Aging Less: The Longevity Science Insights Podcast

In this episode of Aging Less, host Sarah Stancombe sits down with UCSF Clinical Professor and supplement expert Cathi Dennehy to decode the confusing language found on dietary labels. Cathi demystifies complex terms such as "proprietary blends," "standardization," and "tolerable upper limits," providing listeners with the essential tools to look past marketing claims and understand the actual contents of their supplements.

The conversation also explores the regulatory landscape of the industry and the potential dangers of medication interactions. Sarah and Cathi discuss how certain supplements can cause adverse effects when combined with prescriptions, emphasizing that "natural" does not always mean safe. This episode serves as a vital guide for navigating the supplement aisle and underscores the importance of consulting a healthcare provider before starting any new regimen.

View Cathi Dennehy’s work on the UCSF website: https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu/cathi-dennehy  

Resources recommended by Cathi Dennehy mentioned in the episode: 

The National Center for Complementary, and Integrative Health: NCCIH.NIH.GOV Nat 

FDA website: FDA.GOV.FOOD (If seeking information on dietary supplements, type “dietary supplements” into the search field in the upper right hand corner of the webpage)

Weblink to dietary supplement product recalls (due to mislabeling or health hazard): https://www.fda.gov/food/recalls-outbreaks-emergencies/recalls-foods-dietary-supplements

Consumerlab: Independent Tests and Reviews of Vitamin, Mineral, and Herbal Supplements - ConsumerLab.com   

NatMed Advisor: NatMed Advisor - TRC Healthcare  

Zhu H, Manson JE, Cook NR et al.  Vitamin D3 and marine omega-3 fatty acids supplantation and leukocyte telomere length: 4-year findings from the VITaminD and OmegA-3 Trial (VITAL) randomized controlled trial.   Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 May21:S00002-9165(25)00255-2. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.05.003.

Bassuk SS, Manson JE, VITAL Research group.  Marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and prevention of cardiovascular disease: update on the randomized trial evidence.  Cadiovasc Res. 2023 Jun 13;119(6):1297-1309. doi:10.1093/cvr/cvac172.

Rabade A, Viswanatha GL, Nandakumar K et al. Evaluation of efficacy and safety of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and their combination regimen in the management of knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.  Inflammopharmacology. 2024 Jun;32(3):1759-1775. Doi:10.1007/s10787-024-01460-9.

Produced by the Longevity Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore LMSL at https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ and visit https://longevity.lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ for additional information about Longevity Science Labs.

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Longevity.ScienceLabs 
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/longevity-science-labs 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOSciencelabs 
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You can also subscribe and listen to our podcasts on your preferred podcasting platforms:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-less-the-longevity-science-insights-podcast/id1776041174
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iPSCjvt7HegaUDPYy3U1q?si=44dab94bf8d14005
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Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/aging-less-the-longevity-scien-5871404

In this episode of Aging Less we dive into the topic of rising temperatures. Host Sarah Stancombe is joined by expert Rajib Dasgupta to discover the stressors related with climate change, and the stress extreme heat can put on the body. 

Rajib Dasgupta is professor and chairperson at the Centre of Social Medicine & Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is a public health physician with three decades of experience in the public health services and academia, and brings together the optimal mix of epidemiology, social sciences, programme management, research, and policy engagement. He was a visiting professor at the Australian Research Consortium in Complementary and Integrative Medicine at University of Technology Sydney. His current research engagements are in One Health and Climate Change. He serves in advisory capacity in national health policy and programme bodies including the certification committees of polio eradication and measles-rubella elimination. He handled key responsibilities related to COVID-19 and G20 media and communications, and is a regular commentator on public health matters in national and international electronic media and columnist in leading national newspapers. 

In this episode, Rajib Dasgupta explains his work in India discovering the impact of heat on the vulnerable groups of outdoor workers, the elderly, and school-aged children. Heat can be detrimental to children's ability to play outside and can increase time spent on screens. 

Together, Sarah and Rajib Dasgupta discuss options for managing health during a heatwave. Some solutions could be working at adjusted hours of the day, such as earlier in the morning and later in the evening, to split work across the day and avoid the hottest hours. However, this may not practically work for project timelines and employers. 

 

View Rajib Dasgupta’s work via the following links: 
Jawaharlal Nehru University page: https://www.jnu.ac.in/content/rdasgupta 
Project page: https://chhanw.com/ 
Project LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chhanw/posts/?feedView=all 

Produced by the Longevity Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore LMSL at https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ and visit http://lo.lmsl.net for additional information about Longevity Science Labs.

Follow us on social media to stay updated:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Longevity.ScienceLabs 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/longevity.science.labs/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longevity.science.labs/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/longevity-science-labs 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOSciencelabs 
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@longevity.science.labs 

You can also subscribe and listen to our podcasts on your preferred podcasting platforms:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-less-the-longevity-science-insights-podcast/id1776041174
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iPSCjvt7HegaUDPYy3U1q?si=44dab94bf8d14005
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/21449d46-936b-443d-8a10-012402c9dff6
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Podbean: https://longevityscienceinsights.podbean.com/
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Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/aging-less-the-longevity-scien-5871404

In this episode of Aging Less, host Sarah Stancombe speaks with Candy Tsourounis, PharmD, a clinical pharmacy expert from UCSF, about dietary supplements. They discuss when supplements may be necessary, how they differ from food, potential side effects, quality concerns, and interactions with medications. The episode highlights the importance of tracking supplement use and consulting a healthcare professional before taking them.

Candy Tsourounis, PharmD also explains why supplements don’t always work as expected, noting that effectiveness can depend on factors such as dosage, formulation, and whether they’re taken with food or on an empty stomach. She emphasizes that more is not always better and that supplements can sometimes do more harm than good if used incorrectly.

Throughout the conversation, listeners are encouraged to take a more informed and cautious approach to supplements. By understanding their purpose and limitations—and by seeking guidance from a doctor or pharmacist—individuals can make safer, more effective choices to support their health as they age.

Together, let’s listen as Sarah and Candy Tsourounis, PharmD unpack the facts, myths, and realities of dietary supplements to help you make confident, informed decisions for your wellbeing.

Follow Candy Tsourounis, PharmD’s work on the USCF website: https://pharmacy.ucsf.edu/candy-tsourounis 

Connect with Candy Tsourounis, PharmD on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candy-tsourounis-9442621/ 

Produced by the Longevity Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore LMSL at https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ and visit https://longevity.lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ for additional information about Longevity Science Labs.

Follow us on social media to stay updated:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Longevity.ScienceLabs 
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longevity.science.labs/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/longevity-science-labs 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOSciencelabs 
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@longevity.science.labs 

You can also subscribe and listen to our podcasts on your preferred podcasting platforms:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-less-the-longevity-science-insights-podcast/id1776041174
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iPSCjvt7HegaUDPYy3U1q?si=44dab94bf8d14005
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/21449d46-936b-443d-8a10-012402c9dff6
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Podbean: https://longevityscienceinsights.podbean.com/
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Every man’s journey to fatherhood brings a unique set of questions, but one is more important than ever: how does what you eat affect your ability to start a family—and even how vitally you’ll live in your later years? This week on Aging Less: The Longevity Science Insights Podcast, host Marie Stella interviews  assistant professor of reproductive biology Dr. Adam Watkins on the connection between a man’s diet and his chances of reproduction.

Having spent much of his career researching reproductive health, Dr. Adam Watkins is currently based at the University of Sheffield, where he continues to look into how paternal diet impacts on male reproductive fitness and post-fertilization development. Dr. Adam Watkins initially earned his Ph.D. and conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Southampton, investigating the impact of mouse embryo culture and maternal diet on long-term cardiovascular and metabolic health of the offspring. From there, Dr. Adam Watkins held stints at the University of Nottingham and Aston University, where he continued his research on the male diet-fertility connection. 

In this episode, Dr. Adam Watkins addresses the biggest misconceptions about male reproductive biology and shares lesser-known testicular facts. In addition, Dr. Adam Watkins draws on current research to illustrate how diet influences male fertility, highlighting the dangers that the usual suspects — stress, obesity, smoking, recreational drugs, and more — can bring to a man’s reproductive odds and overall longevity.

Together, Marie and Dr. Adam Watkins discuss false yet prevalent fertility-related claims to be cautious of online, and explore healthy changes that are easy enough to make for improved fertility. So, whether you’re planning for a family, or simply want to enhance your long-term well-being, tune in to this episode for science-backed guidance that can reshape your future!

Follow Dr. Adam Watkins' work via the following links:

University of Sheffield: https://sheffield.ac.uk/smph/people/academic/clinical-medicine/adam-watkins

The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/at-home-fertility-tests-heres-what-they-can-actually-tell-you-198639

Connect with Dr. Adam Watkins on Twitter: https://x.com/AdamWatkins78

Produced by the Longevity Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore LMSL at https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ and visit https://longevity.lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ for additional information about Longevity Science Labs.

Follow us on social media to stay updated:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Longevity.ScienceLabs 
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/longevity-science-labs 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOSciencelabs 
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@longevity.science.labs 

You can also subscribe and listen to our podcasts on your preferred podcasting platforms:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-less-the-longevity-science-insights-podcast/id1776041174
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iPSCjvt7HegaUDPYy3U1q?si=44dab94bf8d14005
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Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/aging-less-the-longevity-scien-5871404

Our worldview can profoundly shape how we experience stress, resilience, and overall well-being. So, this week on Aging Less: The Longevity Science Insights Podcast, host Marie Stella consults mindfulness teacher and researcher Dr. Kathirasan K. for pointers on managing stress and shifting mindsets.

Based in Singapore, Dr. Kathirasan K. is not only the founder of Positive Performance Consulting, but also a thought leader, keynote speaker, philosopher, artiste and author. With a flair for holistic thinking and expertise in merging diverse systems, Dr. Kathirasan K. is committed to his life's mission: enhancing self-awareness, both for himself and others through his various roles. 

In this episode, Dr. Kathirasan K. shares his definition of worldview, and outlines the various factors that influence our perception of the world. Additionally, Dr. Kathirasan K. sheds light on the difference between a neutral worldview and toxic positivity.

Together, Marie and Dr. Kathirasan K. discuss useful habits for practicing mindfulness, from observing surroundings to intentional reflections. So, tune in to this episode to discover how changing your perspective could be a key to reducing stress and leading a healthier life!

Follow Dr. Kathirasan K.’s work via the following links:
Dr. Kathirasan K.: www.kathirasank.com
Centre for Mindfulness: https://www.centreformindfulness.sg/
Mindfulness Academy: https://www.mindfulnessacademy.global/
Infinite Clarity: https://www.infiniteclarity.org/
Positive Consulting: https://www.positiveconsulting.sg

Connect with Dr. Kathirasan K. via the following platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathirasan.kk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathirasan.kk/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathirasan/

Produced by the Longevity Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs.

Explore LMSL at https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ and visit https://longevity.lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ for additional information about Longevity Science Labs.

Follow us on social media to stay updated:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Longevity.ScienceLabs 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/longevity.science.labs/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longevity.science.labs/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/longevity-science-labs 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LOSciencelabs 
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@longevity.science.labs 

You can also subscribe and listen to our podcasts on your preferred podcasting platforms:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-less-the-longevity-science-insights-podcast/id1776041174
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iPSCjvt7HegaUDPYy3U1q?si=44dab94bf8d14005
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/21449d46-936b-443d-8a10-012402c9dff6
iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-aging-less-the-longevity-231093338/
Podbean: https://longevityscienceinsights.podbean.com/
PlayerFM: https://player.fm/series/aging-less-the-longevity-science-insights-podcast
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/aging-less-the-longevity-scien-5871404