Ageing well isn’t about “anti-ageing.” It’s about pro-ageing – ie, protecting function, mobility, independence, mood, strength, and mental clarity for as long as possible.
In this process, we focus on the neuro-metabolic impact, or in other words, your internal regulator (hypothalamus) in the brain which helps to balance hunger, energy, stress signals, inflammation, repair and more. When this feels unbalanced, over-eating, too much highly processed food, poor sleep, chronic stress, low muscle mass, or poor nutrition — the alarm shows up as fatigue, cravings, aches and pains, weight regain, slower recovery, and brain fog.
So, how can we calm things down and restore balance?
A key concept in ageing science is inflammaging: the slow, chronic “smoulder” of inflammation that rises with age. It’s rarely a dramatic “flare”; it’s a persistent low-grade signal that can accelerate muscle loss, weight gain, insulin resistance, joint pain, and immune dysregulation. The goal is not to eliminate inflammation (we need it for healing), but to reduce unnecessary chronic inflammation while strengthening the body’s repair systems.
Picture your body as a house with a pilot flame. With inflammaging, that pilot flame grows—often driven by poor sleep, long-term stress, inactivity, low muscle, excess ultra-processed foods, nutrient gaps, and gut disruption. Your neuro-metabolic control centre then does what it’s designed to do: protect you, but these protection strategies can backfire—more hunger, more weight creep, more comfort eating, less movement, and a tighter spiral.
What ageing well looks like in practice:
- Prioritise muscle as your “metabolic pension.” Muscle is not vanity tissue; it’s a glucose sink, a stability system, and a reserve for illness or surgery. Aim for consistent resistance work (even light, progressive loads) and eating adequate protein daily.
- Build anti-inflammatory plates -no dieting drama. Anchor meals with protein + colour (polyphenols) + fibre + healthy fats. Choose minimally processed foods most of the time—fish, legumes, fermented foods, vegetables, berries, olive oil, nuts, seeds—and reduce ultra-processed “inflammation amplifiers.” It’s not perfection; it’s pattern.
- Protect sleep like a clinical intervention. Sleep is where immune calibration and tissue repair happen. Short sleep increases hunger signalling, reduces impulse control, and raises inflammaging risk. Wind-down routines, morning daylight, and less late caffeine/alcohol help.
- Calm the nervous system to boost the immune system. Chronic stress is inflammatory. Breathwork, walking, connection, hobbies are physiology tools.
- Feed the gut to reduce the smoulder. A diverse, fibre-rich diet supports short-chain fatty acids and gut barrier function—key regulators of inflammation and healthy aging. Small daily fibre habits (pulses, veg, nuts, seeds, psyllium/inulin if tolerated) compound.
As health coaches, we use person-centred, evidence-based processes. Shared health conversations reduce stress hormones (cortisol/adrenaline) and promote healing signals (oxytocin, dopamine, endorphins etc). You feel cared for, regain confidence, and build lasting change. Whether you have a health condition or not, are a young person, middle-aged or you have reached your golden years, you can get your best health back and start living life fully.
Jacqueline Jooste MSc Med (Pharmacology), BPharm, Dip Bus Man (DMS) is a Clinical Pharmacist & Clinical Health Coach [EMCC Accredited] located in Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Jacqui works 1:1 with her clients to help them restore balance, health & vitality from the inside out.
For more info or to book, visit www.seedwellness.co.uk/jacquijooste
