What if rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t just cause joint pain—but quietly speeds up how fast your entire body ages? In this episode of Thriving with Arthritis, Dr. Diana Girnita sits down with Dr. Neha Bhanusali, from the University of Central Florida, with additional training in lifestyle medicine and culinary medicine, to explore the powerful and often overlooked connection between chronic inflammation, biological aging, and rheumatoid arthritis. In this conversation, we move beyond trends and misinformation to focus on what actually matters for patients living with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases.

Key Chapters & Takeaways

• RA and accelerated aging (“inflammaging”): chronic inflammation can accelerate biological aging—even in relatively young patients.
• Chronological age vs biological age: Why many RA patients feel older than their peers
• Why labs don’t always match symptoms
• The truth about methylation tests and anti-aging supplements
• Medications plus lifestyle—not one or the other
• Movement when you’re in pain
• Why muscle matters in RA
• Nutrition without perfection
• Gut health, fiber, and fermented foods
• Supplements: what’s reasonable and what’s risky
• Weight, inflammation, and GLP-1 medications
• Menopause and autoimmune disease
• Chronic stress, sleep, and immune aging
• The top 3 lifestyle pillars for RA and healthy aging

Neha Bhanusali is a board-certified rheumatologist with advanced training in lifestyle and culinary medicine. She also shares practical, plant-forward education on her YouTube channel @PlantForwardMD.

https://www.youtube.com/@PlantForwardMD

If you want evidence-based guidance that helps you live better—not just treat labs, subscribe to Thriving with Arthritis.

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More info about Dr. Diana Girnita, MD PhD

• Website: https://rheumatologistoncall.com/
• Email: Contact@rheumatologistoncall.com
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