Stanford research found two major aging accelerations: around 40 and near 66. At each point, antioxidant defenses decline, muscle loss speeds up, and caffeine sensitivity rises. Eat 0.8g protein per pound of body weight, do resistance training three times weekly, and cut afternoon caffeine.
Stunning research dropped out of one of Stanford's top labs, and as a metabolic health scientist, it floored me. Aging spikes at two key points: around age 40 and again at age 66. And the changes, they give us clues about how to age smarter. First, your antioxidant defenses take a hit, so it's time to step them up. That could mean adding dietary antioxidants or even supplements, or going keto to help your body regenerate some of its own antioxidants. And of course, cut back on oxidative stressors like overly charred meat or bad oxidized oils. Also, at this aging spike, you start breaking down more muscle, especially in the 60s. So to fight that, aim for at least 0.8 grams of protein per pound and hit resistance training at least 3 times per week. Finally, and interestingly, your caffeine sensitivity jumps with age. Translation: Skip the afternoon coffee, or go decaf if you must. Aging is inevitable, but how you age is up to you, and if you want more details, see this newsletter.
