He is 79 and thriving: Student of two-time Nobel laureate reveals 4 daily habits that could add years to your life

At 79, Jeffrey Bland isn't just a survivor of time—he's a torchbearer of a healthier, wiser way of living. Widely celebrated as the “father of functional medicine,” Bland has spent decades asking a deceptively simple but revolutionary question: Can healthcare shift its gaze from treating disease to preventing it altogether?

It’s a philosophy rooted in his time under the mentorship of two-time Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling, during his tenure at the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine in the 1980s. That foundational experience led to the co-founding of the Institute for Functional Medicine in 1991 with his wife, Susan, and later, the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute. Now, at nearly eight decades of life, Bland not only continues to shape the future of medicine—he lives its ideals every single day.

Health Begins with Self-Worth
For Bland, health isn’t just physical—it begins in the mind. “I think you need to start off each day believing that you’re worthy of good health,” he told CNBC Make It in a feature highlighting his daily habits. This small but mighty shift in mindset is what he considers the foundation of longevity. “To wake up and say you’re grateful for another day—that sets the context for everything that follows.”

An Hour a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Bland dedicates at least one hour daily to physical activity. Whether it’s run-walking, aerobic exercises, or using the Pilates reformer with his wife, movement is non-negotiable. “It doesn’t have to be extreme,” he says, “but it does need to be intentional.”

He also advocates keeping a health journal—a simple but powerful tool to track what works best for your body. From meal choices to exercise routines and sleep patterns, monitoring personal trends can offer insight into sustaining energy and health over time.

Eat the Rainbow, Literally
One of Bland’s strongest dietary principles is colour. Not in plating aesthetics—but in nutritional value. “Colourful fruits and vegetables are rich in phytonutrients,” he explains. These natural compounds, which give foods their vibrant hues, are linked to reduced risks of chronic illnesses including heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline.

From crimson strawberries to deep-green kale, Bland's meals are nature’s palette, designed not just for satisfaction but for cellular health.

Unwind with Intention
Work never ends—but Bland believes how we close our days is crucial. He commits one hour before bedtime to “meditating relaxation.” For him, that usually means recreational reading—preferably books about nature or adventure, far from the day’s technical literature.

“I don’t go to sleep thinking about that last email,” he says. Instead, he chooses mental stillness—a pause from constant cognitive load, and a signal to the body that it’s time to rest and restore.

Live Beyond Yourself
Perhaps the most moving element of Bland’s approach to health is his unwavering sense of purpose. Functional medicine, for him, is not just a profession—it’s a calling. Whether through research, spirituality, or giving back, he stresses the importance of finding something that connects you to a greater cause.

“It’s about recognising that you are part of a much broader system,” he says. “Whatever you contribute is always going to be there.”

In a world obsessed with shortcuts and biohacks, Jeffrey Bland offers a quieter, more profound path to well-being. It's not about chasing youth, but cultivating habits that honour the body, stimulate the mind, and feed the soul.

And at 79, the student of a Nobel laureate proves that true health isn’t achieved through gimmicks—but through gratitude, movement, nourishment, and a purpose that lives beyond the self.