This episode is full of the kind of advice I want to bring you more of. You, if you are, like me, swimming in an ocean of anti-aging, pre-aging, longevity suggestions. Supplements, protocols, diets, the hot new exercises--wondering how to make sense of it all. And, what's worth our investment?

I discovered Dr. Elizabeth Yurth, orthopedic specialist turned longevity expert, while researching spermidine. If not for her thoughtful guidance on how to take this "it" anti-aging supplement, I'd be pill popping to my detriment.

With 30 years of experience in sports and spine medicine, Dr. Yurth shares how she transitioned from simply "patching people together" to pioneering cellular medicine approaches that help people truly heal.

And she did this all while raising 5 children!

• The truth about joint degeneration: it's not inevitable wear and tear but an inflammatory disease process that can be addressed
• How our most critical cellular components (like NAD and spermadine) decline with age and the smart way to approach supplementation
• Why plugging the "leaky bucket" matters more than just pouring in more supplements
• The science behind regenerative therapies including exosomes, stem cells, and peptides
• The surprising top three predictors of longevity (hint: they have nothing to do with supplements!)

• Dr. Yurth explains why blindly taking NAD supplements can actually create problems without addressing the root cause
• The revolutionary approach to joint health that challenges the "joints just wear out" mentality
• Why your own stem cells might not be the best option as you age
• The three most powerful predictors of longevity that most people ignore

Dr. Yurth's Human Optimization Academy empowers people to become their own health advocates by teaching them to understand their lab results and the science behind longevity interventions.

Connect with Dr. Yurth:

• Website: boulerlongevity.com
• Academy: bli.academy

Stay rebellious, and I'll be back next week with another fascinating guest who's challenging the status quo in aging well!

And if you like this kind of information, check out my past episodes at RebelliousWellnessOver50.com/podcast

In this episode of Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle, host Gregory Anne Cox speaks with Brea Johnson, founder of Heart and Bones Yoga. Brea shares her journey from traditional yoga instructor to creating a more inclusive, anatomy-informed approach to yoga that works for all body types.

Brea's online, global community and class portal offers over 400 different classes, guided meditations, and live classes once a month.

• Brea has been teaching yoga since 2003 and experienced what she calls a "yoga existential crisis" about 10 years into her teaching career
• Heart and Bones Yoga combines biomechanics and anatomy knowledge with traditional yoga practices
• The approach focuses on building strength rather than just flexibility
• Props are celebrated and encouraged for everyone, not just as modifications for those who "can't do" a pose
• Classes are organized by body focus (hips, thoracic spine, etc.) and energy level (relaxing, easygoing, energizing) rather than beginner/intermediate/advanced
• Online format makes yoga more accessible with shorter class options (10-20 minutes)
• The anatomy-informed approach acts as a "great equalizer" that works for different body types
• Heart and Bones offers an online yoga teacher training program
• Their approach includes strength training options with weights for bone health

"Move with love. Move your body with love, move with love with your community and your people. What is moving with love for you? And maybe do more of that."

I'm a big fan of yoga in its many variations and have interviewed yogis of many different persuasions. Yogi Aaron, for instance, insists we stretch too much and to our detriment. Kathy White has developed a type of asana that renews aging joints.

The key is to find what works for you. Brea's no-pressure-to-be-bendy, work with the body you have and the way it feels when you arrive at the mat feels like a great place to start a practice or keep one going if the old way is no longer working.

• Website: heartandbonesyoga.com
• Online yoga membership with 400+ classes
• Teacher training program available
• Upcoming Tuscany yoga retreat
• Free 7-day Trial

This episode highlights the importance of inclusivity in wellness practices and finding movement that truly feels good for your unique body.

This episode is one I hope many women will listen to for hints that they might have one or two of the genes responsible for this blood disorder. Why? Hemochromatosis can silently rob you of your health. You can also spend years trying to manage or rid yourself of symptoms that sound like so many others. I know firsthand, but was lucky to have a doctor 20 years ago who decided to test my iron levels when nothing worked to relieve my fatigue and joint pain.

The levels were high so he ordered the genetic test to confirm and bingo, heterozygous or two genes worth of the "Celtic Curse" as it's sometimes called because I was so happy to come across naturopathic doctor Eric Lewis about hemochromatosis, a genetic condition that causes the body to absorb too much iron from food.

Dr. Lewis explains that hemochromatosis is a "genetic metabolic disorder of excessive iron absorption from our meals" that affects approximately 1 in 9 people of Northwestern European ancestry (with one gene variation) and about 1 in 200-250 people (with two gene variations).

The conversation covers:

• Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, brain fog, and insomnia
• Why women often discover the condition after menopause
• The potential health consequences of untreated iron overload include arthritis, liver disease, diabetes, and heart problems
• A possible link to an always-on parasympathetic nervous system
• How therapeutic phlebotomy (blood donation) helps manage the condition
• Dietary strategies to reduce iron absorption, including which foods inhibit or enhance iron uptake
• Surprising facts about spinach, red wine, and other foods that affect iron levels
• Resources available at hemochromatosishelp.com include newsletters, books and a cookbook by Dr. Lewis and his wife

"When you look out over the years, the decades, over a lifetime, it can start to accumulate and can lead to iron overload, where the storage of iron in your body exceeds what is normal. And this can lead to problems." - Dr. Eric Lewis

Dr. Lewis emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis through proper blood testing and explains how this common genetic condition is often underdiagnosed or misattributed to other causes. People with hemochromatosis can effectively manage their iron levels and prevent serious complications with proper management through phlebotomy, diet modifications, and lifestyle changes.

Their website is hemachromatosishelp.com.

Check out their library of information on all things iron overload.

Meanwhile, if you fit the profile and have some of the symptoms mentioned, tell your doctor you want a full iron panel that includes ferritin, TIBC, and Transferrin. Dr. Lewis offers lab services.

If your serum transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels are high, a doctor will likely order gene testing.

I was able to manage my levels for a long time with just phlebotomy every two months, but got off track, so I am now going once per month to get back to baseline. My symptoms start to show up when I'm not diligent; for me, it's high blood pressure, joint pain, and erratic sleep. I will now be better at staying on schedule, as enduring that big needle more than needed is something I will not miss.