Healthspan, not just lifespan: why our purpose keeps us going

Humans are living longer. In the UK, average life expectancy rose from 74 years in 1980 to 81 in 2022. But we need to talk about how we live in those extra years we get. Are they spent in good health, full of energy and vitality? Or are they marked by chronic disease, declining mobility and a reduced quality of life?

Since Rejuvenated was founded in 2003 it’s helped hundreds of thousands of people to maximise their healthspan – the years spent living a full life, rather than just surviving.

‘Living longer is a gift - and we want those added years to be ones we can truly enjoy in good health and independence,' says founder Kathryn Danzey. It’s a mission close to her heart. Now 67, she is the same age as her parents when they passed away.

‘My parents were full of life and energy,’ she says. ‘They were not your typical grandparents: my father would go out every night after dinner to play football with my kids. They were not ready to die at 67. My father had a heart attack and my mother went downhill after that, dying from cancer within the year.’ And it was this experience that sent her on her path of learning and advocating that led to Rejuvenated. ‘I really want to find ways for other people to not lose their families so young,’ she says. ‘I want to understand why people get these diseases. I think we have a long way to go, but one thing we know is that there’s not a magic pill – it comes down to lifestyle.’

Rejuvenated’s products – from our collagen shots to our H3O Hydration – build healthier bodies from a cellular level. In turn, they help supply the energy to engage in movement, sleep and socialising – the things that improve healthspan. It’s a full-circle strategy, established on the foundation that health requires a 360 approach and is best managed from every angle.

Optimising origins

Kathryn has long understood that what we eat has a huge impact on our wellness. In the 1970s, long before influencers and the common consensus that whole foods are better for us, she became fascinated by nutrition and its impact on her health. Later, she built a career in the beauty industry, where she became an advocate for the idea that looking good is an inside job.

It all boils down to cellular health, she discovered. Now, Kathryn is a pioneer of the belief that working at a microscopic level creates huge benefits, not just for appearance.’We want people to feel good from the inside out,’ she says. ‘If our cells are healthy, then our organs are healthy, and the body is healthy too.’

She originally worked with laser companies, training aestheticians on how to remove hair and improve skin, but began encouraging clients to bring nutrition into the picture for their customers. She began introducing supplements that could be used alongside the treatments to enhance their benefits – an idea that doesn’t seem radical now but, in the early 2000s, was far from mainstream.

'All I wanted was to find a way to encourage people to live a healthier, longer life, but in the noughties, no one really cared about health in the same way,' she says.

That desire led her to launch Rejuvenated in 2003 alongside her husband Robert. The story began with Collagen Shots – a groundbreaking, science-backed product that releases bioavailable amino acid proteins, leading to firmer, plumper skin along with stronger joints, a better-functioning brain and a healthier heart.

'I knew that this shot could be a starting point for me to introduce other health principles like hydration,’ she recalls. ‘This is so important for cells and long-term health. It got the conversation started with my customers, and it just grew and grew.’

Today, Rejuvenated has a range of nine multi-award-winning products, ranging from pea protein smoothie powder to the cutting-edge NAD+, each designed to enhance health and beauty from within.

Science and society

Even with success on a global level, Rejuvenated remains a family-run business based in Yorkshire, producing British-made supplements with the same goal that sparked its creation: making lifelong health simple. Kathryn’s passion has only intensified over time – because despite society’s growing understanding and appreciation of wellness, the definition of true health has become more and more confusing.

Around three-quarters of people don’t know what to believe when it comes to health advice, found one survey by nutrition tech brand Lingo. It’s why Kathryn and Rejuvenated build everything on science. 'It’s really important that our ingredients are clinically studied so that we understand their effectiveness and also what works together,' Kathryn says.

Not a research geek? Even if you don’t comprehend the workings of how hyaluronic acid supports your joints and skin, know that Rejuvenated do – and our formulas have been carefully calibrated to give you the perfect proportions. 'When we pull together clinical trials and combine the right ingredients, we find the results are much more magnified,' says Kathryn

One clinical trial found our Collagen Shots were found to improve skin health in over 93% of participants. Rejuvenated is also currently in discussions with Sheffield University to conduct further research into their effectiveness. The science never stops.

But on the whole, Kathryn doesn’t think a lack of research is what’s standing in the way of better healthspans. Instead, it’s about communication. ‘I think we're pretty much there with understanding the answers to better health,’ she says. ‘What we’re lacking is education.’

One of her biggest concerns is the disconnect between young people and real food. 'Many kids don’t see fields of edible plants or eat fresh food. Often, we’re so busy that our children end up eating sugary cereals before school and processed foods for dinner. Our healthspan is affected from a young age, and we need more education on that. And at the other end of life, we need ways to prevent the diseases of old age, like arthritis and heart disease,' she says.

Healthspan improvements don’t stop with food either. It includes movement, which Kathryn – an avid yogi – is passionate about. 'Exercise is a privilege. People shouldn't look at it with dread but as a fantastic way to strengthen your body for the long term,' she says.

She also strongly advocates for good sleep, seeing it as a non-negotiable factor in managing stress and improving overall health. And another key to longevity, one that’s often overlooked: staying engaged with friends.

'Community and connection are so important,’ she says. ‘Trying new things like learning a language, finding a new hobby or doing things that challenge you are great for keeping your mind young.’

A family business

That’s why family is at the heart of Rejuvenated. Kathryn and Robert are still heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the business, as are two of their five children. When her son, Russ, began working in the sales side, he hit on a unique tactic: asking potential customers to guess his mother’s age.

'They would say they thought I was in my forties,’ she laughs, ‘and he would proudly reveal I was actually 20 years older than that – then people would bulk-buy the supplements.’ The family is a proud unit.  'We all have different strengths. Yes, we do argue. There are different opinions. But we all agree on the end goal and what is best for the business.’

The Rejuvenated story doesn’t end here. The mission – to help people live longer, healthier lives – continues to evolve. With plans to expand research efforts, develop products and support efforts to improve healthspan, Kathryn and the team aren’t slowing down. At 67, that’s no mean feat – a fact she knows too well. 'I just love what I do and being able to help people,' she says. ‘Live and work well.’

Her ultimate goal? To change the way we think about ageing – it’s not an inevitable decline but an opportunity to thrive. And with Rejuvenated leading the charge, it seems entirely achievable.