When it comes to aging gracefully, we don’t buy into hype and neither does Elissa Goodman. The holistic nutritionist has helped thousands transform their health, and her no-nonsense approach to longevity cuts through the noise of fads and quick fixes. We trust Elissa because she makes longevity feel less like a mystery and more like a blueprint. Her five go-to habits aren’t about clinging to youth, they’re about optimizing your energy, clarity, and resilience so every stage of life feels stronger.

The 5 Longevity Habits Elissa Swears By

The future of graceful aging isn’t about quick fixes or outdated fads. It’s about giving your body what it truly needs at the cellular level: supporting repair, resilience, and renewal in ways that science is only beginning to uncover. Here are five of the most cutting-edge daily habits I recommend for aging with strength and vibrancy.

1. Harness the Power of Peptides

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act like messengers, telling your cells how to repair, regenerate, and perform better. They’re being studied for everything from skin elasticity to muscle recovery and cognitive health. Think of them as precise instructions for your body, helping it remember how to function in a more youthful state.

I recommend starting with BPC-157, GHK-Cu, and TB-500, three of the most promising peptides for graceful aging. These are often pre-mixed into one injection, which I’ve recently done twice and love for hair, skin, and whole-body repair. BPC-157 is known for its gut-healing and tissue-repairing abilities, GHK-Cu stimulates collagen and hair follicles, and TB-500 helps the body recover and regenerate at a cellular level. For longevity, Epitalon is usually done separately—it supports telomere protection and better sleep.

While peptide therapy should always be guided by a practitioner, even naturally boosting peptide signaling through protein intake, quality sleep, and recovery practices can help your body regenerate more effectively as you age.

2. Strengthen Your Cells with Fatty15

One of the most exciting and overlooked advances in longevity research has been the discovery of C15:0, the essential fatty acid found in fatty15. Why is this important? As we age, our cells gradually become weaker. Their membranes thin, their mitochondria (your body’s energy engines) falter, and the signals that tell your cells how to repair start to break down. This decline is at the root of nearly every aspect of aging from inflammation to fatigue to weaker immunity.

fatty15 goes straight to the foundation: your cells. Studies show that C15:0 strengthens fragile cell membranes (think of it like reinforcing the walls of your body’s billions of “tiny houses”), improves mitochondrial function so you can generate steady energy, and helps lower chronic inflammation. It also protects against oxidative stress, the “rusting” effect of time that accelerates aging from the inside out.

What makes it truly exciting is how unique C15:0 is compared to omega-3s. For years, omega-3s have been the go-to for healthy fats, but they’re considered conditionally essential, your body can sometimes make up for low intake. C15:0, on the other hand, is a true essential fatty acid: your body cannot produce it on its own, and modern diets don’t reliably provide enough. In fact, the foods that once contained meaningful amounts of C15:0—like whole-fat dairy—have been largely removed from the modern wellness diet in favor of low-fat alternatives. That means many of us are unknowingly running low on the very nutrient our cells need most to age well.

Adding fatty15 back into your daily routine helps fill that gap, giving your body a foundation of resilience, energy, and cellular strength that you can actually feel. This isn’t just about adding years to your life, it’s about adding life to your years.

3. Regulate Your Nervous System Like Your Life Depends on It (Because It Does)

If there’s one thing I see over and over in my clients, it’s that unresolved stress accelerates aging faster than anything else. When you’re stuck in fight-or-flight, digestion slows, hormones dysregulate, and cellular repair is put on hold.

Daily nervous system practices—like breathwork, meditation, sound therapy, or even simply pausing before meals—switch your body back into rest-and-digest mode. This isn’t about “self-care.” It’s about teaching your body that it’s safe enough to heal, which is the foundation of graceful aging.

4. Focus on Cellular Hydration

Drinking a couple glasses of water isn’t enough… If your cells can’t actually absorb it, you’re not truly hydrated. That’s where cellular hydration comes in—delivering water into cells alongside minerals and electrolytes.

Foods like cucumber, watermelon, and leafy greens naturally contain structured water plus the cofactors your body needs to drive hydration deeper. Pairing water with trace minerals or sipping on a hydrating green juice in the morning can dramatically improve your energy, digestion, and even the glow of your skin. Hydration at the cellular level is a pro-aging superpower.

5. Support Your Body’s Natural Collagen Production

Instead of relying solely on collagen powders, focus on giving your body the raw materials it needs to make its own. Collagen production depends on nutrients like vitamin C, silica, copper, zinc, and amino acids such as glycine and proline.

Dark leafy greens, citrus, pumpkin seeds, and beans are all collagen-supportive foods. Supporting your natural production means you’re not just patching things from the outside—you’re helping your body remember how to stay strong from within, which shows up in your skin, joints, and connective tissue.

Aging gracefully isn’t about turning back the clock. It’s about honoring the body’s natural intelligence and giving it what it needs to thrive through every stage of life. These habits are designed to strengthen that foundation, from nervous system balance to deep cellular repair. For anyone curious where to start, Elissa points to fatty15 as one of the most exciting advances in longevity science today. Interested in trying C:15:0 for yourself? We’ve teamed up with the fatty15 team to offer TCM readers an exclusive 20% off the 90-Day Starter Kit with subscription.

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health-related programs. This story is brought to you in partnership with fatty15. From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers.