Latest news with #JeffreyBland
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
He is 79 and thriving: Student of two-time Nobel laureate reveals 4 daily habits that could add years to your life
At 79, Jeffrey Bland isn't just a survivor of time—he's a torchbearer of a healthier, wiser way of living. Widely celebrated as the 'father of functional medicine ,' Bland has spent decades asking a deceptively simple but revolutionary question: Can healthcare shift its gaze from treating disease to preventing it altogether? It's a philosophy rooted in his time under the mentorship of two-time Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling, during his tenure at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in the 1980s. That foundational experience led to the co-founding of the Institute for Functional Medicine in 1991 with his wife, Susan, and later, the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute. Now, at nearly eight decades of life, Bland not only continues to shape the future of medicine—he lives its ideals every single day. Health Begins with Self-Worth For Bland, health isn't just physical—it begins in the mind. 'I think you need to start off each day believing that you're worthy of good health,' he told CNBC Make It in a feature highlighting his daily habits. This small but mighty shift in mindset is what he considers the foundation of longevity. 'To wake up and say you're grateful for another day—that sets the context for everything that follows.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Investigadora argentina revela hallazgos sobre el magnesio Salud Esencial Leer más Undo Jeffrey Bland, 79, known as the 'father of functional medicine,. An Hour a Day Keeps the Doctor Away Bland dedicates at least one hour daily to physical activity. Whether it's run-walking, aerobic exercises, or using the Pilates reformer with his wife, movement is non-negotiable. 'It doesn't have to be extreme,' he says, 'but it does need to be intentional.' He also advocates keeping a health journal—a simple but powerful tool to track what works best for your body. From meal choices to exercise routines and sleep patterns, monitoring personal trends can offer insight into sustaining energy and health over time. You Might Also Like: Longevity decoded: 70-year-old cardiologist reveals the one change that made him stronger than ever Eat the Rainbow, Literally One of Bland's strongest dietary principles is colour. Not in plating aesthetics—but in nutritional value . 'Colourful fruits and vegetables are rich in phytonutrients ,' he explains. These natural compounds, which give foods their vibrant hues, are linked to reduced risks of chronic illnesses including heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline. From crimson strawberries to deep-green kale, Bland's meals are nature's palette, designed not just for satisfaction but for cellular health. Unwind with Intention Work never ends—but Bland believes how we close our days is crucial. He commits one hour before bedtime to 'meditating relaxation.' For him, that usually means recreational reading—preferably books about nature or adventure, far from the day's technical literature. 'I don't go to sleep thinking about that last email,' he says. Instead, he chooses mental stillness—a pause from constant cognitive load, and a signal to the body that it's time to rest and restore. You Might Also Like: Want to live longer? Forget expensive experiments; longevity doctor reveals simple secrets to a healthier, happier life Live Beyond Yourself Perhaps the most moving element of Bland's approach to health is his unwavering sense of purpose. Functional medicine, for him, is not just a profession—it's a calling. Whether through research, spirituality, or giving back, he stresses the importance of finding something that connects you to a greater cause. 'It's about recognising that you are part of a much broader system,' he says. 'Whatever you contribute is always going to be there.' In a world obsessed with shortcuts and biohacks, Jeffrey Bland offers a quieter, more profound path to well-being. It's not about chasing youth, but cultivating habits that honour the body, stimulate the mind, and feed the soul. And at 79, the student of a Nobel laureate proves that true health isn't achieved through gimmicks—but through gratitude, movement, nourishment, and a purpose that lives beyond the self.
CNBC
a day ago
- Health
- CNBC
I'm 79 years old and the ‘father of functional medicine': Here's my daily routine for a healthy life
Jeffrey Bland, 79, is considered the "father of functional medicine." He's devoted most of his lifetime to studying the origins of diseases to focus on prevention in healthcare. The main question Bland's research looks to answer is this one: "Could we move to a form of healthcare where we're spending more time worrying about and focusing on how to keep a person from being sick than just treating the sick downstream?" In 1991, he launched the Institute for Functional Medicine with his wife, Susan, to build off of the research he did under two-time Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in the 1980s. He later launched the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute, of which he is the founder and president. Bland turned 79 earlier this year and still practices a lot of what he's learned is helpful for living a long, healthy life. Here's what he does every day to stay in good health. Bland begins with his mindset. "I think you need to start off each day believing that you're worthy of good health," he says. "For me, the first thing is to wake up every morning and just say how grateful you are to be there, to have another day and to do the best job you can and be healthy through your activities," he says. "That sets the context for everything that follows." Every day, Bland does something that's good for his body. "I try to get at least an hour of some kind of physical activity," he says. "It could be run-walking, it could be some kind of aerobics. My wife [and I] have a reformer at home for Pilates." Bland also suggests keeping a health journal. Track your eating habits, goals you've set to improve your overall health and how you're spending the hour a day you're designating for physical activity. Through monitoring your daily behaviors, you can determine which foods, exercises, sleep habits and more tend to make you feel your best. When it comes to his diet, Bland says he focuses on adding more color to his meals. Colorful fruits and vegetables, like strawberries and kale, have phytonutrients that give the foods their distinct colors and tastes, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Eating plant foods that have phytonutrients can decrease your chances of developing chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer, the Harvard blog reports. Flavonoids have also been associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline. Bland schedules at least an hour each day for "meditating relaxation" before bed. "For me, it's recreational reading. My job forces me to do a lot of technical reading," he says. When he reads for fun, Bland particularly enjoys books about nature and adventure. "I don't go to sleep thinking about that last email or that last article or that last thing I was writing," he says. Bland's work in functional medicine gives him a sense of purpose that extends beyond just himself, he says. He's learned that whether its work, spirituality or philanthropy, having a purpose that positively impacts many, and connects him with others, is necessary for him to feel fulfilled in life. It's important to have "something that takes you out of the focus on yourself to the fact that you are part of this much broader system that is going to be here after you," he says. Contributing to his legacy daily fuels him: "Whatever you contribute is always going to be there."
