Immune to Age: The Real Secret to Longevity Isn’t What You Think – with Dr 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 Join The High Performance Health Community Click here for discounts on all the products I personally use and recommend A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible: LVLUP HEALTH: Slow aging, repair gut health boost collagen and recovery and more with LVLUP Health’s amazing products. Save 15% with code ANGELA at https://lvluphealth.com/angela Get 20% off the Creatine I love at trycreate.co/ANGELA20, and use code ANGELA20 to save 20% on your firsts order. Sign Up to Angela’s Weekly Fresh Starts Email to transform your health, energy, and longevity with just ONE small habit every week - angelafoster.me/freshstart 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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