Longevity Foundation

HTS Longevity
Basics

The non-negotiable foundation

Before any advanced intervention, supplement, or biohacking protocol can work, the fundamentals must be in place. The HTS Longevity Basics Protocol covers the five pillars of healthspan and lifespan that the science universally agrees on — sleep, fasting, movement, nutrition quality, and stress regulation. Master these and you have the foundation everything else is built upon.

5 Non-Negotiable Pillars
9yr+ Additional Healthspan Possible
Start Here. Always.

Why Basics Beat Biohacks

In 2025, the longevity science community reached a clear consensus: the fundamentals — sleep, movement, nutrition quality, stress regulation, and fasting — produce greater healthspan and lifespan benefits than any advanced intervention when they are not yet in place. NMN, rapamycin, peptides, and advanced protocols are tools for optimization on top of a solid foundation. Without the foundation, they underperform. The HTS Longevity Basics Protocol is the entry point. It is also, for most people, the highest-leverage thing they will ever do for their healthspan and lifespan — because the gap between average and optimized basics is enormous.

The Non-Negotiable Foundation

01

Sleep Foundation

Sleep is the single most powerful longevity intervention identified in 2025 research — outperforming diet and exercise as a predictor of lifespan. The basics: 7–9 hours every night, consistent timing, cool dark room, no alcohol, and morning light. Before any other intervention is added, sleep must be protected and optimized.

  • 7–9 hours every night — non-negotiable
  • Same bedtime and wake time — 7 days a week
  • Bedroom cool, dark, and quiet
  • No alcohol — it destroys deep sleep architecture
02

Fasting Basics

A 12–16 hour daily fasting window is the single most accessible metabolic intervention available. It requires no products, no expense, and no special knowledge — just a consistent eating window. The benefits include improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, autophagy activation, and circadian alignment with meal timing.

  • Minimum 12 hours between last meal and first meal
  • Target 16 hours for metabolic optimization
  • No calories during the fasting window
  • Last meal at least 2–3 hours before sleep
03

Movement & Strength

2025 research confirmed that muscle mass and grip strength predict mortality better than BMI, cholesterol, or fasting glucose in adults over 50. Sarcopenia — muscle loss with age — is now recognized as a core driver of reduced lifespan, not just quality of life. Resistance training and daily movement are not optional longevity tools. They are foundational.

  • Resistance training 3–4x per week — the most important exercise type for longevity
  • 7,000–10,000 steps daily — walking is the most underrated health tool
  • Zone 2 cardio 2–3x per week — 30–45 minutes at conversational pace
  • Never sit for more than 60 minutes without moving
04

Nutrition Quality

2025 research confirmed that ultra-processed food intake accelerates epigenetic aging independently of calories or BMI. Food quality is not about weight management — it directly influences the rate at which your biology ages. The HTS nutrition standard is simple: eat real food, in the right amounts, with adequate protein, and eliminate ultra-processed food.

  • Eliminate ultra-processed food — the highest-impact nutrition change
  • 1g of protein per pound of bodyweight daily — essential for muscle preservation
  • Vegetables at every meal — fiber, micronutrients, and glucose modulation
  • Minimize refined carbohydrates and added sugar
05

Stress & Recovery

Chronic stress elevates cortisol, drives systemic inflammation, impairs sleep, disrupts metabolic function, and accelerates cellular aging. Stress regulation is not a soft health topic — it is a hard longevity variable. The HTS protocol addresses stress through deliberate recovery practices that are directly measurable via HRV (heart rate variability).

  • Track HRV daily — the most actionable stress and recovery biomarker
  • Deliberate recovery practice daily — breathwork, meditation, or nature
  • Social connection — among the strongest longevity predictors in the data
  • Alcohol minimization — disrupts sleep, elevates cortisol, accelerates aging

The HTS Longevity Basics Day

Morning

Wake, Light, Move

Wake at consistent time. Get outside for morning light within 30 minutes. Drink 500ml water. 10–20 minutes of movement. Delay caffeine 90 minutes.

Midday

Break Fast with Protein

First meal leads with protein and vegetables. Eat slowly. Walk 10 minutes after. This single practice addresses fasting, metabolic health, and movement simultaneously.

Afternoon

Resistance Training

3–4 days per week. Any form of progressive resistance training. This is the highest-ROI longevity exercise investment available. Protects muscle mass, improves insulin sensitivity, and supports bone density.

Evening

Early, Light Dinner

Final meal of the day — 2–3 hours before sleep. Protein-forward, lower carbohydrate. This completes the nutrition window and begins the overnight fasting period.

Night

Wind Down. Same Bedtime.

Dim lights, no screens, cool bedroom. Same bedtime every night. This is the most important habit in the entire protocol. Sleep consistency is the foundation upon which everything else is built.

Longevity Basics Scorecard

Sleep Duration 7–9 hours, consistent timing
Daily Steps 7,000–10,000
Resistance Training 3–4 sessions per week
Fasting Window 12–16 hours daily
HRV Stable or trending upward
Ultra-Processed Food Eliminated or near-zero

View All Protocols

All five HTS protocols. One standard. Optimized for healthspan and lifespan.

All Protocols