Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

Oh, Cool: The Best "Longevity Clinic" In The World Is One You Already Own 

Jamie Schneider
Author: Expert reviewer:
September 16, 2021
Jamie Schneider
Former Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
By Jamie Schneider
Former Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
Jamie Schneider is the former Senior Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in Coveteur, The Chill Times, and Wyld Skincare.
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN
Expert review by
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN
Former mbg Vice President of Scientific Affairs
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN is Vice President of Scientific Affairs at mindbodygreen. She received her bachelor's degree in Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania and Ph.D. in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Georgia.
Image by Lumina / Stocksy
September 16, 2021
We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.

The health space is chock-full of information that's constantly evolving—but when it comes to the very fundamentals of well-being, it's the simple techniques that truly last. Longevity expert Sergey Young, author of The Science and Technology of Growing Young, would agree: Living a healthy, long life, he discusses during the mindbodygreen podcast, doesn't have to be too complicated. (In fact, he swears by just five "longevity buckets" to live to 200, and they're all relatively straightforward.) 

He even spoke with physician Jack Kreindler, M.D., founder of the U.K.-based Center for Health and Human Performance, about his No. 1 piece of advice for longevity—and the tip is incredibly accessible: "Every evening, we visit the most amazing longevity clinic in the world. We go to bed, and we sleep." No waitlists, no special routines—just you, your bed, and some solid snoozing. Sounds sublime, don't you think? 

Why sleep is so great for longevity.

OK, it's more of a cheeky response than an actual "clinic," but the logic totally stands. See, when you sleep, your body shifts into "rest mode," with a focus on repair and restoration for practically every cell in your body—that's why proper shut-eye is essential to brain function, immunity, muscle repair, metabolic health, and much, much more. It's even clinically shown to support a longer lifespan1, which is why Young files sleep into one of his aforementioned "longevity buckets."

In terms of how much sleep carries you over the threshold, it's not so cut and dried—everyone has a different ideal sleep schedule, after all. "My rule is eight hours in the bed, seven hours of sleep," Young offers. Still, he suggests prioritizing deep, quality sleep over quantity (because it's not just about clocking hours). "When people ask me what they can change in the next two weeks, I'm always advising them to run on vegetables and give your body and mind enough sleep," Young adds. "The transformation that you can do in two or three weeks is really amazing." 

How to get more quality sleep. 

Given the association between sleep and longevity, you might be wondering how to enhance your sleep hygiene. Things like avoiding late-night screen time, keeping the bedroom cool, and keeping a consistent sleep schedule can all set you up for a successful snooze—for all of our expert-backed sleep tips, feel free to browse our in-depth guides here and here

You can also lean on sleep supplements to help get the ball rolling—just make sure you find one with active ingredients that are backed by sleep-relevant science and dosed properly.* (If you're not sure where to start, check out our list of 18 all-stars.) 

In terms of ingredients, we're partial to magnesium, which clinical research shows can help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer2; jujube seed extract, a fruit used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for relaxation and sedation; as well as PharmaGABA®, a supplement bioactive of the naturally occurring neurotransmitter GABA, which has been shown to enhance natural sleep quality3.* As you could probably guess, we included all three in our one-of-a-kind sleep support+ formula, working with leading researchers and physicians to perfect the powerful blend of these targeted ingredients.* 

The takeaway. 

Says Young, the best "clinic" in the world is actually your own bedroom—supporting quality sleep is one of the smartest things you can do for longevity.*

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Health
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.