104. Dr. Jeffrey Bland: The Science of Immune Rejuvenation and Aging in Reverse

Oct 16, 2025

Join Dr. Jeffrey Bland, the father of functional medicine and founder of Big Bold Health, as he unveils the latest breakthroughs in immune rejuvenation. Discover how chronic inflammation accelerates aging and why gut health is pivotal for a robust immune system. Bland reveals a fascinating 90-day nutrition protocol that can reduce immune aging by 47%. Tune in to learn about the power of polyphenols, the impact of diet on gene expression, and how lifestyle changes can lead to a younger, more resilient immune response!

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INSIGHT

Function Over Disease

Functional medicine targets root physiological processes rather than organ-by-organ disease treatment.
This systems biology approach treats function as the primary measure of health and performance.

ANECDOTE

Patient Recovered To Hike Mount Si

A 38-year-old with severe erythromelalgia improved dramatically after gut and lifestyle interventions and tapered off medications.
She later hiked Mount Si unaided and presented a photo in gratitude to the clinic team.

ADVICE

Rebuild Gut Barriers

Repair the gut by restoring friendly bacteria, rebuilding mucus layers, and healing the mucosa to stop leakiness.
Doing this reduces postprandial endotoxemia and systemic inflammation routed through the liver.

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What if your immune system could actually age backwards? For decades, we’ve accepted that inflammation, fatigue, and slower recovery are inevitable with age, but new research proves otherwise. Your immune system isn’t doomed to decline; it can be retrained to act younger, stronger, and more resilient.

In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Jeffrey Bland, the father of functional medicine, to explore the groundbreaking science of immune rejuvenation. We break down how chronic inflammation accelerates aging, why gut health holds the key to immune balance, and the nutrients that can literally reprogram gene expression. We also discuss how a 90-day nutrition protocol led to a 47% reduction in immune aging, and what that means for your longevity.

Dr. Jeffrey Bland is widely recognized as the father of functional medicine, a thought leader who’s spent over 40 years redefining how we understand health and disease. He’s the founder of the Institute for Functional Medicine and Big Bold Health, where he’s pioneering new research on immune rejuvenation and personalized nutrition.

We Also Discuss:

(00:00) The birth of functional medicine and how it reshaped modern healthcare (08:45) Why traditional medicine overlooks the body’s interconnected systems (18:22) How your immune system drives aging, resilience, and recovery (28:09) The gut-immunity connection and why inflammation accelerates aging (38:40) The science behind reversing immune aging and restoring balance (49:33) How diet and polyphenols influence immune gene expression (01:00:18) The epigenetic switch that controls healthy aging (01:11:42) Data, biomarkers, and the rise of personalized health (01:25:30) The future of collective health and community immunity (01:36:39) How to apply immune rejuvenation principles in your daily life

Thank You for Our Sponsors:

Pendulum: Use code DARSHAN or use the link https://pendulumlife.com/discount/DARSHAN to get 20% off Pendulum membership first orders.

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Dr. Jeff Bland:

Instagram: @drjeffreyblandBig Bold Health: @bigboldhealth Website: https://bigboldhealth.com/