Lifespan needs a soulspan

Most of us only think about our immune system when we're ill. But what if it's actually the single most important system shaping your health and longevity? In this episode, Dr Jenna Macciochi makes a powerful case for rethinking immunity. It’s not just a defence mechanism you call on to fight a cold. It’s your body's wellness system, quietly influencing everything from your mood and metabolism to your risk of heart disease, dementia and cancer.

Jenna is one of the UK's leading immunologists and a bestselling author. Her latest book, Immune to Age: The Game-Changing Science of Lifetime Health, explores the deep connection between our immune system, how we live, and how well we age. Jenna combines robust science and personal honesty in everything she does and this, her second conversation for the podcast, is no exception.

Jenna explains what the immune system actually is, what it does, and why ‘boosting’ it isn’t something you want to do on a regular basis. We explore the link between chronic stress and inflammation. And we discuss how your thoughts, relationships and daily habits are constantly sending signals to your immune system that either help or hinder it.

She also reveals why midlife is a genuine biological turning point. It’s the moment when genes that protected you in the first half of life start working against you, with consequences for your gut health, bone density and long-term wellbeing. But if that sounds bleak, Jenna also shares plenty of practical advice, learned from the personal upheavals that shaped her fantastic book. From leaving a misaligned marriage and job, to discovering meditation, self-compassion – and jiu-jitsu! – she transformed not just her thinking but her nervous system, too. And I love her perceptive view that the current obsession with lifespan is missing something fundamental about living well: your soulspan.

Whether you're in midlife and noticing changes in your body, or you simply want to learn about the incredible wellness system driving your long-term health, this is one episode you’ll want to bookmark.

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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/648

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.