Healthy To A Hundred: Dr Ernst von Schwarz of UCLA On 5 Things You Need To Live A Long, Healthy, & Happy Life
An Interview With Savio P. Clemente
Physical fitness and exercise is key for a long and physically productive existence and longevity. I always hear patients telling me that they don’t have time to exercise. On the other hand, they spend at least 4–5 hours per day on the mobile phones. Don’t waste your time with cheap short entertainment such as social media, TikTok or other reels that are so addictive, put the phone away instead and get physical.
The term Blue Zones has been used to describe places where people live long and healthy lives. What exactly does it take to live a long and healthy life? What is the science and the secret behind longevity and life extension? In this series, we are talking to medical experts, wellness experts, and longevity experts to share “5 Things You Need To Live A Long, Healthy, & Happy Life”. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Dr. Ernst von Schwarz.
Professor Dr. Ernst von Schwarz MD, PhD, FESC, FACC, FSCAI is a U.S. based world-renowned triple board certified clinical and academic cardiologist and clinical professor of medicine at UCLA. As one of the most well-known and respected cardiologists in the world, Dr. von Schwarz has published over 150 scientific papers in international peer-reviewed medical journals as well as several books and book chapters in cardiovascular medicine. His most recent book, The Secrets of Immortality: A Scientific and Theological Approach to Everlasting Life, is available now.
Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?
As a descendent of a German Austrian aristocratic family with more than 20 physicians (going back to the personal doctor of Empress Maria Theresia) my grandmother decided that my older sister should become a doctor and I a lawyer. We changed that around, however, my sister became a judge and I became a physician. As a physician, I always was more interested in the mechanisms of diseases rather than just dealing with things that caused damage to the bodies.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
When I was in my last year of medical school and was participating in the daily rounds with a famous but very arrogant Professor and his entourage of several doctors and nurses and other students. At the end of the rounds one of the physician supervisors stated: if I would have wanted, then I could have become a Professor, too. I thought: nonsense. If you would have wanted, you would have. At that moment I decided that I never ever wanted to regret if I would not have at least tried to reach the highest and biggest fruit on the tree.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Besides my parents, of course, who opened all doors I had to opportunity to get a scholarship from the German Heart Foundation to work at the Max Planck institute for physiologic and Experimental Cardiology in Bad Nauheim, Germany, under the directorship of Professor Dr Wolfgang Schaper, one of the most intelligent people I ever met. Being in weekly meetings with Schaper and listening to him opened my eyes to always look for whatever we cannot explain and to ask questions of how and why rather than accepting facts. Since Schaper was known worldwide as one of the worlds most brilliant basic researchers in cardiac diseases, mentioning his name opened to doors of several Universities in Germany and in the US for me.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Never give up. If students fail an exam, nowadays they change their studies completely rather than getting their act together and prepare harder and more intense. I always tell my students not to waste their time (or my time) but always to finish what they started. I also tell them how many small local elections Abraham Lincoln failed and failed over and over again, until he became the most famous US President in history, through perseverance.
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview about health and longevity. To begin, can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority in the fields of health, wellness, and longevity? In your opinion, what is your unique contribution to the world of wellness?
I am a cardiologist, heart transplant cardiologist and a basic and clinical researcher in cardiology and aging. In contrast to most researchers, I have the unique possibility to know the basic lab research on one hand while l do treat patients with heart diseases and age related degenerative diseases every single day. Most researchers who do great work in the basic research lab and study ways to prevent aging or repair damage never ever treat a single patient with any of their discoveries. In contrast, i exemplify both worlds, the basic research and the clinical translational medicine, which is somewhat unique.
Seekers throughout history have traveled great distances and embarked on mythical quests in search of the “elixir of life,” a mythical potion said to cure all diseases and give eternal youth. Has your search for health, vitality, and longevity taken you on any interesting paths or journeys? We’d love to hear the story.
Studying reverse aging and delaying the processes of aging one sooner or later ends up in the fields of biological immortality. I summarized many of my basic research studies in the basement of my house, and I have written them up in the adjacent chapel. This chapel is part of my house, the famous Los Angeles Rosenheim mansion, also known as the “Murderhouse” (featured on “American Horror Story” and the 2nd most popular house in the US after the White House), and was never deconsecrated. I therefore felt very stimulated in a religious theological sense and then, I finished my studies in Roman Catholic theology (took me almost 10 years) with a PhD in theology, and I was even more motivated to look into the connection where biological science meets religion, as it is in the topic of human immortality.
Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Things You Need To Live A Long & Healthy Life”? (Please share a story or an example for each)
1. Live in moderation. Excess alcohol or foods always leads to disease.
2. Eat healthy with more vegetables, less carbs and fat, smaller portions and less amounts of calories.
3. Physical fitness and exercise is key for a long and physically productive existence and longevity. I always hear patients telling me that they don’t have time to exercise. On the other hand, they spend at least 4–5 hours per day on the mobile phones. Don’t waste your time with cheap short entertainment such as social media, TikTok or other reels that are so addictive, put the phone away instead and get physical.
4. Get enough sleep, 7–8 hours per night, but not more than that.
5. Be spiritual and meditate and pray for a healthy positive mind and soul.
Can you suggest a few things needed to live a life filled with happiness, joy, and meaning?
I strongly believe that there is a higher power, God, and that there is reason for our existence and that we are not here by accident. A strong faith is key for a happier life, similarly, a strong spiritual meaning allows the mind to connect with the universal existence. Faith and Hope are essential to go on in life even at times of despair. Even though the mystery of faith will always remain a mystery, be curious since curiosity is the drive to explore the secrets of life.
Some argue that longevity is genetic, while others say that living a long life is simply a choice. What are your thoughts on this nature vs. nurture debate? Which is more important?
There are several genetic factors as well as environmental factors that determine how long a person will exist. The combination is key, but our genetics we can’t change, yet, while our environmental influences are subject to change through us and our will, in many but not all cases. In other words, we cannot change if a parent died of lung cancer, but we can decide to stop smoking — with the appropriate will power and discipline, which oftentimes is insufficient and needs outside support and guidance to make these life changes.
Life sometimes takes us on paths that are challenging. How have you managed to bounce back from setbacks in order to cultivate physical, mental, and emotional health?
I guess we all have had setbacks in life, and so did I. Sometimes things happen and one door closes unexpectedly, and we might feel desperate and wonder what and why something happened. I have learned and experience that whenever one door closes, another one unexpectedly opens, and things happen always for a reason. This is my believe.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
Pablo Picasso: I don’t look for things, I find them.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would love to start a foundation to fight age related degeneration and frailty in order to raise financial support to conduct large scale studies to improve the quality of life at increased ages and also to fight incurable neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Follow me on my website, YouTube channel, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
https://www.youtube.com/c/@drernstvonschwarz7397
https://instagram.com/drvonschwarz
https://www.facebook.com/ErnstRvonSchwarz
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success.
About The Interviewer: Savio P. Clemente coaches cancer survivors to overcome the confusion and gain the clarity needed to get busy living in mind, body, and spirit. He inspires health and wellness seekers to find meaning in the “why” and cultivate resilience in their mindset. Savio is a Board Certified Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC, ACC), #1 best-selling author, syndicated columnist, podcaster, stage 3 cancer survivor, and founder of The Human Resolve LLC. He has interviewed notable celebrities and TV personalities and has been featured on Fox News, The Wrap, and has worked with Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, BuzzFeed, Food Network, WW and Bloomberg. Savio has been invited to cover numerous industry events throughout the U.S. and abroad. His mission is to provide clients, listeners, and viewers alike with tangible takeaways on how to lead a truly healthy, wealthy, and wise lifestyle. Savio pens a weekly newsletter in which he delves into secrets to living smarter by feeding your “three brains” — head
, heart
, and gut
— in the hope of connecting the dots to those sticky parts of our nature that matter to living our best life.
