Summary
Dr. Elissa Epel discusses telomeres and their role in aging with Rhonda Patrick. Covers how lifestyle factors influence telomere length and what this means for longevity.
Key Points
- Telomeres as markers of biological aging
- Stress and telomere shortening
- Lifestyle factors that protect telomeres
- Meditation and telomerase activity
- Practical interventions for telomere health
Key Moments
Forget weight - metabolic health (glucose, insulin) predicts telomere length better than BMI
Lean people can be metabolically unhealthy; obese people can be healthy. Telomere length tracks insulin sensitivity, not BMI.
"We're so kind of bezazzled by BMI and blinded by it. And that's not really where the action is."
