Can Smoking Cigarettes Make You Live Longer, Are The Blue Zones A Myth, Which Meat You Should Think Twice About Eating & More With Dr. Steven Gundry

Ben Greenfield

Jan 20, 2024

Episode description

Envision a life where you gracefully surpass the age of 100, untouched by the afflictions that typically accompany old age — no battles with debilitating diseases, no encounters with cancer, no navigating each step with the constant fear of stumbling and facing a hip-breaking incident.

In a captivating discussion with Dr. Steven Gundry, I explore the secrets of the world's blue zones, where vitality remains a constant companion and thriving well beyond what is conventionally deemed "your best years" is not a distant dream but a tangible reality. 

Dr. Gundry is one of the world’s top cardiothoracic surgeons and a pioneer in nutrition. He hosts the top-rated health show, The Dr. Gundry Podcast, is the founder and director of The International Heart and Lung Institute Center for Restorative Medicine, and is the founder of Gundry MD, a line of wellness products and supplements.

After a distinguished surgical career as a professor and chairman of cardiothoracic surgery at Loma Linda University, Dr. Gundry changed his focus to curing modern diseases via dietary changes. He is the author of New York Times bestsellers, including The Plant Paradox, The Plant Paradox Cookbook, The Plant Paradox Quick & Easy, and The Longevity Paradox, along with national bestsellers such as The Plant Paradox Family Cookbook, The Energy Paradox, Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution, and Unlocking the Keto Code. Additionally, he has had more than 300 articles published in peer-reviewed journals on using diet and supplements to eliminate heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and multiple other diseases.

Dr. Gundry's latest book Gut Check ....

In today's episode, join Dr. Gundry and me in uncovering topics for a long, healthy life, such as Okinawan food fermentation, Sardinian smoking, the benefits of goat and sheep products, and best practices for a vibrant existence.

For the full show notes, visit: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/gutcheck

Episode Sponsors:

FUM: Use code BEN to save an additional 10% off your order at tryfum.com/BEN

Timeline Nutrition: Go to

Episode description

Envision a life where you gracefully surpass the age of 100, untouched by the afflictions that typically accompany old age — no battles with debilitating diseases, no encounters with cancer, no navigating each step with the constant fear of stumbling and facing a hip-breaking incident.

In a captivating discussion with Dr. Steven Gundry, I explore the secrets of the world's blue zones, where vitality remains a constant companion and thriving well beyond what is conventionally deemed "your best years" is not a distant dream but a tangible reality. 

Dr. Gundry is one of the world’s top cardiothoracic surgeons and a pioneer in nutrition. He hosts the top-rated health show, The Dr. Gundry Podcast, is the founder and director of The International Heart and Lung Institute Center for Restorative Medicine, and is the founder of Gundry MD, a line of wellness products and supplements.

After a distinguished surgical career as a professor and chairman of cardiothoracic surgery at Loma Linda University, Dr. Gundry changed his focus to curing modern diseases via dietary changes. He is the author of New York Times bestsellers, including The Plant Paradox, The Plant Paradox Cookbook, The Plant Paradox Quick & Easy, and The Longevity Paradox, along with national bestsellers such as The Plant Paradox Family Cookbook, The Energy Paradox, Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution, and Unlocking the Keto Code. Additionally, he has had more than 300 articles published in peer-reviewed journals on using diet and supplements to eliminate heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and multiple other diseases.

Dr. Gundry's latest book Gut Check ....

In today's episode, join Dr. Gundry and me in uncovering topics for a long, healthy life, such as Okinawan food fermentation, Sardinian smoking, the benefits of goat and sheep products, and best practices for a vibrant existence.

For the full show notes, visit: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/gutcheck

Episode Sponsors:

FUM: Use code BEN to save an additional 10% off your order at tryfum.com/BEN

Timeline Nutrition: Go to

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Avoid red meat and milk to protect blood vessels from immune attack

A sugar molecule in red meat and milk called Neu5GC can be incorporated into your blood vessels, prompting your immune system to attack them.

Add sage to coffee for cognitive boost

Grinding sage with your coffee beans is a way to consume unique polyphenols that can provide a significant cognitive pick-me-up.

Incorporate chicken skin to boost longevity with spermidine

Chicken skin is one of the highest food sources of spermidine, a compound that promotes longevity by uncoupling mitochondria.

Choose pasture-raised chicken to reduce inflammation

Most organic chickens are fed corn and soy, resulting in an inflammatory omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 25:1, compared to a healthy 5:1 ratio in properly pasture-raised chickens.

Reduce harmful molecules by dry-aging beef

Dry-aging beef is a form of fermentation that can dramatically reduce the harmful Neu5GC molecule found in red meat.

Embrace Okinawan diet of sweet potatoes for health benefits

The traditional Okinawan diet consisted of 85% purple or blue sweet potato, as they couldn't grow rice and only ate fermented soy like miso.

Beware increased lectins in freshly sprouted grains

The lectin content of a plant actually increases at the moment of germination, making freshly sprouted grains potentially more irritating than unsprouted ones.

Investigate smoking's role in longevity within blue zones

In some blue zones, men who smoke heavily live as long as women, possibly due to nicotine's mitochondrial uncoupling effect combined with a high-antioxidant diet.

Incorporate sheep yogurt and fermented sausages for longevity

The country with the highest life expectancy, Andorra, has a diet rich in sheep yogurt, sheep cheeses, and fermented sausages.

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© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius