Episode Summary: "Which Organ Is Secretly Aging You?"
The Dr. Josh Axe Show
Host: Dr. Josh Axe
Date: September 29, 2025
Brief Overview
In this episode, Dr. Josh Axe dives deep into the concept of organ age, revealing that different organs in our bodies may age at varying rates—and often, the premature aging of a single organ is the silent trigger behind chronic illness, disease, or even unexpected death. Drawing from personal experience, the latest science, functional and ancient medicine, and spiritual wisdom, Dr. Axe empowers listeners with strategies to test, identify, and reverse the biological aging of their most vulnerable organs via holistic and practical approaches.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Organ-Specific Aging vs. Chronological Aging
- Organ age ≠ chronological age: Dr. Axe emphasizes that your body can reflect different biological ages across various organs; for example, a fit 60-year-old may unknowingly have the heart of an 85-year-old.
- Testing for organ age: Modern bloodwork can reveal the biological age of the heart, brain, liver, thyroid, and other key systems.
- Critical insight: Most people develop serious illness due to one critically aged organ, not systemic breakdown.
2. Personal Stories & Motivation
- Dr. Axe shares family tragedies—his mother’s battle with cancer, his father-in-law’s sudden heart attack, and his own near-fatal spinal infection—that fueled his passion for studying and teaching organ-specific age reversal.
“There are many people out there, and men in particular, who they might look young and fit...but they might have a heart of a 100-year-old.” [02:32]
3. Stanford “Organ Age” Study
- Citing a major Stanford study:
- Having an older heart increases risk of heart failure by 250%.
- Older brain increases risk of dementia by 180%.
- Identifying and focusing on your “weakest link” is key for disease prevention.
4. Regeneration: The Body’s Remarkable Capacity
- Approximately 70% of our body regenerates every 7 years.
- Examples:
- Skin renews every 28 days.
- Liver regenerates every 8 weeks to 1 year.
- Gut lining renews roughly every 5 days.
"Your body has an incredible capacity to heal. We just have to get your thyroid and adrenals and gut...in an environment that can heal.” [11:00]
5. Ancient Wisdom & the “Three Treasures”
- Chinese medicine: Shen (spirit), Qi (energy), Jing (physical) correspond to spiritual, mental/emotional, and physical health, all necessary for true longevity.
- Integration of body, mind, and spirit: Healing must include the spiritual and emotional, not just the physical.
"One of the greatest things that's overlooked today in longevity medicine is taking care of your spiritual health and your emotional health.” [17:34]
6. Hallmarks and Cascade of Premature Aging
- Main causes: Disrupted circadian rhythms, chronic inflammation, toxic exposure, lack of sleep, stress, poor diet, emotional trauma.
- The “aging cascade”:
- Circadian disruption → microbiome imbalance → epigenetic triggers → oxidative stress → mitochondrial dysfunction → chronic inflammation → impaired cellular cleanup (autophagy) → “zombie cells” → stem cell exhaustion.
7. Psychological & Emotional Drivers
- Childhood trauma, loneliness, lack of purpose accelerate cellular aging and increase disease risk 2-3x.
- Emotional healing practices: Therapy, journaling, prayer, forgiveness, community, Sabbath rest.
“Unresolved stress ages your cells faster than time does.” [34:17]
8. Organ-Specific Signs, Foods, Supplements, & Practices
(See timestamps for each system.)
