A 60-year-old CEO reduced her biological age by a decade in just four years! Yes, you read that right!
Tina Woods, a healthcare entrepreneur and the CEO of Business for Health in London, achieved this remarkable transformation [1].
Her journey illustrates the impact of making simple lifestyle changes and the advancements in longevity science.
Understanding biological age
Biological age refers to how old your body seems based on various biomarkers, as opposed to your chronological age, which is the actual number of years you’ve lived [2].
Unlike chronological age, biological age can be impacted by lifestyle, diet, exercise, and mental state.
Reducing biological age can improve health, increase vitality, and extend lifespan [1].
How her journey began
Tina Woods started her journey to reduce her biological age while researching her 2020 book, “Live Longer with AI.”
Through her research, she met longevity experts worldwide and learned that many of the practices they recommended were simple and cost-effective.
These included caloric restriction, a plant-rich diet, regular exercise, and good sleep [1]. Inspired by these insights, she decided to make significant lifestyle changes.
1. Dietary adjustments
One of the key components of Tina’s transformation was her diet. She adopted a plant-rich diet, ensuring she consumed lots of vegetables, seeds, and nuts while avoiding ultra-processed foods.
She also practiced caloric restriction by eating only one meal a day, four days a week. It was her conversation with Dr. Nir Barzilai, a renowned geneticist and longevity doctor, that made her jump over the fence. He explained the mechanisms of calorie restriction and the benefits observed in other species, such as flies, worms, and mice.
This approach, though controversial, is supported by some evidence suggesting that caloric restriction improves longevity by reducing the body’s inflammation and oxidative stress [1].
2. Exercise and VO2 max
Regular exercise was another cornerstone of Tina’s strategy. She engaged in Zumba classes twice weekly, strength training at home, and conditioning exercises using YouTube videos.
These activities kept her fit and significantly improved her VO2 max, a key indicator of cardiovascular fitness. Maintaining a high VO2 max is crucial for heart health and longevity [1].
3. Supplementation
While Tina didn’t rely heavily on supplements, she did take a few to support her health. These included vitamin D, B12, omega-3s, and collagen.
Additionally, after a bone scan revealed some deficiencies, she started supplementing with calcium. Supplements can help fill nutritional gaps, especially when certain nutrients are difficult to obtain through diet alone [1].
4. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Hormone replacement therapy was another significant factor in Tina’s age reduction journey. During menopause, she experienced low energy and other issues, leading her doctor to suggest HRT.
After some adjustments, she found a regimen that worked for her, which included estradiol gel, progesterone capsules, and a small amount of testosterone gel.
HRT helped her regain energy, lose weight, and feel more like herself, contributing to her overall sense of well-being [1].
Joy and purpose
Beyond physical health, Tina emphasized the importance of joy and purpose in her life. She found renewed passion in her marriage, job, and even started DJing at events like the Longevity Rave, which she is now taking bookings for until March 2025.
Tina explained, “The Longevity Rave is very much positioned as a way to bring the generations together and show that staying younger (and even getting younger) needs to tap into fundamental drivers of human behavior, motivation and flourishing. Very important to drive system change in preventative health….the focus of my work as you know!”
This sense of purpose and happiness has been shown to impact health and longevity positively. Studies suggest that happier, more optimistic people tend to live longer [3], and Tina’s experience supports this notion.
Monitoring and data
Continual monitoring and data collection guided Tina’s journey; she used various apps and devices to track her health metrics, including her GlycanAge, which measures chronic inflammation levels.
These tools, and the longevity workup she had done at Longevity Center Europe, gave her valuable insights into her health, helping her make informed decisions about her lifestyle and interventions [1].
While Tina’s story is inspiring, it’s important to approach such transformations with cautious optimism. Many of the practices she adopted are supported by scientific evidence, but individual results can vary.
Biological age tests, like GlycanAge or LT System Epigenetic & DNA Test, provide valuable snapshots of health but are not definitive measures. Regular check-ups and consultations with healthcare professionals remain essential [1].
While further research is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms behind these practices, her experience offers valuable insights and inspiration for those looking to improve their health and extend their lifespan.
[1] Business Insider. A 60-year-old CEO says she lowered her biological age to 35 with 4 simple changes
[2] Max Planck Institute For Biology of Ageing. What is biological age?
[3] BMC Geriatrics. Happy people live longer because they are healthy people
