Lower Your Biological Age with the InnerBuddies Gut Microbiome Test Advice

Coming soon: expected launch date Summer 2025

    innerbuddies gut microbiome testing

    Longevity & Healthy Aging

    Longevity and Healthy Aging: Understanding the Journey to a Longer, Fuller Life

    Longevity and healthy aging are two interconnected concepts that have gained significant attention in recent decades, especially as advances in medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle have increased the average human lifespan. While longevity refers to the length of time an individual lives, healthy aging emphasizes the quality of those extended years — focusing on maintaining physical, mental, and social well-being throughout life.

    What is Longevity?

    Longevity is the measure of lifespan — how long a person lives. In many parts of the world, average life expectancy has steadily increased due to improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and disease prevention. For example, global average life expectancy has more than doubled over the last century, and many people today live well into their 80s and beyond. However, simply living longer is not the only goal; the emphasis has shifted towards living better for longer.

    What is Healthy Aging?

    Healthy aging is about more than just the absence of disease; it is the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age. Functional ability includes the capacity to perform everyday activities, maintain independence, stay socially connected, and continue contributing to one’s community. Healthy aging incorporates physical health, mental well-being, emotional resilience, and social engagement.

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), healthy aging involves “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age.” This definition highlights the importance of both physical and psychosocial factors, recognizing that health is multidimensional.

    Start your journey!
    innerbuddies gut microbiome testing

    Understanding Biological Age and Its Role in Longevity and Healthy Aging

    Biological age is a measure of how well your body is functioning compared to your chronological age, which is the number of years you’ve been alive. Unlike chronological age, biological age reflects the true condition of your cells, tissues, and organs, taking into account factors like genetics, lifestyle, environment, and overall health. This concept is crucial because two people with the same chronological age can have very different biological ages — one may be healthier and more resilient, while the other might face age-related diseases earlier.

    Biological age is closely linked to longevity and healthy aging. People with a younger biological age tend to live longer and experience fewer chronic illnesses, maintaining better physical and cognitive functions as they age. Conversely, an accelerated biological age may indicate a higher risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, or dementia.

    By understanding and monitoring biological age, individuals can take targeted steps to slow down aging processes through healthy lifestyle choices like balanced nutrition, regular exercise, stress management, and avoiding harmful habits. Ultimately, focusing on biological age helps shift the goal from merely living longer to living healthier, ensuring that extended years are filled with vitality and well-being.

    The InnerBuddies module "Longevity & Healthy Aging" gives you insight in:

    • Gut Microbiome & Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)

      SCFAs contribute to anti-inflammation, gut health, and metabolic regulation, all linked to longevity. SCFA's functions as the base mechanism for the other categories. Butyrate gets high weight because of its robust evidence base in inflammation control, gut barrier integrity, and mitochondrial health — all critical for longevity. Propionate pathways are also key, especially for metabolic aging. Acetate is more abundant but generally has broader and more moderate effects; still important, especially as a substrate and signaling molecule.

    • Anti-Inflammatory & Immune Modulation

      Chronic inflammation accelerates aging; these pathways reduce inflammatory markers. Bile acids are among the most potent microbial immunomodulators with systemic relevance (gut-liver-brain axis, mucosal immunity). Tryptophan-derived indoles are among the most potent microbial immunomodulators with systemic relevance (gut-liver-brain axis, mucosal immunity). Polyamines offer both immunomodulatory and cell-protective benefits, especially in aging tissue. LPS and ammonia detox are supportive pathways—critical but more indirect in their effects.

    • Energy Metabolism & Mitochondrial Health

      Efficient energy metabolism supports cellular function, reduces oxidative stress, and enhances lifespan. TCA cycle and ETC dominate due to their centrality in mitochondrial health, bioenergetics, and ROS control — all of which are strongly linked to aging processes. Fat oxidation (FAO) supports metabolic flexibility, ketogenesis, and fasting states — overlapping with caloric restriction benefits. BCAA metabolism is double-edged: essential for mitochondrial function but excessive levels may promote mTOR activation and insulin resistance — balance is critical.

    • Cellular Repair, DNA Protection & Autophagy

      These pathways regulate DNA repair, cellular stress resistance, and autophagy, essential for longevity. Methionine / glutathione gets top weight for direct protection against oxidative stress, a primary driver of DNA damage. NAD⁺ biosynthesis is central to sirtuin-driven longevity mechanisms and DNA repair. Folate supports DNA stability but has more indirect or cofactor-like effects compared to the above.

    • Caloric Restriction & Fasting Mimicry

      Certain pathways mimic the benefits of fasting and caloric restriction, which are linked to lifespan extension.

    Targeted Recommendations

    The module "Longevity & Healthy Aging" provides you with targeted nuttrition recommendations. Targeted not only on your unique gut microbiome but also targeted on the metabolic pathways that, according to the latest scientific publications, are important for Longevity & Healthy Aging.

    • Personalized on the DNA of your own Gut Microbiome

      Receive nutrition recommendations that according to our self-learning algorithms and our large customer database have the highest impact on your own unique gut microbiome.

    • Approved by our Dieticians

      We use Responsible A.I. techniques and built an algorithm that uses both our own proprietary databases but also the knowledge and experience of our strong dietician team.

    • Actionable

      Nutrition recommendations that you can just buy in your local supermarket. For your convenience, we also provide daily dosage recommendations.

    Get started with Longevity & Healthy Aging in 7 easy steps!

    • 1. Purchase a kit & create an account.

