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The Age Code: The New Science of Food and How It Can Save Us
What if the food you eat could rewind your biological clock?
'Clear and compelling' Chris van Tulleken
'Really interesting and insightful' Joe Wicks
'Fascinating' Tim Spector
From the rising incidence of cancer in the under-50s to increased infertility rates, there are signs everywhere that growing numbers of us are ageing too quickly. Why? Many believe there’s one major our diet.
Ageing reflects a fragile balance in our cells between damage and repair. Sugar, excess calories and gut inflammation are all common sources of damage, but if we instead fuel our body with valuable micronutrients, we can lower our disease risk and age markedly slower. Until recently this process was impossible to measure, but with new breakthroughs we can even assess the age of individual organs, giving rise to a new science of food that might save us.
Join Dr David Cox as he meets the experts attempting to understand what’s accelerating our biological clocks and what we can do about it. Along the way you’ll learn everything from why we become more acidic as we age, to why omega-3s are one of the most powerful anti-ageing supplements, to the simple adjustments to your cooking that will help you age better.
The Age Code urgently pinpoints why our eating habits must change and what we can all do to live longer and healthier lives.
'Clear and compelling' Chris van Tulleken
'Really interesting and insightful' Joe Wicks
'Fascinating' Tim Spector
From the rising incidence of cancer in the under-50s to increased infertility rates, there are signs everywhere that growing numbers of us are ageing too quickly. Why? Many believe there’s one major our diet.
Ageing reflects a fragile balance in our cells between damage and repair. Sugar, excess calories and gut inflammation are all common sources of damage, but if we instead fuel our body with valuable micronutrients, we can lower our disease risk and age markedly slower. Until recently this process was impossible to measure, but with new breakthroughs we can even assess the age of individual organs, giving rise to a new science of food that might save us.
Join Dr David Cox as he meets the experts attempting to understand what’s accelerating our biological clocks and what we can do about it. Along the way you’ll learn everything from why we become more acidic as we age, to why omega-3s are one of the most powerful anti-ageing supplements, to the simple adjustments to your cooking that will help you age better.
The Age Code urgently pinpoints why our eating habits must change and what we can all do to live longer and healthier lives.
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Published April 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Age Code by David Cox certainly gave me a lot to think about. As I was reading, I found myself making notes; particularly around foods I should be including (and avoiding) in my diet.
The book explores why many people are ageing too quickly, how this shows up in our bodies, and what we can do to slow that process through diet. Cox looks at the effects of fast calories and overconsumption and the negative impact these have on our health, drawing a clear distinction between biological age and actual age.
There’s a strong emphasis on low-AGE eating, reducing ultra-processed foods, and supporting the immune system. There is a lot of science in this book! At times, I found this heavy going and had to read and reread in order to absorb and understand. The writing is well supported by research, projects, and case studies.
The book is clearly structured in two parts: part one focuses on ‘the problem’, while part two offers practical options for ‘healing’. It’s a very interesting and thought-provoking read, and I can see myself returning to it again. I’d definitely recommend it to others; especially anyone interested in ageing, health, and how everyday choices shape our long-term wellbeing.
I received a free advance review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
The book explores why many people are ageing too quickly, how this shows up in our bodies, and what we can do to slow that process through diet. Cox looks at the effects of fast calories and overconsumption and the negative impact these have on our health, drawing a clear distinction between biological age and actual age.
There’s a strong emphasis on low-AGE eating, reducing ultra-processed foods, and supporting the immune system. There is a lot of science in this book! At times, I found this heavy going and had to read and reread in order to absorb and understand. The writing is well supported by research, projects, and case studies.
The book is clearly structured in two parts: part one focuses on ‘the problem’, while part two offers practical options for ‘healing’. It’s a very interesting and thought-provoking read, and I can see myself returning to it again. I’d definitely recommend it to others; especially anyone interested in ageing, health, and how everyday choices shape our long-term wellbeing.
I received a free advance review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
May 4, 2026
This book has given me a metaphorical kick up the backside to eat more leafy greens! And to have a bit of Marmite daily, for vitamin B3. My score on the Mediterranean diet (P19) to follow, after a week of totting it up.
I did skip some of the scientific research but not all of it. That said, it could have done with a table upfront of the ten sources of nutritional stress, as these were dotted throughout the book’s paragraphs / sections, albeit in bold.
Really hardback 9780008708870, which exists but has unknown author
I did skip some of the scientific research but not all of it. That said, it could have done with a table upfront of the ten sources of nutritional stress, as these were dotted throughout the book’s paragraphs / sections, albeit in bold.
Really hardback 9780008708870, which exists but has unknown author
April 28, 2026
Cox is a fresh voice in the nutrition/science writing space and I hope he's here to stay. This book is divided cleanly in categories of nutritional stress that contribute to ageing, making it very digestible. It's packed with interesting facts, studies from as recently as 2025, explores the diets of different cultures and goes in-depth about what those deemed to be "super-aging" populations eat regularly. And it's not just prose! There are tables throughout showing where we get each nutrient, what to do to fix specific physiological problems, and more.
What I love the most about this book is that it doesn't just tell you what's harmful and to cut it out, it provides guidance towards healthy balance rather than strict restriction. And it's far from "self-help", there's a world of research and effort put into every page. Also, the section about circadian rhythms and chronotypes gave me so much clarity as a night owl that often feels like the advice isn't aimed at me.
The only downside for me was that the format of the tables didn't work very well on my kindle but that doesn't take away from my rating, nor does it mean every kindle will be stubborn with it.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
What I love the most about this book is that it doesn't just tell you what's harmful and to cut it out, it provides guidance towards healthy balance rather than strict restriction. And it's far from "self-help", there's a world of research and effort put into every page. Also, the section about circadian rhythms and chronotypes gave me so much clarity as a night owl that often feels like the advice isn't aimed at me.
The only downside for me was that the format of the tables didn't work very well on my kindle but that doesn't take away from my rating, nor does it mean every kindle will be stubborn with it.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
May 9, 2026
It has some interesting concepts and introduces the latest advances in technology that could benefit people in the not too distant future. One huge plus I gained from the book of immediate benefit to me is an app that lets you judge for yourself the most nutritious option on the supermarket shelf. My first use of it in my food shop was a real eye-opener and the best options are not always the most expensive either…
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Over the past decade or so, people have been bashing sugar consumption and this led to the rise in the keto diet popularity. This book is also very much about cutting down on sugar consumption. I am a bit of a yo-yo dirty keto diet practitioner and I can see the benefits of cutting off sugar. This book just reinforces my belief in the benefits of cutting off sugar.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A well-researched, eye-opening book on food as medicine, particularly as we age. Informative and compelling!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews