The Dr. Josh Axe Show

Episode: #1 Longevity Expert REVEALS Surprising Warning Signs You’re Aging Too Fast

Guest: Dr. Darshan Shah (Longevity Expert, Surgeon, Founder of NexHealth Clinics)
Host: Dr. Josh Axe
Date: December 11, 2025

Episode Overview

In this dynamic episode, Dr. Josh Axe sits down with Dr. Darshan Shah, a pioneering longevity expert and founder of NexHealth Clinics, to discuss the critical signs that you may be aging faster than you think—and what you can do to reverse the process. Covering everything from why our healthcare system fails at true health, to functional biomarkers, advanced therapies like plasma exchange and hyperbaric chambers, mitochondrial health, and the crucial interplay between emotional health and physical wellness, this episode offers an essential roadmap to optimizing both lifespan and healthspan.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The State of Health & Longevity in Modern Medicine

• "Sick Care vs. Health Care"

  • Dr. Shah critiques the current U.S. medical system as being focused on "sick care" rather than true health care.
    • "We've spent trillions of dollars creating the most advanced medical system... but that entire system was never really built to keep you healthy. It's a sick care system. It's not a health care system." (Dr. Shah, 00:30)
  • Many Americans live the last decades of life in poor health, with chronic diseases and loss of vitality. (01:15)

• Average Lifespan vs. Optimal Longevity

  • The Biblical and scientific notion that humans are designed for ~120 years, but lifestyle is cutting this short (01:07, 46:23).
  • "You can live to 120 years old, doing all the things you want to do and enjoy life. So the question was, why are we aging so fast?" (Dr. Shah, 01:32)

Personal Health Transformation: Dr. Shah’s Journey

• Dr. Shah shares his medical background and personal health crisis that led him from traditional surgery to functional medicine and health optimization.
  • "Despite having incredible training, I did not know how to get myself healthy... in eight months, got off ten different prescription medications." (Dr. Shah, 04:09, 05:01)

Blood Work & Biomarkers: Moving Beyond Outdated Testing

• Problems with Conventional Blood Panels

  • Most traditional tests (CBC, Chem 7) only indicate acute, severe issues—not early or functional health problems (06:21).
  • "They are zero to do with health... we want to catch stuff decades before you get diagnosed with a disease." (Dr. Shah, 06:21)

• Functional Biomarkers as Early Warning Signs

  • Dr. Shah and Dr. Axe agree on yearly, comprehensive biomarker testing, even for people in their 20s, to address issues before they become severe (06:21–07:32).

• Notable Example:

  • Dr. Axe’s experience with post-infection low B2 and mitochondrial dysfunction, and how a single micronutrient deficiency affected his energy (07:55).

Recommended Biomarkers (Full biomarker list at drshah.com/biomarkers)

1. Hemoglobin A1C (Metabolic health; aim for <5.2) (38:19, 39:52)
2. hs-CRP (Inflammation; keep as close to 0 as possible) (40:19, 42:03)
3. ApoB (Cardiovascular risk; aim for <100, <80 with plaque) (42:10)
4. Blood Pressure (Silent killer, measure quarterly by age 25) (43:25, 44:33)
5. Vitamin D and B12 (Nutrient status) (43:31)
6. Hormone Levels: Testosterone, TSH, T4, T3, Reverse T3 (43:57)

Addressing and Treating Deficiencies

• Vitamin & Nutrient Deficiencies

  • Chronic low levels (especially Vitamin D, B12, magnesium, selenium) lead to long-term disease.
    • "Symptoms like tiredness, brain fog, people ignore those for years...can lead to chronic disease so much quicker." (Dr. Shah, 09:39)

• Root Cause Functional Approach

  • Deficiency may reflect an absorption issue (e.g., liver or fat absorption affecting Vitamin D).
  • "Sometimes it's just you're not taking enough vitamin D, but sometimes it's a liver issue... that's where having a good practitioner is so valuable." (Dr. Axe, 09:45)

