How often should you test your blood, and which biomarkers actually predict your healthspan? Join Jeroen Schreel and Michael Lustgarten, a former assistant professor turned longevity consultant, as Michael reveals the exact biomarkers he tracks to optimize biological age, healthspan, and human performance. Learn the science behind tracking heart rate variability (HRV), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), postprandial glucose, and organ-specific biological aging clocks. Discover why standard annual blood panels aren't enough, how to optimize lifestyle habits based on real data, and the truth about ultra-processed foods, calorie restriction, and overtraining.(00:00) Intro(00:40) Meet Dr. Michael Lustgarten(01:05) The Biggest Lie & Hype in Longevity Research(02:20) Why You Need to Track Biomarkers More Than Once a Year(03:38) Reversing Age-Related Trends: HRV and Resting Heart Rate Data(04:56) The Problem with Personal Fitness Trackers & Recommendations(05:23) Linear vs. Nonlinear Aging: Disagreeing with Age Peaks(06:25) Why Albumin and LDL Don't Decline Linearly(08:19) Calorie-Restricted Mice and Body Weight Fluctuations(10:12) What Biomarkers Should You Track First?(11:53) Organ-Specific Proteomic Clocks: Brain & Immune System(12:46) Tracking White Blood Cell Differentials (Neutrophils vs. Lymphocytes)(13:37) The Forgotten Cell: Red Blood Cell Volume & RDW(15:17) HRV & Resting Heart Rate: Balancing the Nervous System(16:37) Can Overtraining Shorten Maximum Lifespan?(17:58) Sunlight, Mitochondria, and Calorie Restriction Effects(19:22) How to Optimize VO2 Max Without Overtraining(20:15) Using HRV & RHR Data to Determine Optimal Exercise Dosage(22:19) Nighttime Respiratory Rate: An Early Marker of Immune System Activation(23:41) Postprandial Glucose Management: Post-Meal Jumping vs. Walking(26:33) Workout Cycles, Recovery Days, and Exercise Intensity Balance(28:24) Calorie Intake & Body Composition: Finding the Weight Sweet Spot(31:41) Is Having a Six-Pack Actually Good for Longevity?(32:45) Ultra-Processed Foods vs. Whole Foods: Managing Junk Food Binges(36:00) Cheat Days & UPFs: Impact on Biomarkers & Neurodegeneration Markers(38:34) Homemade Pizza, Raw vs. Roasted Nuts, and AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products)(46:28) Seed Oils vs. Whole Foods: Olive Oil vs. Whole Olives(49:04) Finger-Prick Glucose Tracking & Lowering HbA1c(52:00) Balancing Net Carbs, Fats, and Postprandial Glucose Spikes(55:30) High-Carb Meals vs. Glucose Response: Lessons from DataRelevant papers:- Levine et al., 2018. An epigenetic biomarker of aging for lifespan and healthspan. Aging, 20: pp. 573-591; https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.101414- Lu et al., 2019. DNA methylation GrimAge strongly predicts lifespan and healthspan. Aging, 11: pp. 303-327; https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.101684- Murata et al., 2023. Blood biomarker profiles and exceptional longevity: comparison of centenarians and non-centenarians in a 35-year follow-up of the Swedish AMORIS cohort. GeroScience, 46: pp. 1693-1702; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-023-00936-w- Zulfiqar et al., 2010. Relation of High Heart Rate Variability to Healthy Longevity. The American Journal of Cardiology, 105: pp. 1181-1185; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2009.12.022- Moqri et al., 2023. Biomarkers of aging for the identification and evaluation of longevity interventions. Cell, 186: pp. 3758-3775; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.003- Sehgal et al., 2026. Responsiveness of epigenetic aging biomarkers to longevity interventions in humans. Nature Medicine, 32: pp. 3477-3490; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04562-9Don't forget to join our monthly AFP newsletter: https://applefinchpudding.com/newsletter#LongevityResearch #Biomarkers #Healthspan #HeartRateVariability #GlucoseControl #BiologicalAge #SciencePodcast #AppleFinchPudding