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,
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...
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“You got to just move. It doesn’t matter how efficient your movements are, what matters is that you are moving.” - Susan Bock Smith
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Grief is not a problem to be solved or something we simply “get over.” In this profound conversation, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with philosopher and grief expert Thomas Attig about mourning as a lifelong process of relearning how to live in a world forever changed by loss. Drawing on decades of scholarship and personal insight, Thomas explains how grief can deepen our love, strengthen resilience, and help us find wisdom and meaning in life’s most difficult transitions. This episode offers compassionate guidance for anyone grieving a loved one or supporting someone through loss. Thomas...
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I talk with Brian Morgan. President of Think Deeply, Write Clearly about bridging the many divides that are polarizing our society, through creative thought and communication.
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What if fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and declining strength after 50 are not inevitable signs of aging, but signals of underlying metabolic dysfunction that can be corrected? In episode 275, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with metabolic restoration practitioner, Lori Balue, about how women can restore energy, reduce inflammation, preserve muscle, and regain metabolic resilience through personalized nutrition and functional testing. Lori shares her remarkable journey of losing 100 pounds, reversing prediabetes and chronic inflammation, and transforming her health in midlife. Listeners will...
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THIS FLASHBACK FRIDAY EPISODE OF GROWING OLDER LIVING YOUNGER focuses on the effect of aging on brain functions, affecting many attributes of cognition, like memory and processing speed; and on the importance of recognizing the early warning signs of dementia for early treatment. Today’s guest is neuropsychiatrist and creator of the SAGE test, Dr. Douglas Scharre. Dr. Scharre is board certified in neurology, behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry with special interests in cognitive assessment, degenerative dementias and dementia-related behaviors. He joined The Ohio...
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What if the future of aging is no longer defined simply by lifespan, but by how long we can remain mentally sharp, physically active, emotionally connected, and fully engaged with life? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with documentary filmmaker, David Donnelly, director of the acclaimed documentary, Forever Young, about the rapidly evolving science of longevity and the questions for humanity, emerging alongside the science. Together, they explore the difference between lifespan and healthspan, the growing role of biomarkers, wearables, epigenetics,...
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FLASHBACK FRIDAY: A recurring theme in this podcast is the importance of mindset in supporting consistency, when making the small changes in lifestyle and habits that can have a big positive impact on your health and vitality as you age. Your beliefs shape how you think, feel and act. And if you are to overcome life’s challenges when they strike, you have to believe in your ability to do so.My guest today, Adena Sampson, is the founder of Outloud Productions & The Unbreakable Spirit movement, a breakthrough coach, and best-selling author of the book. The Road Back to Me: 9...
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Are the so-called “heart-healthy” vegetable oils in your kitchen truly supporting your health—or could they be contributing to inflammation and metabolic imbalance? In this episode of Growing Older Living Younger, Dr. Gillian Lockitch speaks with nutrition expert Cherie Calbom, MS, CN, about industrial seed oils such as canola, soybean, sunflower, and corn oil, and the growing concerns surrounding their role in oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and healthy aging. Cherie explains how highly processed oils may affect metabolic health, brain function, and overall wellness, and shares...
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
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Connect with Dr. Gillian Lockitch
at https://www.askdrgill.com/ or email: askdrgill@gmail.com