Thursday, 21 May 2020

Best longevity app as of 2020? LifeExtend, and it's free

Among the longevity apps, LifeExtend is the clear winner as of May 2020. The app is evidence-based, has great references and it is free: https://lifeapps.io/apps/life-extend/

It is backed by the physician/entrepreneur Don Brown (LifeOmics) and the University of Indiana, so it is not going away next year.

The app is packed with features and you can dig deeper in any of the domains/5 pillars when you have time.

LifeExtend is based on 5 scientifically proven health pillars, they appear as 5 columns and you collect points in each pillar. It looks like a game but the benefits are very much real.



The app tracks the big 5 longevity practices:

1. Sleep. Give yourself an 8-hour sleep opportunity every night. Aim for at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Oura ring ($300) or Withings under mattress sensor ($99) are very helpful. You will quickly realize there is a big difference between hours in bed and hours sleep. 8 hours in bed will give your approximately 7 hours of sleep. Try to go to bed at 9:30-10 pm to maximize deep sleep which typically occurs in the earlier hours the 8-hour sleep opportunity. Sleep is the most important longevity practice. Mathew Walker's book is an essential reading. Watch his talks on YouTube before buying the book.

2. Nutrition. At a minimum, eat at least 5 servings of vegetables per day. Fruits are OK but not as good as vegetables. Consider a whole-food plant-based diet. Plants stimulate hormesis, check out Dr Matteson's article on the topic in PubMed. Simply cooked, minimally processed meals are the best choice. Valter Longo's longevity diet is an excellent choice. Watch his talks on YouTube before buying the book. Most centenarians have BMI around 20.

3. Time-restricted eating/Intermittent fasting. Packing all nutritional intake into a window of no more than 6-8 hours (or intermittent fasting for at least 14 hours per day). In addition to time-restricted eating (TRE), consider the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD, Prolon (TM)), developed by Dr Longo. Dr Mattison's NEJM article from December 2019 is an excellent summary of the benefits and the practices. Time-restricted eating (TRE) is the more accurate term for the time of fasting charted in the Life Extend app vs. intermittent fasting.

4. Physical activity/exercise. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity. Walking is not enough. As we get older, low impact exercises take priority. Exercise is defined as at least 10-minute continuous activity. HIIT (high intensity interval training), with no jumping or equipment, is a very practical choice.

5. Stress management/mindfulness. Engage in meditation or other stress reduction activities. LifeExtend integrates the medication guides within the app. Wim Hof Method free app is an excellent starting point as a relaxation/active mediation practice.Wim Hof adds an additional hormetic stress via cold exposure (optional).

Satchin Panda's app works in a similar way, adding data about nutrition, sleep, exercise, but the interface has a different focus: myCircadianClock | Salk Institute https://mycircadianclock.org

More and more employers have an activity/healthy weight requirements pushed to the employees in order to pay lower insurance premiums. A typical example would include 5,000 steps per day, no obesity, hypertension, diabetes or asthma. LifeExtend can help you achieve some of those goals on your own.

References:

https://medium.com/lifeomic/a-vision-of-life-extend-a-powerful-precision-health-mobile-app-b00e9e443bbf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kCRJLSUit4

Check LifeOmics' playlists for more info: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOiisp_IiWB6bWJtgzh7OQ/playlists via CasesBlog - Medical and Health Blog More READ

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