Longevity Essentials

This time of the year brings a season of happiness and joy, a treasured moment for families to reunite, for gratitude to be shared, and for the year’s journey to be celebrated with laughter, parties, and the giving of gifts. We all wish that this magical time could last forever. We all hope to repeat these cherished moments, year after year, for many more seasons ahead. 

Inspired by this spirit, Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read has chosen to devote her final newsletter of the year to the theme of longevity.

When patients are asked what longevity truly means to them, a few common answers come up again and again:

  • “I want to be healthy when my grandkids graduate from college.”

  • “I want to stay as active as I am now—and certainly not end up in a wheelchair.”

  • “I want to keep my mind sharp. I’m afraid of losing my memory.”

As Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read often explains, these answers reveal something important: most people simply do not just wish for a longer life. They are wishing for optimal life in the years ahead. Longevity, in her view, is not measured by the number of candles on a birthday cake, but by the quality of each year we are blessed to live.

 From her perspective, longevity is about maintaining VITALITY—preserving physical strength, cognitive clarity, emotional balance, and independence for as long as possible. It is about being able to travel, play with grandchildren, pursue passions, stay connected socially, and remain an active participant in one’s own life.

At this point, Dr. Fradin-Read likes to quote a friend of hers—an undeniably brilliant physician, though one famously known for his terrible bedside manners. He used to tell his patients half-jokingly and half-seriously:
“Anyway, we will all die one day—either from pneumonia, or from complications after a hip fracture. And if we manage to escape those, we’ll live long enough to become demented!”

Of course, Dr. Fradin-Read shares this quote not because she agrees with its bleak outlook, but because it perfectly illustrates how outdated and limited traditional views of aging once were. And yet, in his own blunt way, this physician was also pointing to the key risks that threaten us as we get older—risks that remain central to the work of modern preventive longevity medicine.

He was, without fully realizing it, highlighting the three main goals of healthy aging:

  • Keeping our immunity strong

  • Keeping our mobility optimal

  • Keeping our brain functioning well

Today, Dr. Fradin-Read emphasizes that these goals are not only achievable, but essential. Modern longevity medicine focuses precisely on supporting the immune system, preserving movement, and protecting cognitive health—so that aging becomes a process of maintaining vitality, not losing it fighting diseases.

Keeping Our Immunity Strong

As the winter season rages on, the importance of strengthening our immune system becomes especially clear. This newsletter will focus on this first section of our topic, “Longevity Essentials”. We will explore the equally important subject of brain health in detail in a new newsletter next year.

As Dr. Fradin-Read often reminds her patients, our immune system naturally becomes less efficient over time—a process called immunosenescence. But the good news is that many powerful lifestyle strategies and the addition of appropriate supplements and peptides can slow this process and keep our defenses resilient for years.

Lifestyle Optimization

Here are the most important lifestyle pillars of a strong immune system:

1. Prioritize Restorative Sleep

Quality sleep is one of the most potent immune boosters. During deep sleep, the body repairs tissues, regulates inflammation, and produces immune cells.
Most adults need 7–9 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

If needed, natural supplements can help support restful sleep. Dr. Fradin Read’s sleep cocktail has helped many of her patients improve their sleep so far and she uses it every night herself. This includes:

  • Cortisol Calm is an interesting formula of adaptogens regulating the production of cortisol that wakes us up in the middle of the night

  • L-theanine is a natural amino acid found in tea leaves that promotes relaxation and supports restful sleep without causing drowsiness during the day. It helps calm the nervous system, reduces stress, and can improve sleep quality, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

  • Melatonin: the hormone produced by the body, helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle and supports the body in falling asleep at the right time.

Please note that the recent study linking the use of melatonin to increasing risk of heart disease was an “association” not a “causation”- meaning that people who do not sleep well have higher risk of heart disease, they also often take melatonin for sleep, but it is not melatonin that causes the heart issues. 

Certain peptides have shown promising results in improving sleep quality and supporting the body’s natural restorative processes. These peptides can help regulate sleep patterns, enhance deep and REM sleep, and promote overall recovery, making them a valuable addition for those looking to optimize restorative sleep and support longevity. The good news is that Pinealon and Epitalon will soon be available again for our patients  as Dr Fradin -Read was able to get them from a new source in Europe. 

2. Nourish the Body with Anti-Inflammatory Foods

A nutrient-dense diet strengthens immunity from within. Eat plenty of colorful vegetables and fruits (rich in antioxidants), high-quality proteins, healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, avocados, omega-3s), fermented foods to support the gut microbiome/The gut and the immune system are deeply connected, supporting one strengthens the other.

Avoid excess sugar, as it can temporarily “paralyze” white blood cells and weaken your immune response, reducing your body’s ability to fight off infections.

3. Stay Physically Active

Regular movement improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and enhances immune surveillance. Even 30 minutes a day of walking, strength training, or gentle cardio can make a measurable difference.

4. Manage Stress Effectively

Many people do not realize that chronic stress has a major impact on the immune system, suppressing its ability to defend the body effectively. Finding ways to regulate your nervous system is key—whether through meditation, yoga, deep breathing, or simply spending time in nature. Even just a few minutes each day can have a powerful effect in preserving and strengthening your immune system.

5. Keep Your Body at Healthy Weight

Both excess weight and extreme thinness weaken immunity. A balanced body composition supports hormonal balance and optimal immune responses.

A microdose of the new GLP-1 medications once weekly may be helpful in managing cravings during the holiday season, especially given the abundance of tempting foods that are typically available at this time of year.

