Aging Backwards
How to reverse the clock and live longer by lowering your biological age. Guess how young I am?
At a recent downtown music event, the bouncer asked for my ID. “Please, never stop carding me,” I joked, alluding to my desire to look younger than my years.
These days, the actual date on my driver’s license feels increasingly irrelevant. Now in my fifth decade, I’m stronger, leaner and more energetic than ever before.
The quest to “look younger,” perpetuated by the beauty industry, misses a deeper truth. While there is a correlation between the bright, bouncy skin that looks lit from within and strong metabolic health, beauty is only skin deep. Our health as well as our inner qualities can’t always be judged by external appearance.
If you want the truest predictor of longevity, you need to understand your vitality on the cellular level.
So just how young are you?
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What is Biological Age? 🐣
For a more accurate picture of health, many people are turning to their biological age or “physiological age,” which measures how old your body seems based on cellular, metabolic and functional factors. This is vastly different than your chronological age, which is simply the number of years you’ve been alive.
Dr Mark Hyman regularly boosts about being in his 40’s biologically although he is actually 60+. And, my 87 year old father definitely has the capacity of someone much younger.
Curious to understand if my diet, lifestyle and biohacking efforts were positively impacting my long term health, I did a Comprehensive Lab Panel with Biological Age at Joi Women’s Wellness to find out just how young I was. The results were a little shocking.
Apparently I’m 51 going on 28.7. Should I use this as my new ID?
🚨 Use my code CELIA for a special 50% off your labs at JOI (or CELIA15 gets you 15% off the rest of the site). Be sure to share your biological age with me!
How is Biological Age Calculated? 🔬
It can be measured in a few ways but most use a calculation based on a scientific research study from 2018 by Dr Morgan Levine, called DNAm PhenoAge. It’s an epigenetic age calculator that estimates biological age based on DNA methylation patterns.
“Using an innovative two-step process, we develop a new epigenetic biomarker of aging, DNAm PhenoAge, that strongly outperforms previous measures in regards to predictions for a variety of aging outcomes, including all-cause mortality, cancers, healthspan, physical functioning, and Alzheimer's disease.”
There are 9 blood biomarkers, which are used as a snapshot of aging-related changes in these areas: liver, immune, kidney, metabolic, and inflammation.
Albumin (g/dL)
Creatinine (mg/dL)
Glucose (mg/dL)
Lymphocyte (%)
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (mg/L)
Mean Cell Volume (MCV) (fL)
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) (%)
Alkaline Phosphatase (U/L)
White Blood Cell Count (WBC) (cells/µL)
Researchers created a formula that integrates these biomarkers into a composite score that corresponds to biological age.
Lifestyle Levers to Pull 🥑
As a health optimization coach, I promise that I’m not giving you yet another metric to obsess over but research shows that people with a younger biological age tend to live longer, remain more active and experience less chronic disease.
The good news is that your biological age is dynamic and highly impacted by your lifestyle. Here’s how to positively influence yours:
Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
A nutrient dense diet supports cellular health. According to Dr Kara Fitzgerald1 (who has successfully lowered the bio age of thousands of patients), focus on these superfoods: blueberries, green tea, brazil nuts, avocados, liver, and turmeric.
Move Constantly
A mix of physical activity from aerobic to resistance training promotes cardiovascular health, builds muscle and stimulates repair. Just don’t be sedentary — even walking every day can help.
Sleep Well
Our cells repair when we sleep so consistent, high quality rest and recovery are important. Sleep supports hormonal balance and immune function.
Manage Stress
Elevated cortisol can cause more inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, shortening telomeres. Mindful meditation, relaxation and supportive relationships improves our resilience.
Reduce Toxins
Try to manage environmental toxins like exposure to pollution and heavy metals but also reduce alcohol and avoid smoking to prevent cellular damage.
The take-away: Biological Age might be somewhat of a vanity metric but it’s rooted in science and has good intentions. Shifting your focus (and interventions) from your looks to your cells might be the way you finally achieve eternal youth.
All writing is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
I am definitely into checking out my biological age — I love data and, as you perfectly noted, this is not about appearance but longevity.