The science of aging is so infinitely fascinating that Dr. Sandra Kaufmann decided to immerse herself in the field, as a hobby. A pediatric anesthesiologist from Florida, Dr. Kaufmann, is also an athlete who manages to fit swimming, running and rock climbing around her busy hospital schedule.  Determined to enjoy physical activity for as long as possible, she decided to carry out an extensive review of the scientific literature, to better understand our bodies as we grow old.  She focussed on the mechanisms of aging at a cellular level and set out to sort fact from fiction when it comes to the substances or interventions that might help us age more slowly.  The result is, The Kaufmann Protocol: Why We Age and How to Stop It, a book in which she sets out seven key tenets to maintaining optimum health. In this LLAMA podcast conversation, with Peter Bowes, Dr Kaufmann  explains everything from the importance of mitochondrial health and the maintenance of metabolic pathways, to her live and let live attitude towards eating a donut a day. In this interview we cover:Setting the bar high to "overcome all aging"The most ornate out-of-control hobby anybody can haveA light-bulb moment having off a cliff. Is it selfish to focus on the science of 'stopping' aging?Becoming a human guinea pig to try to figure out why cells age. Nurturing the seven protocolsDebunking myths - or ideas behind grandma's remedies - about interventions to slow down the aging processJunk food, including a donut a day.  Really? Being an exercise junkieBiohacking: striving to improve what we are, but is the term realistic? Feeling like a teenager at 52This episode is brought to you in association with Clinique La Prairie, the award-winning spa-clinic - and pioneering health and wellness destination - nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva in Montreux, Switzerland. Combining preventative medicine with bespoke lifestyle and nutrition plans, Clinique La Prairie offers a holistic approach to living fuller, healthier and longer lives.The Live Long and Master Aging podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.Support the showThe Live Long and Master Aging (LLAMA) podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice. If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.