Simple longevity basics to try before treatment: Top Longevity Doctor

• A high-tech treatment called hyperbaric oxygen therapy can increase longevity and performance.
• A longevity doctor said you should focus on the basics of living longer first.
• The best longevity habits, from daily exercise to community building, cost nothing.

You may want to hold off on paying for the latest trendy anti-aging treatment — some of the best ways to extend your life and health are free, according to a longevity doctor.

Dr. Shai Efrati has spent more than a decade studying hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which involves flooding the body with pure oxygen in a compression chamber, alternating with periods of normal oxygen levels.

The body interprets this as a crisis, Efrati said. This triggers a series of regenerative processes that can add time to our biological clocks by eliminating senescent cells, the so-called “zombie” cells that don’t work properly but don’t die either, accumulating in the body and causing problems. .

His studies suggest that eliminating these cells may have real-world benefits, such as better mental acuity and physical performance in people who receive the treatment.

It’s not cheap. A session can cost anywhere from a few hundred to $1,000, while home versions of hyperbaric chambers will set you back $20,000.

But he doesn’t recommend trying expensive treatments until you’ve got the basics down. Here’s what Efrati said everyone should focus on before spending money on longevity treatments, and what worked best for him.

A sense of purpose can keep you young

One of the best ways to live longer and maintain your quality of life is to give yourself a reason to get out of bed, according to Efrati.

Whether it’s your work or your community, become part of something bigger than yourself and make yourself essential to the people around you. Knowing that other people are counting on you can motivate you to keep showing up, he said.

Research shows that some of the world’s longest-lived communities, known as Blue Zones, place a strong emphasis on purposeful living and a strong sense of community.

For Efrati, the study of longevity is both a personal and professional project, motivating him to pursue the science of living longer and better.

“I always think about the future. I have plans for the future,” he said.

Give your body the right fuel for peak performance

The boring truth is that eating your vegetables and not overdoing it with processed foods can help you live longer.

“If you have a car and you put in dirty fuel, the engine will be destroyed pretty quickly. So whatever fuel we put in our mouths, we should think about the consequences,” Efrati said.

He practices intermittent fasting, which studies suggest has promising longevity benefits, and focuses on nutrient-dense foods.

“I try my best not to put garbage in my body,” he said.

Do regular exercise

The other pillar of longevity that you can follow without spending a cent is getting enough exercise in your daily routine.

Physical activity, even just a brisk walk, has a number of health-boosting effects, reducing the risk of disease, improving mood and energy, and strengthening the heart and lungs.

“Challenge your physiology, which means exercise,” Efrati said. “By doing that, we can tell the body, listen, we need you to be ready for the next challenge that I’m going to get.”

Focus on your specific priorities

Efrati said the first thing he does with each patient is ask them about their goals. Whether you want to set world records or keep up with your grandchildren, longevity isn’t just about staying alive, it’s about maintaining a high quality of life.

“So as long as we’re enjoying the ride and enjoying the ride is our physical functionality, our cognitive function,” Efrati said. “And if we lose that, I don’t think many of us would want to stick around when everything is closed and you’re sitting in the dark.”