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What is The Fasting Mimicking Diet?
If the idea of going without food for an extended period of times seems like an eating plan you’d rather skip, you’re not alone. Sure, the path can lead to a variety of desired health benefits, but the unpleasant effects brought on by fasting can also be reason to avoid the process altogether. For many, fasting is often interpreted as “code” for starving yourself, and it’s difficult to feel enthusiastic about jumping into an eating plan during which intense hunger constantly permeates your day.
However, with a few tweaks, fasting can be both incredibly effective and surprisingly simple.
Such is the case with the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD®)—a diet program that not only elicits the same health benefits as traditional fasting,
but also allows you to keep eating without skipping meals and experiencing hunger pangs.
Researched and developed by longevity researcher Valter Longo, PhD, and his team at the University of Southern California, the FMD is basically a type of fasting where rather than eliminating food from your diet completely, you’re able to eat small amounts in a way that produces the same benefits of traditional fasting. And while an FMD still calls for significant caloric reduction for a short period of time each month, it’s not nearly as difficult to follow because you get to enjoy food and the nutrition that is offers to support energy and the maintenance of lean muscle mass.
The Science Behind the Fasting Mimicking Diet
The length of any fast is key to its success. Too short (1 or 2 days) and the metabolic effects may not kick in for optimal results. Too long (over 7 days) and the potential for complications from nutrient deficiencies increase. The FMD hits the sweet spot of 5 days, calling for specific foods low in carbs, protein and calories, and higher in fat.
This formula allows the body to stay nourished with vital nutrients and electrolytes as it ramps up the process of burning fat, removing unhealthy cells and replacing them with new ones to optimize health and provide powerful anti-aging benefits. So, what exactly happens to the body during this 5-day FMD? We break it down below.
Day 1: Fasting State
During this initial phase, your body is being primed to transition into a fasting state and begin cellular optimization.
Day 2: Fat Burning
Here, your body makes the switch to fat burning mode. This is also when cellular recycling and clean up begin—an essential function known as autophagy.
Day 3: Cellular Recycling
The process of cellular recycling and clean up continues as the body further cleanses itself of old, damaged cells that have been shown to cause various age-related diseases. It is in this stage where many people also reach full ketosis—where fat instead of carbs is burned for energy.
Day 4: Cell Regeneration
During this phase ketosis and autophagy continue while the release of healthy new stem cells into the blood—begins to ramp up.
Day 5: Regeneration Continues
The process of cellular recycling and clean up continues as the body further cleanses itself of old, damaged cells that have been correlated with various age-related diseases. It is in this stage where many people also reach full ketosis—where fat instead of carbs is burned for energy.
Following the Protocol
Because each stage is critical to the goals of improving longevity and helping prevent age related diseases, it’s imperative that following the pre-clinically and clinically tested protocol for the FMD of foods, calories and duration be strictly adhered to.
How to satisfy the specifics of the study conducted at USC can be daunting and extremely challenging, which is why it’s strongly recommended to follow a clinically proven FMD that offers the precise types and amounts of food to achieve the best possible results. By far, the easiest and safest way to follow this eating plan is to purchase the out-of-the-box, 5-day FMD at ProLon and follow the instructions.
The ProLon Fasting Mimicking Diet is the first and only meal program that has gone through clinical trials at the University of Southern California and been patented for its anti-aging effects. This 5-day meal program provides scientifically researched micro- and macro-nutrients in precise quantities and combinations that nourish you but are not recognized as food by your body. Vegetable-based soups, energy bars, energy drinks, chip snacks, herbal teas, and supplements are foods that are provided as part of this periodic fast.
For more information and to get the ProLon 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet click here.
Before Getting Started
Prior to jumping feet first into a calorie restrictive eating program like the FMD, it’s important to understand the potential risks of participating in any type of fasting diet.
Reducing your caloric intake to as little as 725 calories per day (even if it’s only 4 days) can lead to uncomfortable physical effects such as headaches, dizziness and fatigue. It should also be noted that most forms of exercise other than walking are not recommended during the fasting period. While some health enthusiasts can make space for a temporary break from strenuous activity, those who aren’t able to forego a few days of training for the trade-off of FMD benefits may not be suited for the plan.
Doing multiple cycles of this diet per month could potentially lead to nutrient deficiencies over the long-term. Stick to the recommended one cycle per month and always consult with your physician before undertaking any type of restrictive eating program.