233: Why Cardiovascular Health is Women’s #1 Longevity Lever & And How to Protect It – Part 1

November 19, 2025Dr. Stephanie GrayPodcastNo Comments

I’m excited to have Andie Crosby join me for a two-part series.

In Part 1 today, we dive into why cardiovascular health is the number one longevity lever for women and how it is often ignored until it is too late. We explore the critical role of the endothelial glycocalyx, a microscopic life-sustaining structure that is essential for vascular integrity, the inflammation response, and nutrient delivery.

In Part 2 next week, we will cover how nitric oxide supports energy, sexual vitality, and even skin radiance, and factors that could damage the ability to produce it naturally.

How to Protect and Support the Endothelial Glycocalyx

Reduce stress
Manage blood sugar
Prioritize sleep
Meditate
Take clinically researched supplements.
Monitor your cardiovascular health with diagnostics and lifestyle tracking to catch and reverse arterial aging before it starts to progress.

Bio: Andie Crosby

Andie Crosby is a seasoned business leader and passionate advocate for health and longevity.

After decades leading marketing and brand development for companies like Nike, Apple, and Procter & Gamble, her focus shifted in her 40s when she experienced firsthand the impact of hormonal changes, inflammation, and the power of nutrition to transform health.

A simple elimination diet revealed how profoundly food and lifestyle impacted her well-being, sparking a deep curiosity about health and healing.

This led her to the Institute for Functional Medicine, where she became the first Chief Marketing Officer.

Over ten years, Andie built IFM’s marketing and partnerships teams, driving a 13-fold increase in practitioner education and advancing personalized, systems-based care.

Today, as President of Calroy Health Sciences, Andie leads innovation in cardiovascular and joint health.

Her mission is to raise awareness of the vascular system’s foundational role – not only in disease prevention, but also in longevity, brain health, and performance. She believes we have the tools to change the trajectory of our healthspan and empowers people to take control by asking the right questions.

Andie brings a relatable, purpose-driven perspective on living longer, better, and embracing midlife as a powerful opportunity for health transformation.

Listen to the Episode

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In this episode:

Why traditional health measures do not always reveal hidden cardiovascular risks
The value of vascular age testing to uncover silent inflammation and plaque in arteries
How lifestyle and stress factors can silently impact heart health over time.
How perimenopause and hormonal changes dramatically increase cardiovascular risk in women
Why cardiovascular disease is often overlooked until it’s too late
What advanced diagnostics can reveal beyond a standard blood panel
How emerging knowledge about the endothelial glycocalyx is reshaping our understanding of vascular health
The benefits of supplements, meditation, stress management, and improving your diet to reverse arterial aging