The ProLon Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) is a 5-day dietary program designed to mimic the effects of fasting while still providing the body with essential nutrients. Developed based on extensive research, primarily led by Dr. Valter Longo at the University of Southern California, this diet aims to offer the benefits of prolonged fasting without the challenges and potential risks associated with complete food abstinence.
Understanding the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD)
The FMD, such as the ProLon diet, is a 5-day program that limits food and beverage consumption for five consecutive days with a defined amount of calories and nutrients. It mimics a water fast by limiting calories while still providing necessary nutrients. This approach is designed to safely guide participants through a fasting-like state, offering structure and helping gather valuable data on the effects of fasting.
Calorie and Macronutrient Composition
The ProLon diet provides between 3,000 and 4,600 kJ per day, offering high micronutrient nourishment. On the first day, the intake is approximately 1,100 calories, featuring plant-based protein, healthy fats, and low-carbohydrate sources. Days two through five feature similar foods but in smaller portions, with a daily target of around 725 calories.
How the FMD Works
The FMD works by avoiding triggering nutrient-sensing pathways, which tell the body it is in a fed state. By not activating these pathways, the body remains in a fasting state, promoting autophagy, the "housecleaning" of our body's cells.
Components of the ProLon Diet
The ProLon diet is a prepackaged 5-day meal plan. The kit includes vegetable-based soups, energy bars, snacks, herbal teas, and supplements, along with directions on when to eat them. The specific foods are designed to offer the nutrients necessary to support the body’s systems while being low enough in calories to avoid triggering the body’s cellular nutrition radars.
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Benefits of the ProLon Diet
Studies have shown that periodic fasting may be beneficial in monitoring and regulating blood sugar levels, cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation. Completing the 5-day FMD diet is associated with lower levels of fasting blood glucose, improved glycemic control, and a correlation to lowered health risk for aging cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Weight Loss and Body Composition
Participants in the FMD arm lost an average of 2.6 ± 2.5 kg of weight, which was due in part to a reduction in total body fat and trunk fat. Studies indicate that weight loss might occur during the fast-mimicking period, but it may not be sustainable for the long term. Three cycles of the FMD reduced body weight, trunk, and total body fat.
Metabolic Health
Cycles of a 5-day FMD are safe, feasible, and effective in reducing markers/risk factors for aging and age-related diseases. The FMD cycles also resulted in a decrease in IGF-1 concentrations and reduced systolic blood pressure.
Cellular Rejuvenation and Autophagy
The ProLon diet supports the body's metabolism and cells in fasting mode, tapping into autophagy and enabling cellular rejuvenation. The FMD enhances autophagy, effectively boosting your body’s natural "housecleaning" process.
Effects on Abdominal and Hepatic Fat
Three cycles of the FMD reduced BMI and total body fat. Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue was reduced after the 3rd FMD cycle compared to baseline. The hepatic fat fraction (HFF) was also reduced.
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Impact on Aging Markers
Three rounds of the FMD lowered the biological age by 2 1/2 years compared to the actual age. The periodic use of a fasting-mimicking diet has positive effects on both cellular function and healthspan.
Disease Prevention
Mice fed periodically with the FMD show extended healthspan and multisystem regeneration, reduced inflammation and cancer incidence, and enhanced cognitive performance. The FMD also postponed the occurrence of neoplasm-related deaths by over 3 months.
ProLon and Research Studies
Prolon’s Fasting Mimicking Nutrition has gained recognition for its contributions to the field of Food as Medicine. Backed by over 25 years of research, Prolon is the first and only patented, clinically proven nutrition program designed to support longevity through cellular rejuvenation.
Clinical Trials and Results
Prolon has been proven in 37 clinical trials at 18 world-renowned institutions. Three cycles of Prolon may decrease your bioage by 2.5 years in as few as 3 cycles over 3 months. A randomized controlled trial of 100 subjects showed that three FMD cycles reduced body weight, trunk and total body fat, blood pressure, and decreased insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) without causing serious adverse effects.
Research on Mice
In mice, four days of a diet that mimics fasting (FMD) decreased the size of multiple organs/systems; an effect followed upon re-feeding by an elevated number of progenitor and stem cells and regeneration. Bi-monthly FMD cycles started at middle age extended longevity, lowered visceral fat, reduced cancer incidence and skin lesions, rejuvenated the immune system, and retarded bone mineral density loss.
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Comparing ProLon to Other Diets
The ProLon diet is unique in that it provides specific foods designed to prevent the activation of pathways that break the fasting state.
ProLon vs. Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting involves designated periods of the day without eating, such as the 16:8 method. The Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) includes specific foods designed to prevent the activation of pathways that break the fasting state.
ProLon vs. Calorie Restriction
Both FMD and typical calorie restriction achieve comparable weight loss and improvements in risk factors for cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Both appear equally beneficial for weight loss and disease risk reduction.
Potential Side Effects and Considerations
Side effects of FMD are typically mild but may include tiredness, headache, dizziness, difficulty with concentration, and low blood sugar levels during the fasting period. Fasting isn’t appropriate for everyone, and you may experience dizziness, fatigue, headaches, and difficulty concentrating while following the ProLon diet.
Who Should Avoid ProLon
Prolonged fasting is difficult to implement in human subjects and may exacerbate preexisting nutritional deficiencies, making it not feasible and/or safe for children, the elderly, frail individuals, and even most healthy adults. The fasting-mimicking diet is contraindicated during pregnancy, breastfeeding, in children, and anyone with a history of an eating disorder. Other medical conditions may also prohibit its use.
Cost of the ProLon Diet
A 5-day ProLon fasting kit costs approximately $175, or $35 per day. The research supporting the benefits and associated weight loss of the ProLon diet was specific to individuals following the 5-day program once a month for 3 months, which totals $525.
How to Use ProLon Safely and Effectively
It’s important to discuss the best frequency for you with a licensed healthcare professional. ProLon generally recommends doing it once a month for 3 months in a row the first time you do the diet. After that, depending on your health goals, you could do it once a month for up to 6 months or once every 3 months.
Consulting a Healthcare Professional
If you are considering the fasting-mimicking diet, please consult a medical professional before you begin. It’s important to remember that the ProLon diet isn’t a long-term, daily dietary solution for health complications.
The Science Behind ProLon
The ProLon diet is based on research led by Dr. Valter Longo at the University of Southern California. Dr. Longo and his team have been working with pathways in the body called “nutrient-sensing pathways.”
Nutrient-Sensing Pathways
The FMD works by avoiding triggering these pathways, which tell the body it is in a fed state. The nutrient-sensing pathways control autophagy, the “housecleaning” of our body’s cells.
Autophagy
Autophagy is like your body’s built-in cleaning crew, constantly working to remove waste and keep your cells healthy. Dr. Longo and his team developed the ProLon Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD), a scientifically designed program that enhances autophagy, effectively boosting your body’s natural “housecleaning” process.
Additional Considerations
The ProLon diet may also not be a good fit for those on a tight budget due to the kit’s high cost.
Food Allergies
Due to the specific foods required, it can be hard for people with food allergies or strong food preferences to follow the ProLon diet.
Physical Activity
You shouldn’t do the ProLon diet if you’ll be undertaking strenuous activities or spending time in extreme temperature environments, including saunas and hot tubs.
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