Advanced Therapies: Out-of-Hospital Innovations

Plasma Exchange

• What it is:
  • FDA-approved since 1970 for acute situations but now used for chronic conditions outside hospitals. Functions like an "oil change" for your blood by filtering toxins from plasma (12:34).
• Applications:
  • Chronic infections, mold toxicity, autoimmune diseases.
  • "In your plasma, you have inflammatory cytokines, toxins... all of that stuff lives in your plasma... this treatment is doing, it gives your body a break." (Dr. Shah, 13:14)
• Real-World Results:
  • Effective for those with mold, Lyme, and complex co-infections.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

• Barriers in Traditional Medicine:
  • Historically restricted to rare hospital use; Dr. Shah has integrated them into clinics.
  • Accelerates post-surgical healing, reduces time on antibiotics, aids chronic infections, brain trauma, and more (15:38–16:48).
• Mechanisms:
  1. Increases oxygen delivery to tissues
  2. Creates beneficial oxidative stress for mitochondrial reset (17:19)
  3. Extra oxygen delivery via mask or cannula
• Quote:
  • "Hyperbaric chambers to me are one of those things that just almost everybody can benefit from." (Dr. Axe, 16:48)
  • "Oxygen exchange is absolutely critical in getting more oxygen in the cell. And so hyperbaric chamber is really great for that as well." (Dr. Axe, 18:32)

Ozone Therapy

• Upgraded methods like EBOO and 10-pass expose more blood to ozone, targeting chronic infections by directly killing pathogens (19:13–20:07).
• "You really need to ease your body into it or the reaction is severe." (Dr. Axe, 20:07)
• Emphasize supervision and gradual escalation to avoid Herxheimer reactions (die-off symptoms).

Precision Approaches to Common Conditions

Hypothyroidism/Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (21:03)

• Overactive immune system and inflammation are key targets.
• Focus on anti-inflammatory diets, often excluding gluten/dairy, and comprehensive food sensitivity testing (wheat/dairy zoomer).
• Plasma exchange and hyperbaric therapy can also be helpful adjuncts.

Low Testosterone in Men (22:20)

• Holistic approach: Strength training, sleep, stress management, avoiding processed food, Vitamin D, adaptogens like ashwagandha.
• Quarterly biomarker checks; only pursue replacement (injections, pellets, enclomiphene) if optimization fails (24:57).
• "Not only will you feel better, but you're going to prevent chronic disease." (Dr. Shah, 24:57)
• Cautions against clinics giving hormones without a systems-based, monitored approach.

Mitochondrial Health: The Longevity Engine

• Why They Matter:
  • "Mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells... core reasons that we age, why we're not feeling good." (Dr. Shah, 28:12)
• Indicators of Dysfunction:
  • Fatigue, brain fog, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome (32:36).
• Lifestyle Boosters:
  • Short bursts of physiological stresses (HIIT, sauna/cold plunge), strength training, proper nutrient status, and regulating stress via breathwork (32:46–36:43).
  • "Your mitochondria actually like little bursts of stress, not psychological but physiological." (Dr. Shah, 32:46)
  • Women and people with thyroid/temperature issues should cautiously individualize cold exposure protocols (34:52).

The Four Most Common Causes of Accelerated Aging (47:53)

1. Sedentary Lifestyle
   • "We are made to walk... 8,000 steps a day... to prevent mortality from being sedentary." (Dr. Shah, 48:13)
2. Circadian Rhythm Disruption
   • Artificial light, indoor life, shift work
3. Toxic Exposures
   • "150,000 toxins we were never exposed to 80 years ago." (Dr. Shah, 48:46)
4. Unresolved Emotional Stress & Trauma
   • Chronic sympathetic overdrive and trauma as "toxins" (49:32, 52:44).

Emotional & Spiritual Health: The Overlooked Pillar

• Central Role of Emotional Trauma & Regulation
  • Nearly every serious chronic illness case involves unresolved trauma.
  • "I look at trauma as a toxin." (Dr. Shah, 52:44)
• Healing Requires Moving Beyond Victimhood
  • Burying or wallowing in trauma is ineffective; must process and move beyond (53:05).
• Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence
  • Critical to longevity and healing ("the pause" between emotion and reaction; Internal Family Systems, pausing and reflecting) (54:38–56:11).
• "The spiritual, emotional, physical—they're not separate. They're all one." (Dr. Axe, 50:42)

Advanced & Emerging Therapies

Stem Cells

• Regulations easing in certain states; responsible use and scientific vetting are key (57:27).

