FIELD NOTES 002: Your Body Is Talking - Are You Listening?
Inflammation, hormones, muscle loss, and stem cells: the quiet signals shaping the next decade of health.
I woke up to my friend Liza standing over my bed, smirking at my bleeding toe.
“Julia—you really do attract chaos. But this one? Not your fault.”
Every summer, my B-school crew rents a house in Montauk. It’s one of those rare traditions that’s lasted - through new jobs, cities, and now, slowly, babies.
We kicked things off with dinner at Bagatelle (two-hour wait, not ideal). Midway through, someone dropped a glass - and somehow it sliced my pinky toe open.
No urgent care nearby, but our in-house doctor friend (thanks Katie) said I didn’t need stitches. I wrapped it up and hobbled on.
The next day at Surf Lodge, I ran into a longevity doctor friend who’d turned his hotel room into a pop-up wellness suite. He cleaned the cut, re-bandaged it, and told me to come back the next day for an IV and a hyperbaric session.
So here I am - writing this from inside a hyperbaric chamber at Surf Lodge.
If last week’s theme was “health should meet you where you are,” this week made it literal.
(And yes—if you’re in the Hamptons, @drhalland’s pop-up is open through Labor Day.)
Now, onto this week’s download.
🔎 THIS WEEK’S DOWNLOAD
aka things I stumbled across, not necessarily released this week
📎 ARTICLES THAT CAUGHT MY EYE
1. Inflammation Is the Latest Wellness Buzzword – Condé Nast Traveler
Chronic inflammation is taking center stage across the wellness world—from diagnostic tools to "anti-inflammatory menus." Hotels, retreats, and health brands are rebranding around it.
2. Simone Gibertoni on Longevity’s New Frontier – Financial Times / Brains of Wellbeing Podcast
The CEO of Clinique La Prairie breaks down why inflammation is now considered a “diagnostic gateway” to aging, and how AI-enhanced tools are being deployed to track it long before disease shows up.
My Take: Inflammation is having its “mass-market wellness moment.” But it’s more than a buzzword - chronic low-grade inflammation is one of the earliest and most measurable signs of aging. Think of it as your body’s silent fire: low-key, systemic, and ignored until it’s not.
And yes, you can track it with markers like hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and even DHEA-S (which indirectly tells you how depleted your reserves are).
Oh, and turmeric really does work—just make sure it’s paired with black pepper.
🎧 PODCASTS WORTH YOUR TIME
Gladden Longevity Podcast — Episode 294: “Exploring Stem Cell Therapy”
Published: July 24, 2025
A quick but detailed discussion on how stem cell therapy is being used for regenerative health, metabolic support, and physical rejuvenation.
My Take: Stem cells are one of the most hyped (and murky) areas of longevity. Treatments like IV infusions or localized injections aren’t legal in the U.S. yet - and when you do go abroad, you often don’t know where those cells came from.
I watch this space with curiosity and caution. Promising, yes but still a sideline sport for me for now.
Today, Explained – Episode: “Whey Too Much Protein”
Published: July 21, 2025
This episode dives into the protein industrial complex—from how food systems and emerging medications (like GLP‑1 agonists) are shaping consumer habits around protein, to the unintended metabolic and environmental consequences of overemphasizing protein in the wellness world. It makes a case that more isn’t always better.
My Take: This episode is a reminder that not all wellness trends deserve a halo. The protein obsession? It often starts in marketing rooms - not research labs - and a lot of it is made from literal waste products. Just because something is everywhere doesn’t mean it’s right for your body. Don't get swept up in the hype - read the labels, and do your research.
🧬 THE SCIENCE BIT
Study 1. Reproductive History & Epigenetic Aging – Longevity Papers, Published: July 18, 2025
Post-menopausal women who experienced premature menopause had a 40% higher mortality risk and showed accelerated biological aging, tracked through advanced epigenetic clocks.
My Take: Hormone therapies for women are evolving from symptom management to serious healthspan strategy. It’s exciting to see more research spotlighting female biology, because hormones are one of the most powerful levers for vitality—and too often overlooked.
Fun fact: it takes a man 24 hours to go through the hormonal fluctuation a woman experiences in just 30 minutes. Understanding this isn’t just good for women—it’s a longevity unlock for everyone.
Study 2. Hormonal Decline & Skeletal Muscle Aging in Women – Longevity Papers, Published: July 18, 2025
A cohort study showed that declines in estrogen and progesterone correlate with loss of lean muscle mass and strength. Molecular changes include increased immune signaling and matrix remodeling.
My Take: We talk about muscle loss as inevitable. But this study makes the case that hormonal health is muscle health - especially for women. And again: it’s not just about menopause - it’s about using hormones as a tool for maintaining strength, resilience, and quality of life into older age. I love to see more studies in this space!
💸 VCs, M&A, AND STRATEGY SHIFTS
AKA, the business of aging is growing up.
July 22: Blue Longevity Clinic raises €2M (~$2.3M) seed round led by Eleven Ventures to open next-gen clinics in Athens, Istanbul, and Sofia with focus. on diagnostics, personalization, and AI-powered health tools.
July 23: Chugai Pharmaceutical (Roche Group) partners with Gero to co-develop age-related therapies using biological age modeling.
July 23: Global Wellness Summit announces its 2025 theme: "Longevity Through a Wellness Lens". The upcoming Dubai summit (Nov 18–21) marks a strategic shift from spa to science - with Dr. Michael Roizen of Cleveland Clinic as co-chair.
My Take: I like to watch what is happening outside of US as different healthcare systems and regulations allow for building much different consumer services and experiences