How To Support Your Immunity, Reduce Inflammation & Age Better with Dr Jenna Macciochi #648

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Alternative Health, Medicine, Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.7 • 11.7K Ratings

🗓️ 14 April 2026

⏱️ 123 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Most of us only think about our immune system when we're ill. But what if it's actually the single most important system shaping your health and longevity? In this episode, Dr Jenna Macciochi makes a powerful case for rethinking immunity. It’s not just a defence mechanism you call on to fight a cold. It’s your body's wellness system, quietly influencing everything from your mood and metabolism to your risk of heart disease, dementia and cancer. Jenna is one of the UK's leading immunologists and a bestselling author. Her latest book, Immune to Age: The Game-Changing Science of Lifetime Health, explores the deep connection between our immune system, how we live, and how well we age. Jenna combines robust science and personal honesty in everything she does and this, her second conversation for the podcast, is no exception. Jenna explains what the immune system actually is, what it does, and why ‘boosting’ it isn’t something you want to do on a regular basis. We explore the link between chronic stress and inflammation. And we discuss how your thoughts, relationships and daily habits are constantly sending signals to your immune system that either help or hinder it. She also reveals why midlife is a genuine biological turning point. It’s the moment when genes that protected you in the first half of life start working against you, with consequences for your gut health, bone density and long-term wellbeing. But if that sounds bleak, Jenna also shares plenty of practical advice, learned from the personal upheavals that shaped her fantastic book. From leaving a misaligned marriage and job, to discovering meditation, self-compassion – and jiu-jitsu! – she transformed not just her thinking but her nervous system, too. And I love her perceptive view that the current obsession with lifespan is missing something fundamental about living well: your soulspan. Whether you're in midlife and noticing changes in your body, or you simply want to learn about the incredible wellness system driving your long-term health, this is one episode you’ll want to bookmark. Fill out our audience survey via https://drchatterjee.com/survey Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Thanks to our sponsors: https://vivobarefoot.com/livemore https://drinkag1.com/livemore Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/648 DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Transcript

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0:00.0	The nervous system and the immune system are completely integrated.
0:04.5	So if we're stressed every day, your immune system is primed for inflammation,
0:08.9	which is then causing more wear and tear on our bodies and ultimately is feeding into chronic diseases.
0:15.5	But if we start to consider how the immune system plays a role in driving these conditions,
0:22.6	then we can start to get ahead of what is probably the biggest health crisis that we have.
0:28.0	Hey guys, how you doing? I hope you're having a good week so far. My name is Dr. Rongan Chatterjee,
0:34.2	and this is my podcast, Feel Better, Live More.
0:40.5	I believe that today's conversation will transform the way you think about your immune system.
0:47.5	What it really does, why it matters, and what we could all be doing to support it.
0:53.7	My guest is Dr. Jenna Machoki, one of the UK's leading immunologist and someone whose work
1:00.3	I've admired for years.
1:02.7	Since Jenna was last on my show back in 2020, she's been through some significant life
1:09.0	changes and that depth of experience is woven beautifully into her latest book, Immune to Age.
1:17.6	Now, you might think it's strange to focus on the immune system,
1:21.6	just as we're coming out of cold and flu season.
1:25.6	But that's the thing that most of us get wrong.
1:28.3	We think immunity is just about fighting infections.
1:32.3	In fact, as Jenna reveals, the immune system is a key player
1:38.3	in how we age, how much energy we have, and whether we develop chronic disease.
1:45.0	Jenna calls it our wellness system, and once you hear why,
1:49.0	you won't think about your longevity in quite the same way.
1:54.0	Jenna gives one of the clearest breakdowns I've heard of how stress works in the body.
	...

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