I have always wanted to try a fast as the ultimate reset. But I just couldn’t swallow the thought of living on water alone. I love food and am no fun when hangry. Recently, I was introduced to the Fasting Mimicking Diet.

Del Sarto with her five days of fasting food. (Photo by Sandlight Studio)

At a conference earlier this year, the conversation turned to night sweats, a menopausal misery I have suffered from way too long. Presenter Melanie Murphy Richter, MS, RDN, asked if I had ever tried a fast. With a master’s in nutrition, healthspan and longevity, Richter serves as the medical science educator and director of communications for Prolon, a line of scientifically designed organic foods that activate fasting benefits. She recommended I review the science and offered to send me one of their 5-day programs to try.

Backed by science. Driven by dry-night desire, I dove in and learned that calorie-restricted diets have been studied in the field of aging for over 100 years.1 In 1935, Clive McCay, PhD, discovered that restricting caloric intake in young mice could increase their lifespan by 50%.2 Roy Walford, MD, expanded on that science in the ’70s, prolonging the lifespan of middle-aged mice by 10–20%.¹

Modern longevity expert Valter Longo, PhD, author of The Longevity Diet and Fasting Cancer, studied with Dr. Walford before creating a nutritional program that mimics fasting, which he dubbed the Fasting Mimicking Diet, or FMD. As director of the Longevity Institute at USC, Dr. Longo partnered with the university in 2009 to form L-Nutra, Prolon’s parent company. His program has been validated through 25 years of research and more than 47 clinical trials by 18 leading institutions, including Stanford, Yale, Mayo Clinic and the University of Genoa. Longo donates his proceeds from both his work with the company and books to longevity research through his non-profit Create Cures Foundation. In 2018, TIME named him one of the 50 most influential people in healthcare.

How the FMD works. When we eat, nutrient-sensing pathways signal to the body that it has been fed, and all is well. Through a precise combination of caloric content and macronutrient ratios, Prolon’s FMD is engineered to stay below the threshold that triggers those pathways. The body never receives a clear “fed” signal and therefore thinks it is fasting, even while food is being consumed. It achieves this by restricting protein and carbs while providing plant-based foods: healthy fats, soups, olives, crackers, nutrient bars and herbal teas that allow the body to burn fat while protecting lean muscle. Portions are packaged in five daily boxes with approximately 1,100 calories on day one and 750 on days 2–5.

The ultimate prize: autophagy. People fast for many reasons–weight loss, disease prevention, metabolism—but the most beneficial outcome is autophagy (ah-TAH-fa-gee). This is the cells’ cleanup system, clearing out damaged material to make way for repair and renewal, so cells can operate as more efficient, younger versions of themselves. Autophagy launches after roughly 72 hours of nutrient deprivation. L-Nutra’s research shows that three, five-day sessions over three months is associated with a 2.5-year reduction in biological age. A simulation of this data forecasts a potential biological age reversal of 11 years if followed consistently for 20 years.³

This was the reset I’ve been looking for! I completed my first round in May (compliments of Prolon) and purchased the next two for June and July.

Impressive program support. The resources L-Nutra provides relieve much of the apprehension. Daily group webinars with registered dietitians are available to answer questions, share the science, and review what to expect. The program is so well laid out that “living in the box” is the easy part; transitioning back to real life is actually harder.

L-Nutra also offers medically supervised health programs for guided weight loss, diabetes and heart disease. The physician-led programs run 6–12 months and cost only slightly more than the products themselves.

My first fast results. The greatest gifts I received from the experience were education and awareness, along with an incredible sense of inner calm. (Is this what homeostasis feels like?) The FMD was simpler than I expected, and the results more significant: I lost five pounds and kept them off, noticed smoother skin and hair, clearer eyes and vision, improved sleep with drier nights and the neuropathy in my hands is completely gone. I am in awe of the body’s remarkable ability to heal itself.

Choose old habits carefully. The FMD prompted me to reconsider old habits, including my 20 daily supplements, which I discontinued during the fast as the program recommends (medications are continued). I did a post-fast review and have foregone half of them. Alcohol is another consideration. I enjoyed wine too soon after the fast and became extremely nauseated. I now proceed with caution.

A few personal notes: You really want to stick to the program and eat only the evidence-based items provided; however, 140 mg of caffeine daily (about a 10-oz cup of black coffee) is allowed. I did the coffee. And, because autophagy requires significant energy, extensive exercise is discouraged. I felt great training on day four, but got home and crashed. I won’t do that again.

Prolon’s 5-day FMD ranges from $182 to $255, depending on variety and offers. I recommend the Next Gen package, which includes ready-to-eat soups for enhanced taste and convenience. Prolon products are also HSA/FSA eligible.

If you’ve wanted to try a fast, I highly recommend this program. The science and transformation have made me a huge fan. Desert Health readers can receive a 10% discount using code DESERTHEALTH at www.prolonlife.com. Share your experience below!

Lauren Del Sarto is founder and publisher of Desert Health. Following her first Prolon fast, she became an affiliate partner to offer Desert Health readers promotional pricing and to encourage others to experience this life-enhancing longevity program.

Sources: 1) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225850403_History_of_Caloric_Restriction_Aging_and_Longevity; 2) https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(04)16428-3/fulltext; 3) https://prolonlife.com/blogs/stories/how-prolon-works-the-science-backed-path-to-longevity-and-so-much-more