      Do not forget to buy the personalized nutrition advice and the 3-month Noory subscription to get maximum benefit for Longevity & Healthy Aging.

    • 2. Fill in 3 day food diary & survey

      In the survey select "Longevity & Healthy Aging" as your preferred target group. One FREE target group is included with every testkit.

    • 3. Take a stool sample

      And send it back in the return envelope with a prepaid return label. The return logistics and the laboratory process will generally take 3 to 4 weeks.

    • 4. View your results

      Once your results are uploaded and ready, you will receive an email. Login your dashboard to view all analysis results and recommendations. If you also included the nutrition advice and/or the 3-month Noory subscription in your purchase, these will also be available in your dashboard.

    • food recipe platform

      5. Noory platform

      If you bought the 3-month Noory subscription, you will receive direct access to personalized food recipes and meal plans on the Noory platform which AUTOMATICALLY take into account your gut microbiome nutrition advice, your allergies, intolerances and nutritional targets.

      Have ultimate real-time flexibility to choose the food recipes that you prefer to cook and eat. Accessible through desktop or mobile device.

    • health professional

      6. Link your Healthcare Professional (HCP) (optional)

      Both InnerBuddies and Noory are able to provide FREE access to the platform to your healthcare professional. But we need your EXPLICIT consent to do so given all privacy and health regulations. In the InnerBuddies platform you can also download all report sections in PDF format for sharing.

      Noory can also provide HCP access through NooryMed, a remote monitoring platform built for HCP's that allows sharing symptoms, food tracking and also takes into account Food - Drug interactions.

    • retest your gut health

      7. Retest your Gut Microbiome

      After your 3-month Noory subscription has ended, you can perform a new gut microbiome test and hopefully see the desired improvements in your test results. A new gut test will also update your nutrition recommendations and nutritional targets to the Noory platform so that you can start another 3-month improvement process. You can also select a new target group in the InnerBuddies platform if you want to set different objectives for the new 3-month period.

    Learn more about how the Gut Microbiome is connected to Biological Age, Longevity and Healthy Aging

    View more articles
    innerbuddies gut microbiome testing

    Reduce your Biological Age and support Longevity & Healthy Aging - Order the gut test that:

    • Provides a score between 0 and 100 of how your gut microbiome composition is optimized for Biological Age / Longevity / Healthy Aging
    • Provides detailed insight in how you rank for each of the microbial metabolic pathways that have been linked to Biological Age / Longevity / Healthy Aging according to the latest scientific publications
    • Uses a cutting-edge and science-based DNA technology
    • Provides you with nutritional and supplement recommendations based on your microbial results that are specifically optimized to lower your Biological Age and support Longevity & Healthy Aging
    • Is developed by an expert team of dieticians, specialists, and scientists to offer you the most accurate gut microbiome analysis
    Start your journey!

    How can InnerBuddies support in reducing your Biological Age and supporting Longevity & Healthy Aging?

    • Improved Digestive Health

      Optimizing the gut microbiome enhances digestion and nutrient absorption, ensuring the body gets vital vitamins and minerals necessary for cellular repair and maintenance, which supports overall health and slows biological aging.

    • Reduced Inflammation

      A balanced gut microbiome helps reduce chronic systemic inflammation—a major driver of aging and age-related diseases—thereby protecting tissues and organs and promoting healthy aging.

    • Enhanced Immune Function

      Gut health directly influences the immune system. Strengthening the microbiome boosts immunity, lowering the risk of infections and age-related immune decline, contributing to longevity.

    • Mental Health and Cognitive Function

      The gut-brain axis connects gut health with brain function. A healthy microbiome can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and support cognitive health, helping maintain mental sharpness with age.

    • Metabolic Health and Weight Management

      Microbiome-based nutrition helps regulate metabolism and blood sugar levels, reducing risks for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which are linked to accelerated aging.

    • Antioxidant Support and Cellular Repair

      Supplements tailored to the gut microbiome can enhance antioxidant activity and promote cellular repair processes, protecting DNA from damage and slowing biological aging.

    Who are we?

    InnerBuddies is a company born out of a shared passion for the gut microbiome. Professor Koen Venema and Jella Theeuwen, together with partners, embarked on an exciting journey. Koen, a passionate microbiologist, crossed paths with Jella, a dedicated dietitian with a lifelong love of healthy eating.

    Their shared vision led to the foundation of InnerBuddies, a company that originated as a spin-off from Maastricht University in Venlo. Based on Koen's expertise and Jella's insights, InnerBuddies started in October 2021. Fueled by their desire to help individuals, they translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions.

    Together with their partners and a small but dedicated team, they work to unravel the mysteries of the gut microbiome. InnerBuddies wants to give you the tools to take charge of your gut health through the transformative power of nutrition.

    Hear from our satisfied customers!

    • "I would like to let you know how excited I am. We had been on the diet for about two months (my husband eats with us). We felt better with it, but how much better was really only noticed during the Christmas vacations when we had received a large Christmas package and didn't stick to the diet for a while. Well that did give motivation again, because what a difference in gastrointestinal symptoms but also energy in both of us!"

      - Manon, age 29 -

    • "Super help!!! I was already well on my way, but now I know for sure what I should and should not eat, drink. I have been struggling with stomach and intestines for so long, hope I can get rid of it now."

      - Petra, age 68 -

    • "I have read your comprehensive report and advice. Many thanks for that and very informative. Presented in this way, I can certainly move forward with it. Therefore no new questions for now. I will gladly take your suggestions to heart. And good luck with your important work."

      - Dirk, age 73 -