Here’s How to Age Backwards

Nutrient-dense, plant-rich meals are a tool you can utilize to take charge of your health and make proactive lifestyle changes for powerful longevity. (Ready to get started? Sign up for our Signature Nutrition Program here.)

To celebrate our partnership, Sakara’s in-house nutritionist, Colleen Coffey, and Modern Age Head of Wellness, Dr. Shoma Datta-Thomas, joined forces to discuss food as medicine. The topics spanned hormonal health to metabolism myths—and here are some of our favorite takeaways from their in-depth conversation.

GROW YOUR GUT

"Food is one of the most important modifications that influence healthspan and quality of life,” said Coffey. “It’s the raw material that makes up our bodies, so we want it to be high-quality and deeply nourishing.”

For a flourishing gut microbiome, focus on incorporating prebiotics, probiotics, and polyphenols. Prebiotics (found in foods like onions and bananas) feed the good bacteria in our gut, while probiotics (found in foods like sauerkraut and kimchi) help keep the microbiome diverse and robust. Taking a daily, high-quality probiotic is another easy way to further encourage gut nourishment. Lesser-known prebiotic powerhouses called polyphenols (present in berries, cocoa, and tea) not only support microbial balance, but also combat dysbiosis—a hallmark of aging in which our microbiome diversity declines due to factors such as diet, reduced immune function, and increased exposure to antibiotics.

ENCOURAGE HORMONE HARMONY + BOOST YOUR BRAIN

Embracing healthy fats—such as avocado, walnuts, and chia seeds—is essential to building and stabilizing healthy hormones, influencing longevity by promoting optimal cellular function, maintaining metabolic balance, and reducing the risk of age-related diseases. Plus, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are also the ultimate brain food. They can elevate your mood, improve memory, and boost the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)—a protein that plays a crucial role in the development, function, and maintenance of neurons in the brain and peripheral nervous system.

Cruciferous veggies are great for supporting liver function, detoxification, and excreting excess hormones, including estrogen (which, if built up, can result in estrogen dominance, leading to hormonal issues from endometriosis to infertility). And don’t forget your liver-loving greens! Sneak a handful into your morning smoothie or simply enjoy your Sakara meals, providing four to six cups of greens per day.

BUST METABOLISM MYTHS

The myth that your metabolism slows as you age is just that. A myth. Research has shown that from about twenty to sixty years old, our metabolism flatlines—and the latest research actually reveals that the presence of other factors (like an overload of processed foods, calorie restriction, or lack of daily movement) are the true triggers for metabolic slowdown, rather than our age. As Coffey explains, food is like gas for a car: If you don’t put enough gas in, it won’t go, and if you don’t put the right kind of gas in your car it won’t function as well as it should. At Sakara, we lean into abundance to provide the body with the fuel and nutrients to sustain a revved-up metabolism. 

TAME INFLAMMATION

Inflammation is often at the root [of health issues], and is such a big part of our aging process. Combating inflammation is integral to our health and aging. Low-grade inflammation can lead to the development of chronic inflammation: when your immune system is permanently turned “on” in high-alert mode, causing your body to pump out chemicals that can damage your cells. Incorporating organic, plant-forward, and nutrient-dense foods (think: kale, berries, walnuts) can help prevent inflammation on a cellular level.

Age is truly just a number and, to us, it’s a blessing to be able to build experiences, wisdom, and resilience. After all, it’s not about how many candles are on our birthday cake, but rather our biological age (a.k.a. the age of our bodies and cells). You can leverage the potential of food as medicine through our transformative nutrition program.

Ready to reimagine aging?