Chronic inflammation may be one of the biggest forces accelerating how we age—and the surprising part is that many of the things keeping it switched on are happening every day. Poor sleep, chronic stress, blood sugar spikes, visceral fat, and ultra-processed food can keep your immune system acting like it’s under constant threat, potentially contributing to everything from metabolic dysfunction and heart disease to arthritis and cognitive decline.

Here’s what I unpack in today’s episode:

• The hidden “inflammation switch” scientists are studying and why it may help explain how chronic inflammation drives aging and disease
• The everyday habits that can keep your immune system stuck in a constant state of alarm
• The surprising connection between mitochondrial health, visceral fat, blood sugar, and inflammation
• The most effective ways to help calm chronic inflammation and the simple daily shifts that may have the biggest impact

Inflammation isn’t the enemy—it’s one of your body’s most important survival tools. The problem is when the alarm never switches off. By changing the signals you send your immune system every day, you can help restore balance and support healthier aging from the inside out.

Resources:

• Track your metabolic health with Function Health: https://functionhealth.com/mark (Use code MARK2026 for $50 off your membership.)
• Have a question you’d love answered on Office Hours? Submit it here

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0:00 Inflammation, aging, and healing

3:15 Chronic inflammation triggers and their impact

5:15 Sleep, stress, and immune system health

8:17 Ultra processed foods, mitochondria, and inflammation

10:27 Visceral fat, immune activation, and practical steps for healthy aging