The term “longevity” buzzed through the Natural Products Expo West 2026 halls with supplement brands touting healthy living promises galore.
Yet all too often, people use the terms “longevity” and “healthy aging” interchangeably, with no clear-cut definition for either. Add to the mix “healthspan” and “lifespan,” creating confusion about what these terms mean.
It begs the question — what is the difference between longevity and healthy aging? Industry experts on the show floor weigh in on the differences between the two terms and share their takes on what makes for a long, healthy life.
Elan Sudberg, Alkemist Labs
“Healthy aging is getting to your end goal of age while feeling fantastic doing it,” said Elan Sudberg, Alkemist Labs CEO.
He also recognizes there isn’t a lot of rhyme or reason for why people live to a ripe old age.
“My wife had a great uncle who was 100 years old and had McDonald’s every single day. So who knows, right?” Sudberg said.
Len Monheit, Industry Transparency Center
“The concept of longevity is maximizing your healthy life and lifespan,” said Len Monheit, CEO of Industry Transparency Center.
Nate Call, Qualitas
While Nate Call, Qualitas CEO, has his own definitions of longevity and healthy aging, he thinks the terms are often used interchangeably and adds confusion to the market.
“I think over the next few years, we will see stronger definitions,” Call said. “We’ll see a really strong flagship brand, probably somebody here at Expo West, who anchors those words into something that actually has meaning.”
Michael Loreto, Jamieson Wellness
Michael Loreto, manager of research and innovation at Jamieson Wellness, points out that healthy aging can be supported at any time and it’s never too early to start.
“At YouTheory, we love to focus on making people feel better on a day-to-day basis, no matter where they are in their life,” said Loreto.
YouTheory recently launched a longevity supplement line, including liposomal glutathione and nicotinamide riboside capsules.
Karen Todd, RD, Kyowa Hakko
Registered dietitian Karen Todd, vice president of global brand marketing for ingredient supplier Kyowa Hakko, believes healthy aging and longevity go hand in hand.
“If you are living and enjoying life and aging gracefully, healthfully, you’re probably going to live longer as well,” Todd said.
Sebastian Balcombe, Specnova
The difference between healthy aging and longevity is clear for Sebastian Balcombe, Specnova CEO, who sees longevity as a lifespan quantification, whereas healthy aging doesn’t necessarily mean extending lifespan.
“I just think the focus should be on living as healthy as you can, as deep into your age as you can, whatever that might be,” Balcombe said.
Luke Wayment, Better Being
“Healthy aging is about living our best life for as long as we can,” said Luke Wayment, senior director of global formulations for Better Being Wellness Brands.
Brad Buchholz, POM Wonderful
Brad Buchholz, vice president of business development for POM Wonderful, shares his six pillars for healthy living: sleep, diet, exercise, hydration, stress management/mental well-being and social interaction.
“You have to do those things through your entire life because all those work together, but they also compound,” Buchholz said.
“It’s like your retirement plan. If you start saving when you’re 65, you’re not going to have that much money when you’re 66.”
Helen Christoni, Make Time Wellness
“I really think longevity comes down to foundation, making sure that our foundation is in place so we go out from a position of strength, knowing that we could live a long, healthy life,” said Helen Christoni, co-creator of women’s health supplement brand Make Time Wellness.
“It’s the food that we eat, it’s the supplements that we take, it’s the water that we drink, it’s the air that we breathe, really making sure they’re all as pure as possible so we can live a long, healthy life,” Christoni said.
Daniel Gagnon, Herbs, Etc.
Daniel Gagnon, president and medical herbalist for supplement brand Herbs, Etc. hopes we all keep our mental, physical and spiritual faculties as we age.
“Longevity is more a length of time for me versus being able to be healthy,” Gagnon said.
Jennifer Greer, N.D., ingredient expert
Jennifer Greer, N.D., consultant and ingredient expert, thinks of the difference between longevity and healthy aging in terms of the ability to design clinical trials and substantiate claims.
“How do you really make a claim on longevity? You can’t really design a clinical trial where you’re following people for 50, 60, 70 years and also you don’t know how long somebody’s going to live in the first place,” Greer said.
Todd Runestad, NXT USA
“What if you can live for 99 years, 364 days of active, healthy living and then one really bad day?” asks Todd Runestad, chief storytelling officer for ingredient supplier NXT USA.
Runestad notes the importance of ingredients supporting cellular wellness and mitochondrial health and the role they play in healthy aging.
Ric Scalzo, Kokora
Ric Scalzo, founder and CEO of supplement brand Kokora, says the key to a long, healthy life boils down to three necessities: purpose, community and movement.
“I think personally these things, if you do them every day for the course of your life, you’ll add 10, 15, 20 years to your life,” Scalzo said. “I’m sure of it.”
