The Longevity Paradox: How to Die Young at a Ripe Old Age (The Plant Paradox, 4) - Hardcover

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Plant Paradox comes a cutting-edge plan for living a long, healthy, happy life.

World-renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry knows all too well that everyone thinks they want to live forever—until they hit middle age and witness the suffering of their parents and even their peers. How do we resolve the paradox of wanting to live to a ripe old age—while continuing to enjoy the benefits of youth?

This groundbreaking book holds the answer. Working with thousands of patients, Dr. Gundry has discovered that the “diseases of aging” we most fear are not simply a function of age; rather, they are a by-product of the way we have lived our lives. In The Longevity Paradox, he maps out a new approach to aging well—one that is based on supporting the health of the “oldest” parts of us: the microorganisms that live within our bodies.

Our gut microbes—the bacteria that make up the microbiome—largely determine our health over the years. These bugs are in the driver’s seat, playing a role in everything from our weight and the appearance of our skin to whether we develop common ailments like arthritis or more serious diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s.

The good news is, it’s never too late to support these microbes and give them what they need so that they—and you—can thrive. In The Longevity Paradox, Dr. Gundry outlines a lifestyle plan to improve gut health and help you keep you brimming with vitality for decades to come. With actionable advice on everything from diet to cognitive health to skin care to fitness, he arms readers with the tools to prevent and reverse disease as well as simple hacks anyone can use to look and feel younger. A progressive take on the new science of aging, The Longevity Paradox uncovers the secrets to living a happy, healthy, long, and vital life.

Steven R. Gundry, MD, is the director of the International Heart and Lung Institute in Palm Springs, California, and the founder and director of the Center for Restorative Medicine in Palm Springs and Santa Barbara. After a distinguished surgical career as a professor and chairman of cardiothoracic surgery at Loma Linda University, Dr. Gundry changed his focus to curing modern diseases via dietary changes. He is the bestselling author of The Longevity Paradox, The Plant Paradox, The Plant Paradox Cookbook, The Plant Paradox Quick and Easy, and Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution, and has written more than three hundred articles published in peer-reviewed journals on using diet and supplements to eliminate heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and multiple other diseases. Dr. Gundry lives with his wife, Penny, and their dogs in Palm Springs and Montecito, California.