Have you ever met someone who just radiates health? Not the gym-bro kind of energy, but that quiet, deep vitality that makes you think, “Yeah, this person is going to live forever—and enjoy every minute of it.”
I recently came across a doctor in Switzerland who fits that description perfectly. At 58, he looks fifteen years younger, moves with ease, and—here’s the kicker—has spent the last fifteen years obsessively studying how to extend not just lifespan, but healthspan: those extra years when you’re still sharp, strong, and genuinely happy to be alive.
What struck me most? His approach is refreshingly human. No calorie-counting, no forbidden food lists taped to the fridge, no two-hour workouts. Just a handful of flexible principles he actually enjoys following most days. And honestly? They make a lot of sense.
The Doctor Who Refuses to Call Anything a “Diet”
Let’s start with the part everyone obsesses over: food.
Forget keto, carnivore, vegan, or whatever trend is blowing up this week. This doctor’s take is almost rebellious in its simplicity: there is no universally healthy diet. What matters far more than the macronutrient ratio on your plate is the quality of the food and—perhaps surprisingly—how much pleasure you get from eating it.
“I personally think there is no healthy diet. The most important thing is the source of the food and the love you put into preparing it.”
That quote stopped me in my tracks. In a world of food tribes and Instagram nutritionists shaming each other, hearing a longevity specialist say “eat what feels good and is high quality” felt… liberating.
His Actual (Very Unstrict) Food Rules
Here’s what his day-to-day eating actually looks like—no dogma attached:
- Protein and healthy fats take center stage — grass-fed beef from local Swiss farms, mountains of eggs (he loves the lecithin for brain health), aged cheeses, full-fat yogurt.
- Carbs are dialed way back, especially anything fast-acting. When he does eat bread, it’s dense, dark, sourdough-style—not the fluffy white stuff.
- Seasonal and local whenever possible. No imported strawberries in December. If it’s not growing nearby right now, it’s probably not on his plate.
- Pleasure is non-negotiable. If he doesn’t enjoy it, it doesn’t go in his mouth—science be damned.
- Cooking with good energy matters. He genuinely believes food prepared when you’re stressed or angry carries that vibration. (I know, I know—sounds a little woo. But after trying it, I kinda get it.)
Perhaps the most interesting twist? He uses a special sugar called galactose as a “therapeutic carbohydrate.” It gives his cells (especially brain cells) energy without spiking insulin. Nerdy, yes. But also fascinating.
Movement That Doesn’t Feel Like Punishment
Like many doctors, he sits way too much. His solution isn’t grinding away on a treadmill—he hates that.
Instead, three times a week he hops on a Power Plate (that vibrating platform you see in fancy gyms) for 10–12 minutes of high-intensity whole-body vibration training. That’s literally it. No hour-long suffering required.
Why bother? Because muscle mass is one of the strongest predictors of living longer and better. And this method tricks his body into thinking he just did a serious workout. Sneaky and effective.
The Mitochondria Obsession (And Why You Should Care)
If you’ve never heard doctors geek out about mitochondria, buckle up. These are the tiny power plants inside every cell—and when they start failing, aging accelerates.
His daily routine includes targeted supplements (not random multivitamins) to keep those power plants humming. Omega-3s, specialized antioxidants, galactose again—whatever testing shows his personal mitochondria need this month.
It’s hyper-individualized, which is probably why most of us will never do it exactly like him. But the principle is gold: pay attention to energy at the cellular level, not just the macroscopic “eat less, move more” advice.
Brain Health: The Non-Meditator’s Approach
Everyone and their yoga teacher will tell you to meditate. He openly admits: “I’m not a meditation person.” Instead, he does short breathing breaks throughout the day—three to four minutes of slow, deliberate breathing to calm his nervous system.
He also protects his brain with food: egg yolks (lecithin), fatty fish, that galactose trick again. And every single day he carves out ten minutes of pure joy—reading something completely unrelated to medicine, often funny or philosophical.
Ten minutes. That’s all. But it’s non-negotiable “happy time.” I tried it for a week and yeah… it works.
The Tibetan Proverb He Lives By
“Eat half, walk double, laugh triple, and love without measure.”
— Ancient Tibetan wisdom he quotes constantly
He laughs every single day—on purpose. He spends at least 15–20 minutes connecting with friends or family. Not hours, just consistent, high-quality human moments. And he consciously limits negative news consumption.
Science backs this up: strong social ties are one of the few universal predictors of longevity across every population studied. Loneliness kills faster than obesity.
Putting It All Together: A Day in His Life
Wake up without an alarm when possible. Slow breakfast with eggs, cheese, seasonal fruit, maybe some dark bread. Coffee or tea, no rush.
Work—mostly sitting, helping patients. Short breathing breaks when stress creeps in.
Midday meal: high-quality protein and vegetables cooked with care. Maybe a square of 85% chocolate because life is too short for bad chocolate.
Late afternoon: 10–12 minutes on the Power Plate, three days a week.
Evening: light dinner, time with loved ones, laughter, maybe a glass of red wine (Swiss, obviously). Ten minutes of joyful reading. Early to bed.
No day is perfect. Some days he eats cake. Some days he skips the vibration plate. But most days, the core habits are there—flexible, enjoyable, sustainable.
The Takeaway Most People Miss
Longevity isn’t about perfection or deprivation. It’s about consistently choosing things that make you feel alive—good food that delights you, movement that doesn’t feel like torture, relationships that light you up, and enough joy to drown out the background noise of modern life.
Or, in his words: enjoy life, love without measure, and let the rest follow.
Honestly? I’m stealing that.
