Immune to Age: The Real Secret to Longevity Isn’t What You Think – with Dr Jenna Macciochi

Jun 15, 2025

Dr. Jenna Macciochi, a Senior Lecturer in Immunology and fitness coach, sheds light on the real secrets of longevity. She argues for prioritizing healthspan over lifespan, emphasizing a high quality of life rather than just living longer. Jenna discusses practical strategies for busy individuals to cultivate mindfulness and self-care, while sharing her own journey balancing health and single motherhood. She also highlights the link between aging, immunity, and lifestyle choices, urging proactive health practices to combat chronic conditions.

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INSIGHT

Value Quality of Life Over Longevity

Living longer is less important than living well in the present moment.
Chronic conditions often affect the last decades of life, reducing quality to mere survival.

INSIGHT

Healthspan vs Lifespan Gap

Average lifespan outpaces healthspan by about 20 years, causing a prolonged period of poor health.
Less than 10% reach age 70 without chronic conditions, highlighting the need for early health measures.

ADVICE

Prioritize Health and Mindfulness

Build a curated environment by keeping only healthy foods at home and ignoring marketing noise.
Practice meditation daily to reframe negative unconscious mind loops and reduce stress.

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Transurfing Reality

A book that millionaires read to turn into billionaires

Vadim Zeland

Vadim Zeland's "Transurfing Reality" delves into the principles of manipulating one's reality through understanding and applying universal laws. The book suggests that our thoughts and intentions significantly shape our experiences. It emphasizes the importance of aligning oneself with the flow of the universe to achieve desired outcomes. Zeland introduces concepts like pendulums, which represent collective energies that can influence individual lives. By understanding and managing these energies, individuals can gain greater control over their destinies.

Tiny Experiments

How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World

Anne-Laure Le Cunff

In this book, neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff argues that life should be approached as a playground for experimentation rather than being molded around linear goals. She provides a science-backed toolkit to help readers break free from limiting beliefs, harness the power of imperfection, and make smarter decisions in uncertain times. The book guides readers in discovering their true ambitions through tiny personal experiments, dismantling harmful beliefs about success, and making decisions true to their own aspirations. It emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty as a catalyst for growth and self-discovery.

Immunity: The Science of Staying Well

The Definitive Guide to Caring for Your Immune System

Jenna Macciochi

In this book, Dr. Jenna Macciochi provides a detailed and authoritative guide on the immune system and how to maintain its health. The book covers various aspects including the best foods to eat, the importance of movement and exercise, the essential link between immunity and sleep, and the surprising connection to mental health. It also delves into topics like vaccination, autoimmune conditions, allergies, and food intolerances, making it a valuable resource for understanding and improving overall health[2][5].

Your Blueprint for Strong Immunity

Personalise your diet and lifestyle for better health

Jenna Macciochi

Your Blueprint for Strong Immunity breaks down the science behind health and immunity, providing readers with a comprehensive health MOT to audit their current lifestyle. The book helps identify key areas that may not be serving their health well and offers practical advice on nutrition, recovery from infections, and building mental resilience. It includes over 20 simple and delicious recipes to support immune health and provides guidance on managing chronic illnesses. Dr. Macciochi's approach is praised for being profoundly approachable and relatable, making complex health subjects easy to understand.

Immune to Age

Jenna Macciochi

This episode of High Performance Health is a powerful reminder that the true path to longevity isn’t found in chasing supplement stacks or living to 160—it’s about becoming immune to aging by mastering the fundamentals. Angela sits down with Dr Jenna Macciochi, immunologist, author, and high-performance breathwork coach, to explore how chronic inflammation, lifestyle, mindset, and motherhood all shape our biological age far more than we realize.

Dr Jenna's new book Immune to Age presents a revolutionary framework: understanding the immune system as a dynamic force through the seasons of life—from birth to old age. In this heartfelt, science-rich conversation, Jenna and Angela dive into everything from burnout and HRV to intuition, parenting, alcohol, and the myth of the perfect biohacking protocol. This is the longevity conversation every woman needs to hear.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Chronic Inflammation: The Silent Driver of Aging : The immune system's slow burn of inflammation is the root cause behind most chronic diseases and early aging.
The Parenting Connection: Children phase-lock to their mother’s HRV—your emotional regulation teaches them how to regulate themselves.
Burnout & Intuition: Ignoring your intuition and pushing through stress leads to burnout. Slowing down and listening is the real path to resilience.
Longevity Isn’t Just About Data: Healthspan matters more than lifespan. Fancy tests are fun, but it’s the basics—food, movement, sleep, breath—that move the needle.
Alcohol, Sleep & Energy: Giving up alcohol even temporarily can have a massive ripple effect on mood, energy, and parenting.
Immune System Through the Life Course: From womb to old age, your immune system evolves—and it’s never too early or too late to care for it.

TIMESTAMPS AND KEY TOPICS:

0:00 – Introduction

3:49 – Why healthspan matters more than lifespan

8:34 – Advice for working women juggling everything

12:15 – How meditation rewires stress and physiology

16:42 – Garbage time, HRV, and parenting insights

22:23 – Female intuition, hormones & relationships

29:10 – Jenna’s daily health and movement routine

34:28 – Alcohol and the “tiny experiment” approach

41:52 – Jenna’s new book: Immune to Age

49:37 – Cancer, inflammation & microbiome connection

59:24 – How to filter conflicting wellness advice 1:00:16 – Tests that matter (and those that don’t)

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Get a free snapshot of your health and personalised report at www.yourtotalhealthcheck.com

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A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible:

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Pre order Dr Jenna’s book: Immune To Age: The Game Changing Science of Immune Health (releasing on 3rd July 2025)

ABOUT THE GUEST

Based in Brighton, Dr Jenna is a Senior Lecturer in Immunology at The University of Sussex and a fitness instructor and health coach. She integrates her extensive academic knowledge with practical experience, guiding individuals and businesses in the wellness and performance sectors. A certified high-performance breathwork coach, Jenna provides functional breathing assessments and breath training to help clients unlock their full potential and enhance physical and mental well-being and performance.

Her expertise in supplement formulation benefits individuals seeking targeted supplement protocols and bloodwork analysis for their health goals. Her expertise in supplement formulation can assist businesses in creating compliant, scientifically-backed health products.

She is the author of two seminal books "Immunity: The Science of Staying Well" (Harper Collins, 2020) and "Your Blueprint for Strong Immunity" (Yellow Kite, 2022). Her books combine cutting-edge research with practical advice, making them essential reads for anyone looking to live a healthier life.

Jenna loves crafting recipes and rituals inspired by her farm-to-table Scottish roots and capturing her family’s Italian heritage. As a mother of twins and a keen home cook, she brings a personal and realistic touch to her scientifically-baked advice.

ABOUT THE HOST

Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine.

Angela is the creator of BioSyncing®️ a blueprint for ambitious entrepreneurial women to biohack their health so they can 10X how they show up in their business and their family without burning out.

The High Performance Health Podcast is a top rated global podcast. Each week, Angela brings you a new insight, biohack or high performance habit to help you unlock optimal health, longevity and higher performance. Hit the follow button to make sure you get notified each time Angela releases a new episode.

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