Peptides

• Biologically natural signal molecules, not just “another pharmaceutical.” Should always be monitored and paired with root-cause investigation (57:27–58:45).
• Examples:
  • GLP-1 Agonists (tirzepatide): For weight loss, metabolic improvement, potential autoimmune modulation. Must avoid rapid excessive weight loss to prevent muscle loss; prioritize resistance training and adequate protein (58:47–62:28).
  • BPC-157: Tissue healing and possible other benefits (62:39)
  • TB500: Immune system support, may slow immunosenescence (63:01)
  • Growth Hormone Secretagogues: Used sparingly in deficient individuals (63:28)
• Patients must avoid online self-experimentation and seek skilled practitioners.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We've spent trillions of dollars creating the most advanced medical system in the world, but that entire system was never really built to keep you healthy. It's a sick care system. It's not a health care system."
  (Dr. Darshan Shah, 00:30)

• "Symptoms like tiredness, brain fog—people ignore those for years...that ignoring the symptoms can lead to chronic disease so much quicker."
  (Dr. Darshan Shah, 09:39)

• "It's like an oil change for your body."
  (Dr. Darshan Shah, on plasma exchange, 13:14)

• "Oxygen exchange is absolutely critical in getting more oxygen in the cell."
  (Dr. Josh Axe, on hyperbaric chambers, 18:32)

• "If you're doing [hormone therapy] without the big picture context of what's going on in your overall biology...you're not doing yourself any favors."
  (Dr. Darshan Shah, 27:26)

• "Mitochondria are the closest thing we have to Qi in the body."
  (Dr. Josh Axe, 31:30)

• "I look at trauma as a toxin...just like pfas, it's a toxin in our physiology. And you gotta do something about it."
  (Dr. Darshan Shah, 52:44)

• "The future of medicine is bright—just stay healthy and stay alive long enough to see what's coming."
  (Dr. Darshan Shah, 56:52)

Key Timestamps

• 00:30–01:32: Dr. Shah critiques modern medicine and discusses lifespan vs. healthspan
• 03:31–05:38: Dr. Shah’s transformation story, founding of NexHealth
• 06:21–07:32: Flaws in conventional blood work and the value of advanced biomarkers
• 12:34–15:38: Plasma exchange and chronic infection therapy
• 15:38–18:00: Hyperbaric chambers and bringing advanced therapies to the public
• 19:13–20:52: Ozone therapy and clinical cautions
• 21:03–22:17: Protocols for Hashimoto’s, dietary eliminations, and autoimmune conditions
• 27:52–30:31: Foundational role of mitochondria, acceleration of aging
• 31:30–34:52: How to boost mitochondrial health; stress, exercise, hormesis
• 38:00–46:33: The Dr. Shah Top 10 Biomarkers and daily habits for longevity
• 47:53–49:32: Four modern causes of rapid aging
• 49:32–56:11: Emotional health, trauma, and their impact on longevity and physiology
• 56:52–64:33: Stem cells, peptides, new therapies in longevity medicine

Where to Find Dr. Darshan Shah

• Website: drshah.com (biomarker guide available)
• Instagram: @arshanshahmd
• Clinics: next-health.com
• Podcast: Extend (Dr. Josh Axe to be a guest soon)

Takeaways

Dr. Axe and Dr. Shah urge listeners to:

• Challenge the status quo of “sick care.”
• Be proactive about functional testing and build a partnership with skilled practitioners.
• Address deficiencies and optimize organ function before advanced aging takes hold.
• Use modern and ancient tools—movement, sleep, emotional regulation, and emerging therapies—to add life to their years, not just years to their life.

"The future of medicine is bright—and the best way to benefit from it is to stay healthy long enough to see what's coming."
(Dr. Darshan Shah, 56:52)

This summary captures the heart of the conversation and the practical, empowering tone that defines both Dr. Axe and Dr. Shah's approach to true health and longevity.