused on a positive mindset to hold him accountable. 

Comparing test results from October 2023 with March 2024, Alex showed considerable improvement on several crucial biomarkers. The DunedinPACE report shows how many biological years a person’s body is aging per calendar year. The fastest rate of aging ever recorded is a rate of 1.4 times, while the slowest is 0.6 times. For Alex, he began the program at 1.2, which means that he was aging 1.2 times per year. After five months, his DunedinPACE report showed a value of 0.98 per year. To give this data some context, there is a well-known billionaire who spends 2 million dollars per year on his anti-aging program and is proud to be aging at a rate of 0.6 per year.  

Another important metric of aging is telomere length. As an organism ages, the telomeres in their DNA shorten until it reaches a point where the cell is no longer capable of replication or repair, and it gradually dies. Alex’s telomere age was initially 69.75, much older than his actual age of mid-40s. While undergoing Kristina’s program, this improved to 65.27 – Alex had reversed his biological age by roughly 4 and a half years. 

Inflammation, which has been linked to the beginning stages of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases, is something that longevity specialists seek to avoid or reduce in clients. During the five-month span, Alex’s DNAm CRP decreased by 24% and IL-6 decreased by 15%, indicating that the inflammation in his body has been subsiding. 

“It's fortunate that we live in a time when we can easily access more biomarker data to determine our true biological age and measure our progress,” Kristina says. “In the five-month period between Alex's tests, the data shows that he is slowing down his rate of aging and improving his health. I am continuously working with him to help him eat better, including introducing periods of fasting to his protocol. Aside from eating the right food, he also keeps up with his workouts, manages stress, gets enough sleep, and takes his supplements. All of these can be fatiguing, which is why I hold weekly one-on-one support meetings with concierge clients, helping them combine strategy and accountability to achieve the best results.” 

While human life expectancy has generally been on an uptrend since the discovery of modern medicine, the main challenge faced by health professionals today is how to increase people’s healthspan, rather than just their lifespan. Healthspan refers to the number of years an individual can live without being hampered by disease.  

Unfortunately, the US’ health situation does not paint a good picture for people in or approaching their senior years. According to the National Council on Aging, older adults are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Nearly 95% have at least one chronic condition, and nearly 80% have two or more. Additionally, the average American is expected to live to 77.5 years, while their health span is just 66.1. This means they will spend their final decade of life in poor health, suffering from one or more chronic conditions. 

Kristina is a functional and integrative practitioner who helps people extend both their lifespan and healthspan. Using a data-backed, scientific approach, Kristina creates personalized recommendations for clients. She also incorporates methodologies such as EFT, Mindful Eating, the Tiny Habits method, and Heartmath to improve clients’ psychology and behavior around food. 

“Eating is one of those things we do every day,” Kristina says. “But sadly, our food supply is so toxic that it sets people up to fail. Fortunately, some late-stage chronic conditions can be reversed, so there's always hope. Ideally, the strategy is backed up with data. There must also be an emotional and mental shift, including the belief system. As an integrative practitioner, I believe that mind, body, and spirit must all be in alignment and working in accord.” 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.