A Long, Healthy Life: Nobel Prize Winner Venki Ramakrishnan’s Three Ingredients—And My Hack

Venki Ramakrishnan, Nobel Prize winner, emphasizes that while there is significant money flowing into anti-aging pills and therapies—often driven by aging billionaires—the scientific research behind these efforts remains underwhelming. Despite grand promises, there is no miracle cure for aging. In fact, many methods aimed at reversing cellular aging come with dangerous side effects, like promoting cancer. The reality is that aging is a complex, natural process, and there’s no simple solution to stop it—aside from the undesirable alternative of dying young.

However, Ramakrishnan does highlight three simple yet powerful actions that can genuinely contribute to a longer, healthier life: sleep more, avoid stress, and exercise regularly.

On the surface, these seem easy enough to follow. Yet for most people, achieving these three things can be a challenge. Stress—whether positive or negative—is not something we can always control. High stress levels often disrupt our sleep, and a lack of sleep makes regular exercise harder to maintain, leading to a cycle of exhaustion.

My hack? Start with exercise. Unlike sleep and stress, exercise is something you can control directly. The benefits of physical activity extend beyond fitness; it also helps reduce stress levels, which in turn improves sleep quality. Better sleep makes it easier to exercise consistently, creating a positive, self-sustaining cycle.

What’s your hack for trying living a long, healthy life?