When we talk about health, we often focus on the absence of disease. But true wellness is more than that — it’s about how well we live each day.
For me, two big predictors stand out:
1. Emotional well-being (resilience, low stress, belonging)
2. Functional strength and mobility (pain-free movement, grip strength)
Recently, I did my Tru Age test — an epigenetic test that measures wellness biomarkers and longevity predictors. The results showed I’m aging slower than expected, which was encouraging! What really caught my attention was that the test also measures handgrip strength. As a tennis player, this fascinated me because grip strength is not only vital for my performance on the court but is also one of the strongest predictors of long-term health and survival (shown in research published in Scientific Reports in 2024).
Community is another powerful wellness predictor. Studies confirm that loneliness and isolation raise mortality risk, while people who stay socially connected live longer, healthier lives (PLOS ONE, 2023). It makes sense when you think of the “Blue Zones,” where people garden, move daily, and share meals with purpose well into their 90s and beyond.
Nutrition is the foundation. Standard guidelines like the DRIs give us useful baselines, but they were designed mainly to prevent deficiencies. With what we now know through nutrigenetics and functional nutrition, we can go further. For example, research from the Nurses’ Health Study (2024) found that higher midlife protein intake — especially from plants — is linked to healthier aging. And in pregnancy, ensuring iron and folate intake is critical for both mother and baby, helping reduce risks like anemia and neural tube defects.
This is why I believe the future of nutrition is personal. Our genes, our lifestyles, and even the communities we belong to all shape what “optimal” looks like for us individually. My own Tru Age test was a reminder that these insights are not abstract — they reflect me and my choices.
I’d love to know: if you could test just one wellness biomarker for yourself, what would it be? Grip strength? Stress levels? Something else?
Email mindbodyhayley@gmail.com to discover exactly how we can work together to personalise your wellness strategy. Grounded in data, driven by your goals, and tailored to help you thrive, not just survive.