6. Support Hormonal Balance

Interestingly, hormones play a critical role in regulating the immune system, influencing inflammation, energy levels, tissue repair, and overall resilience to illness. Key examples include:

  • Cortisol and DHEA: Cortisol, often called the “stress hormone,” helps control inflammation, while DHEA supports immune regulation and resilience as we age. Together, they help modulate the body’s response to stress and protect overall health.

  • Thyroid hormones: These hormones regulate metabolism, which directly affects immune function, energy levels, and the body’s ability to repair tissues. Proper thyroid balance is essential for maintaining vitality and resistance to illness.

  • Estrogen and progesterone: These sex hormones influence inflammatory responses and have protective effects on certain tissues, helping to regulate immunity and maintain overall physiological balance.

  • Testosterone: Beyond its role in muscle and bone health, testosterone also contributes to immune regulation, helping preserve strength, resilience, and overall vitality as we getolder.

As we age, hormone levels naturally decline or fluctuate, which can weaken immune defenses, slow recovery, and increase vulnerability to infections or chronic inflammation.

 By maintaining hormonal health, we not only support the immune system but also enhance energy, mobility, cognition, and quality of life, all key pillars of longevity.

Vitamins, Supplements and Peptides for Immune System 

Besides working on essential lifestyle changes, adding targeted vitamins, supplements, and specific peptides that support the immune system can truly help you stay healthy and resilient throughout the year.

Dr. Fradin Read recommends a list of products whose nutrients play a critical role in immune function. Among them are:  

  • Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins for immune health. It helps activate key immune cells that fight viruses and bacteria, and low levels of vitamin D have been linked to increased susceptibility to infections, fatigue, and inflammation. Many people are deficient in vitamin D due to limited sun exposure —especially during the winter months—and use of sunscreen in Summer. Maintaining optimal levels can significantly strengthen immune defenses. This can be achieved through a large dose taken on a weekly basis or a smaller daily dose . 

  • Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that plays a central role in strengthening the immune system. It supports the production and function of white blood cells, helps reduce inflammation, and protects cells from oxidative stress. Our patients love our chewable vitamin C, which is an easy, highly absorbable formula and convenient option for daily maintenance, especially during cold and flu season.

For those needing a stronger boost—such as during periods of high stress, travel, seasonal illness, or recovery—IV vitamin C can deliver much higher concentrations directly into the bloodstream, offering enhanced immune support and faster replenishment of the body’s stores. Both forms can be valuable tools to help maintain resilience and overall vitality.

  • Our best-seller, chewable ImmunoDMG with Elderberry, has been a trusted support for many of our patients over the years and has yet to be replaced by any other formula. It can be used preventatively by the whole family—take one tablet daily in the morning, and up to two tablets twice daily in case of sickness. Its advanced nutritional formula combining DMG, Maitake Mushroom Extract and potent anti-inflammatory agents such as Larch Tree Arabinogalactan and Beta Glucans offer a synergistic action to strengthen the immune system. The fact that it is chewable allows the ingredients to act locally in the mouth, where they can support IgA (immunoglobulin A)—the body’s first line of immune defense—long before the production of IgG is stimulated in the bloodstream. This local action, delivered through a great-tasting chewable tablet, gives ImmunoDMG an added advantage in supporting early immune protection.

  •  Glutathione is one of the body’s most powerful antioxidants and a key player in detoxification and cellular protection. It helps neutralize free radicals, reduces inflammation, and strengthens the function of immune cells—especially during times of stress or illness. Because glutathione levels naturally decline with age, supplementation (oral, liposomal, or IV) can provide valuable support for overall immunity, energy, and longevity.

  • Colostrum is rich in immune-enhancing compounds such as antibodies, growth factors, and immune-modulating peptides. One of its most important components is IgG, which helps fight pathogens and supports a healthy gut—an essential part of a strong immune system. Colostrum can help strengthen the body’s defenses, support gut integrity, and enhance resilience against infections, making it an excellent addition to a comprehensive immune-support strategy.

  •  And finally, peptides can be one of the most effective additions to support and strengthen immune defenses. They work by helping regulate immune activity, enhancing resilience, and supporting the body’s natural protective mechanisms. Two of the most notable peptides for immune support are :

• Thymulin is a naturally occurring peptide hormone produced by the thymus gland, an organ essential for the development and regulation of the immune system. Thymulin plays a role in the maturation and activity of T-cells—the immune cells responsible for identifying and destroying harmful pathogens. As we age and the thymus function naturally declines, thymulin levels helps restore overall immune balance and improves a good immune readiness to respond to infections.  Dr Fradin-Read herself takes the little subcutaneous of this peptide on a daily basis and has been staying healthy for years.  

• Thymosin Alpha-1 is a small synthetic peptide originally derived from a mixture extracted from the thymus gland itself. It helps modulate and even promotes the overall response to pathogens, helping the body defend itself appropriately against infections. It will be given to patients suffering from acute diseases or repetitive chronic infections. 

Together, these two peptides reflect two complementary aspects of thymus-related immune support—one helping the immune system stay balanced and well-regulated., the other helping it respond appropriately to infections.

Many physicians used to believe that physical decline, frailty, immunosenescence were inevitable consequences of getting older—a future to accept rather than prevent.

Today, however, Dr. Fradin-Read emphasizes that science tells a very different story. Our understanding of aging has evolved dramatically. With the right lifestyle choices, preventive care, and medical support, it is possible to reduce the number of fatal acute infections and the risk of developing chronic diseases, allowing us to enjoy decades of healthy, independent living. 

She likes to remind us of how far we have come—and how empowering it can be to replace fatalistic thinking with proactive, informed longevity strategies.


Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read and her team at VitaLife-MD wish you

A Wonderful Holiday Season and a Healthy and Happy 2026!

Dominique Fradin-Read