Heart (40:10)
- Signs: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatigue
- Foods: Omega-3 (salmon), beets, berries, pomegranate, olive oil
- Supplements/Herbs: CoQ10, magnesium, potassium, hawthorn, garlic
- Lifestyle: Cardio, walking, breathwork, meditation on peace
Brain (41:55)
- Signs: Brain fog, memory loss, insomnia
- Foods: Walnuts, coconut, blueberries, eggs, dark chocolate, avocado
- Supplements/Herbs: Ginkgo biloba, lion’s mane, magnesium threonate, DHA
- Practices: Learning new skills, deep rest, exposure to light
Liver (43:26)
- Signs: Hormonal imbalance, headaches, constipation, skin issues
- Foods: Cruciferous vegetables, citrus, beets, green apples, liver
- Supplements/Herbs: Dandelion, milk thistle, NAC, glutathione, turmeric
- Practices: Castor oil packs, infrared sauna, release of frustration
Gut Microbiome (46:12)
- Signs: Bloating, IBS, sensitivities, brain fog
- Foods: Bone broth, probiotic/fermented foods, prebiotic fiber, ginger
- Supplements: Probiotics, L-glutamine, digestive enzymes
- Practices: Mindful eating, bouncing (mini-trampoline), gardening, community
Kidneys & Adrenals (50:33)
- Signs: Low back pain, frequent urination, fatigue
- Foods: Celery, parsley, cranberries, cucumber, watermelon, sea salt, black rice, beans, chestnuts
- Supplements/Herbs: Cordyceps, reishi, astragalus, rhodiola, electrolytes
- Practices: Hydration, gentle movement, meditation on courage over fear
Thyroid (53:00)
- Signs: Cold extremities, thinning hair, fatigue, weight gain
- Foods: Seaweed, Brazil nuts, eggs, blueberries, organ meats, steamed veg
- Supplements/Herbs: Selenium, iodine, zinc, ashwagandha, forskolin, methylated B complex, probiotics
- Practices: Infrared light, circadian rhythm regulation, releasing people-pleasing
Lungs (54:45)
- Signs: Shallow breathing, frequent infections, low endurance
- Foods: Pears, onions, mushrooms, cauliflower, chicken broth, garlic
- Supplements/Herbs: NAC, astragalus, cordyceps, echinacea, vitamin C
- Practices: Breathwork, qigong, HIIT or water exercise, forgiveness work
Pancreas/Metabolism (56:22)
- Signs: Blood sugar swings, belly fat, post-meal fatigue
- Foods: Cinnamon, clean proteins, cooked vegetables, apples, berries, pumpkin
- Supplements/Herbs: Berberine, chromium, alpha-lipoic acid, fiber
- Practices: Lower-carb diet, movement after meals, strength training, structure/habits to address shame/guilt
9. Universal Cellular Healing Strategies
- Pomegranate & ellagic acid: Supports mitochondria, vital for reversing cellular aging (only ~30–40% convert effectively—pair pomegranates/raspberries/walnuts with probiotics and green tea for best conversion).
- Virtuous company, gratitude, Sabbath/scheduled rest, spiritual triathlon (gratitude, Bible reading, prayer/meditation) for deep healing across organ systems.
10. Testing & Personalization
- Organ age tests (simple at-home blood spot): Reveal which system needs the most urgent support—sometimes symptoms mislead.
“Most people develop disease because they have one organ or organ system that’s aging faster than the rest.” [03:55]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “If you want to learn how to reverse your age, 10 years, maybe even 20 years of specific organ systems, this is the key to healing.” [01:10] — Dr. Josh Axe
- “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” [20:43] — Quoting Proverbs 17:22
- “Your daily choices are either creating health or setting the stage for disease.” [29:22] — Dr. Josh Axe
- “Unresolved stress ages your cells faster than time does.” [34:17] — Dr. Josh Axe
- “The most important thing: you don’t have to accept premature aging… Your body has the capacity to heal when you do the right things.” [1:04:58] — Dr. Josh Axe
Important Timestamps
- 00:30 – Organ age vs. chronological age: Key concept introduction
- 02:32 – The hidden risk of organ-specific aging (Dr. Axe’s personal story)
- 07:56 – Stanford research & why early testing matters
- 11:00 – The necessity of the “right environment” for healing organs
- 17:34 – The ancient “Three Treasures” and healing the mind/spirit
- 24:34 – Cascade of premature aging: root causes and hallmarks
- 29:22 – Psychological/emotional factors: purpose, trauma, relationships
- 35:53 – Practical emotional/spiritual healing strategies
- 40:10 – Heart: signs, foods, supplements, spiritual practices
- 41:55 – Brain: key foods, supplements, and renewal habits
- 43:26 – Liver: signs, foods, detox aids
- 46:12 – Gut healing protocol
- 50:33 – Kidneys/adrenals: signs and supports
- 53:00 – Thyroid: top foods, nutrients, practices
- 54:45 – Lungs: nutritional and spiritual focus
- 56:22 – Pancreas/metabolism: dietary and habit shifts
- 1:00:25 – Pomegranate, ellagic acid & mitochondrial renewal
Takeaway
Dr. Axe’s message is rooted in hope and practical empowerment: By identifying your weakest organ system and making targeted, holistic changes at the cellular, lifestyle, and emotional level, you can dramatically reverse your biological age, sometimes by decades. Your body—and your spirit—can renew, with the right information and commitment.
For further learning, targeted resources, and at-home testing:
- Visit mybloodwork.com for organ age testing
- Resources for hormone and blood sugar reversal:
- draxehormoneclass.com
- draxediabetesclass.com
This summary captures the central advice, wisdom, and actionable insights shared throughout Dr. Josh Axe’s episode, offering practical guidance for listeners looking to address “secret aging” in their bodies—without needing to listen to the full hour-long show.