‘At 62, I refuse to accept the terms of “aging” and “old”’, says Jerk Langer MD

‘At 62 years old, I refuse to accept the terms "aging" and "old" and will not let age define me. Like many people, I feel younger than my biological age, and I work hard to maintain my physical fitness, mobility, flexibility, and mental sharpness⁽¹⁾. To achieve these goals, I focus on maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, and incorporating selected supplements, like collagen peptides, in my diet.’

‘Throughout my running journey, which includes completing over 400 marathons, I have had various injuries. One particular instance involved a severely worn-down posterior tibial muscle tendon, which is responsible for pulling the foot sole inward. The tendon eventually ruptured completely, leaving me concerned that I might have to give up running altogether.

‘However, since the tendon sheath remained intact, I focused on transforming the ruptured tendon into a dense, fibrous connective tissue that could provide support to my foot and prevent flatfoot. I started supplementing with collagen peptides, aiming to rebuild the collagen-rich tissue within the remaining tendon sheath over time. A year later, I completed a marathon without any ankle issues - and even impressed my orthopedic surgeon with my self-imposed treatment.’

‘I consume 10 grams of hydrolyzed collagen protein daily, usually after a training session to optimize its effects on tendons, joints, bones, and muscles. I sometimes add it to plant-based soups, like minestrone, or dissolve it in a glass of chocolate milk or a cup of coffee. My diet primarily consists of plant-based foods and fish, due to my interest in anti-inflammatory diets. While fish is my primary animal-based protein source, during periods of intense exercise, I also supplement with omega-3 fish oil.’