267 Muscle, Mitochondria and the Aging Brain: The Midlife Metabolism Reset with Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Release Date: 05/11/2026
Growing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
Health care professionals emphasize optimizing cholesterol, blood sugar and hormone levels and from that assessing biological age. These measurements can provide useful information, but do they tell us whether the body is still resilient, adaptable and capable of recovering from illness, injury or stress? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch and Dr. Sean Fletch explore the difference between moving a laboratory number into the desired range, and addressing the upstream conditions that caused it to change. Dr. Fletch reframes healthspan as more than the number of years lived...
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What does a physician-scientist actually do each day to support her own healthy aging? This is a question Dr. Gillian Lockitch hears often. Her answer is not a prescription, a shopping list or a collection of fashionable biohacks. Healthy longevity is personal: our genetics, health histories, medications, priorities and goals differ, so the most useful routine is one designed for the individual. In this solo episode, Dr. Gillian organizes her approach around the seven pillars of healthy longevity described in her book, Growing Older, Living Younger. She explains how epigenetics offers a more...
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Could retirement actually become the beginning of your most meaningful work? In this personal solo episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch shares how spinal surgery, ballroom dancing, entrepreneurship and podcasting transformed her understanding of healthy longevity. You’ll discover why curiosity, consistency and a renewed sense of purpose can help you remain mentally sharp, physically engaged and excited about the future at any age. For most of her professional life, Dr. Gillian Lockitch was a physician, medical biochemist, researcher, university professor and department head. She expected...
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What helps people stay active, strong, and independent as they age—luck, genetics, or habits built years earlier? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Carl Daikeler, co-founder and CEO of BODi, about why healthy longevity is rooted in consistency: regular movement, supportive nutrition, and the discipline to care for your body before a health crisis forces the issue. Carl shares his personal story of discovering a congenital heart block at age 59, receiving a pacemaker, and using that experience to deepen his commitment to healthspan...
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What if the path to healthy longevity lies not in choosing between ancient healing traditions and modern science, but in learning how to integrate both? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Dr. Mao Shing Ni—38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine, co-founder of Tao of Wellness, and author of Secrets of Longevity—about how Traditional Chinese Medicine can complement modern approaches to healthspan optimization. Dr. Mao explains the foundational principles of Chinese medicine, including balance, the five elemental systems, and the links between organ function,...
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How does our immune system change as we age, and what role can vaccines play in supporting healthy longevity? In this informative episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch welcomes physician, healthcare executive, and medical writer Dr. Michael Myers for a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion about immunosenescence—the age-related decline of immune function—and its implications for healthy aging. Together they explore how vaccines work, why vaccine recommendations evolve throughout life, and the importance of understanding both the science and the uncertainties...
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What role does muscle strength play in healthy aging, longevity, and independence? In this episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with Jeanne Phares about why maintaining and building muscle becomes increasingly important for women during and after menopause. Drawing on her personal experience as a leukemia survivor and decades of strength training, Jeanne explains the connections between muscle mass, metabolism, bone health, resilience, and recovery. Listeners will learn practical strategies for strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle habits that support vitality...
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THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the impact of low carbohydrate and ketogenic nutrition on health and aging well. Today’s Featured Expert is Anne Mullens, an award winning Canadian journalist and author specializing in Health and Science Writing, At a time when the twin hazards of diabetes and obesity are so prevalent in our society that we say that there is a diabesity epidemic, we are bombarded with discordant messages about what, when, and how to eat, to stay healthy and age gracefully. A goal of this podcast is to cut through the noise and provide...
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Is chronic pain really an inevitable part of aging—or could it be a warning sign that deeper imbalances are affecting your healthspan, mobility, and quality of life? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with physical therapist, registered nurse, educator, and functional wellness expert,Stacey Roberts, about the root causes of chronic pain and why conventional treatments often focus on symptom relief instead of true healing. Stacey explains how chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, hormone imbalance, gut health issues, biomechanics, and lifestyle...
info_outlineGrowing Older Living Younger: About longevity, wellness, healthspan,
“You got to just move. It doesn’t matter how efficient your movements are, what matters is that you are moving.” - Susan Bock Smith
info_outlineWhat if the fatigue, brain fog, and loss of strength many women experience after 50 are not simply hormonal, but reflect deeper shifts in metabolism, muscle, and mitochondrial function? In this insightful episode, Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink reframes midlife as a metabolic and neurological transition rather than a purely hormonal one. She explains how muscle acts as a longevity organ, how mitochondrial efficiency impacts both energy and cognition, and how targeted lifestyle and nutrition strategies can restore resilience. This empowering conversation offers practical, science-informed steps to help women take control of how they age.
Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink is a naturopathic doctor, women’s health researcher, and founder of Wellex. She has more than 16 years of clinical experience supporting women’s hormonal, metabolic, and immune health. Dr. Goldspink is a published author in peer-reviewed medical journals and has completed advanced training in mind-body medicine at Harvard University. Her work focuses on translating complex scientific research into practical, personalized health strategies. She has helped thousands of women restore energy, resilience, and long-term well-being. Her current focus is on evidence-based supplementation and metabolic health optimization for women in midlife and beyond.
Episode Timeline
00:00 – Welcome and introduction
02:30 – Midlife symptoms reframed: beyond hormones to metabolism and mitochondria
04:00 – Dr. Goldspink’s personal journey from marketing professional to naturopathic medicine
06:00 – Why brain fog, fatigue, and strength loss signal deeper biological shifts
08:00 – Muscle as a longevity organ and its role in metabolic and cognitive health
11:00 – The metabolic functions of muscle and the importance of myokines
13:30 – Resistance training and why lifting weights matters for women over 50
16:00 – Nutrition fundamentals: protein intake, glycemic stability, and whole foods
19:00 – Mitochondrial health and its connection to energy and cognition
22:00 – Practical strategies to optimize mitochondria without complex protocols
25:00 – Creatine explained: benefits for muscle, brain, and aging
29:00 – Real-world recovery and rebuilding strength after health setbacks
31:00 – Brain training, lifestyle habits, and community connection
33:00 – Managing stress, social media overload, and mental resilience
35:00 – Supplement strategy after 50: what to use and what to avoid
37:30 – Common mistakes: overuse of antioxidants and low-quality supplements
40:00 – The origin of Wellex and a mission to support underserved women’s health needs
43:00 – Practical daily steps to rebuild resilience and support healthy aging
45:00 – Wrap-up and key takeaways
Connect with Dr. Elizabeth Goldspink
Website: https://wellex.co
Science-backed supplements for women’s metabolic and hormonal health
Information on clinical research and product formulations
Call to Action
Find Growing Older Living Younger: The Science of Aging Gracefully and the Art of Retiring Comfortably at www.gillianlockitch.com (North America) or on Kindle
Subscribe to Growing Older Living Younger on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review to help others discover the show. Join the Growing Older Living Younger Community
Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch
at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: askdrgill@gmail.com