If you've read the homepage on my website, I talk about being here for the long haul. I'm not here to show you how to lose weight or get fit quick, even though those outcomes can naturally happen when you prioritise your health with whole foods and movement.

I am here to empower you with knowledge so you can prioritise longevity and your health span. So you can be free to do what you want with your time as you age, whether it's sailing, surfing, running marathons, hiking or horseback riding. Whatever your heart desires, you will have the energy, mobility and good health to do it.

When it comes to health and longevity, most people aim to live a long life. However, simply living a long life is not the only goal. The quality of those years is just as important, if not more so. This is where the concepts of health span and life span come into play.

I have personally seen many people in my life live well into their 80s and 90s, however, the quality of their life has not been great. Riddled with multiple chronic diseases, not able to move freely, having their mind deteriorate....it really is horrible thing to see your loved ones go through. I do not want to be like that and I want you to know it doesn't have the be this way.

I am a big believer in functional medicine. What is that you may ask? Essentially, it is a systems-based biology approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying or root cause of illness or disease. 

I think there is always an underlying reason for anything whether it be a child's behaviour or that annoying little headache you might get from time to time. Rather than popping a pain killer, be curious about what could be causing the headache, rather than looking to treat the symptom. This is taking a functional medicine perspective.

Alas though, I digress. I wanted to mention functional medicine as I that is how I like to approach situations, from a 'root cause' perspective. Of course this isn't always the case but when it comes to longevity and our health span, knowing at least what functional medicine is will serve you well, especially as I go further into this post.

Understanding the difference between health span and life span is crucial to promoting optimal health and longevity.

Health Span vs. Life Span

Health span refers to the number of years a person lives in good health, without chronic diseases or disabilities. In other words, it’s the amount of time a person spends feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally well. Life span, on the other hand, refers to the total number of years a person lives, regardless of whether those years are healthy or not.

While both health span and life span are important, they represent different aspects of aging. Life span is largely determined by genetics and environmental factors such as diet, lifestyle, and exposure to toxins. However, health span is influenced by a wide range of factors, many of which are modifiable.

Functional medicine practitioners (see it was useful for me to discuss earlier), focus on optimizing health span, rather than simply extending life span. By identifying and addressing the root causes of chronic diseases and other health issues, functional medicine practitioners aim to help patients live longer, healthier lives.

It's important to note here too, you don't have to be or even see a functional medicine practitioner. You can take charge of your own health just by empowering yourself with knowledge and advocating for and prioritising your own health.

Three Key Differences Between Health Span and Life Span

1. The Importance of Lifestyle Factors

Lifestyle factors play a significant role in determining health span. Diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep are all important factors that can influence how we age and how long we live in good health. By making positive lifestyle choices, we can improve our health span, regardless of our genetics.

• One of the most important lifestyle factors that can influence health span is diet. A diet high in whole, nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and low in processed and refined foods, has been associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

In contrast, a diet high in processed and refined foods, saturated fats, and added sugars can increase the risk of chronic diseases and reduce health span.

• Exercise is another key lifestyle factor that can influence health span. Regular physical activity has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, increase muscle mass and strength, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and certain types of cancer. Exercise has also been shown to improve your brain function and reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline.

• Stress management and sleep are also important lifestyle factors that can influence health span. Chronic stress and poor sleep quality have been associated with a higher risk of chronic diseases and a shorter health span. When we live in this toxic hustle culture, running on little sleep to do 'all the things' makes us feel successful. Yet, it's slowly making us sick.

In contrast, effective stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises, as well as good sleep hygiene, can help improve health span.

2. The Importance of Addressing Root Causes

As I mentioned before, functional medicine practitioners focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of chronic diseases and other health issues. Rather than simply treating symptoms, they aim to identify the underlying imbalances or dysfunctions that contribute to chronic diseases.

For example, if a patient has high blood sugar levels, a functional medicine practitioner will not simply prescribe medication to lower blood sugar. Instead, they will investigate the root cause of the high blood sugar levels, which may be related to diet, stress, sleep, or other factors.

By addressing the underlying cause of the high blood sugar levels, the practitioner can help the patient improve their health span, rather than simply managing their symptoms.

Similarly, if a patient has chronic joint pain, a functional medicine practitioner will not simply prescribe pain medication. Instead, the practitioner will investigate the root cause of the joint pain, which may be related to inflammation, diet, stress, or other factors.

3. The Importance of Bio-individuality

You may or may not have heard of the principle of bio-individuality, which happens to be a core concept from my training as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. 

Simply put, bio-individuality means that we are all unique, and it is recognising and honoring our uniqueness that is the key to health and happiness.

You see, the way I choose to eat and exercise may help me to thrive in my life. However, it may be quite the opposite for you. Understanding your unique health needs and preferences is essential to your overall health and wellness. 

When you become aligned with what works for you and honour your individual needs, you are well on your way to creating a vibrant and healthy life that will support you to age well.

Working with healthcare professionals such as a functional medicine practitioner or health coach can help you tune in to your bio-individuality to find a way of eating, movement as well as stress reduction techniques that support your health. This is one of the best ways to optimise your health span and focus on longevity.

To wrap this up for you....

Health span is important because it directly impacts quality of life. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer can significantly reduce quality of life, leading to pain, disability, and a decreased ability to engage in activities that bring joy and fulfillment.

While living a long life is certainly desirable, it is not enough if that life is characterized by chronic disease and disability. By emphasizing a whole foods, plant-filled diet, incorporating daily movement, reducing stress and tuning into our own unique needs, we can improve quality of life and reduce the burden of chronic disease.

I hope this post has encouraged you to think a little more about future and what that looks like for you. How long do you plan to be around? What kind of life do you want to live as you age? 

If we want to live the vibrant and happy life we deserve, well into our later years, then it's important to take charge of our health. If you have any questions or feedback, it's always welcome and I'm just an email or DM away.

Until next time,

Your Health Coach Bethany