How to Reverse Aging and Live Younger: Lessons from Dr. Kavin Mistry

Introduction

Why are we getting sicker despite having more medical technology and information than ever before? In this episode of The True Form Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Kavin Mistry, a board-certified neuroradiologist, health speaker, and author of Primal Health Design: 7 Key Paradigms to Reverse Biological Age. Raised partly among the Hadza tribe in Tanzania and with over 25 years of medical experience, Dr. Mistry brings a unique blend of science and ancestral wisdom. Together, we explore why healthspan matters more than lifespan, how lifestyle can switch genes on or off, and the seven primal connections that can reverse aging. If you want to live younger, longer, this conversation is for you.

The Modern Health Paradox

Despite our medical advancements, rates of chronic disease, depression, and premature aging are rising. As a radiologist, Dr. Mistry often sees 30-year-olds with the brains and spines of people twice their age. He calls this the paradox of modernity: we have more knowledge, but worse outcomes.

Epigenetics and the Power of Choice

“You’re in the cockpit of your genome,” Dr. Mistry explains. Genes are not destiny, our choices decide which switches we flip on or off. He shares the story of identical twins, both predisposed to Alzheimer’s. One developed the disease at 62, the other at 83. A 20-year difference, shaped by lifestyle.

“You can’t control the cards you’re dealt genetically, but you can control how you play them.” - Dr. Kavin Mistry

 

The Seven Paradigms of Primal Health Design

Dr. Mistry’s book, Primal Health Design, distills his findings into seven key paradigms:

1. Connection with Earth – Natural rhythms, sunlight, grounding.

2. Connection with Body – Primal movement, strength, alignment.

3. Connection with Food – Anti-inflammatory, life-promoting eating.

4. Mind-Body Connection – Sleep, neuroplasticity, and mental clarity.

5. Connection with Purpose – Aligning with your ikigai (life’s calling).

6. Connection with Community – Meaningful relationships and tribe.

7. Connection with Legacy – The impact and contribution you leave behind.

These layers build outward: physical, mental, emotional, and finally spiritual health. Together, they create a blueprint for longevity.

Morning and Evening Routines

Dr. Mistry compares routines to a suspension bridge: if the anchors at the start and end of your day are strong, you can carry any load in between.

• Morning: His “Big 5 S’s” - Sun, Soil, Sleep, Spinal alignment, and Sattvik food. Practices like static hangs and deep squats restore primal alignment.

• Evening: Reduce blue light, calm cortisol with breathwork, and build “sleep pressure” with daily movement for deep, restorative rest.

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Health-span vs. Lifespan

Longevity isn’t just about adding years, it’s about adding quality. Too often, people mistake looking younger or thinner for being healthier. True vitality means keeping strength, energy, and clarity into your 80s and 90s, not just surviving.

“Living longer is meaningless if you’re not living better.” - Dr. Kavin Mistry

 

Listener’s Guide & Key Takeaways

• Start with the basics: sleep, food, movement.

• Lifestyle choices can extend your healthy years by decades.

• Align with your purpose to reduce stress and boost longevity.

• Anchor your day with morning and evening routines.

• Focus on healthspan, not just lifespan.

🎧 Want to go deeper?
Listen to the full conversation with Dr. Kavin Mistry on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Discover the seven primal connections that can help you live younger, longer.