The ProLon Fasting-Mimicking Diet. It is a pre-packaged meal regime produced by the National Institute of Health following 20 years of research at the USC, University of Southern California. The ProLon diet is a 5-day fasting-like diet that its author, Valter Longo, Ph.D., sells as a comprehensive meal plan.
Overall, ProLon is a plant-based diet that provides both macronutrients and micronutrients to achieve fasting-like benefits while minimizing the stress of fasting. The idea is to boost your metabolism while also making you feel invigorated and rejuvenated.
Vegetable-based soups, energy drinks, energy bars, chip snacks, tea, and a supplement containing vitamins, minerals, and vital fatty acids are all part of the diet. People who are on a diet are encouraged to eat only what is provided for their 5-day fast.
What Are Your Options?
Due to the ProLon Diet being a pre-packaged meal plan, its authors recommend that anyone following it should not eat anything other than what is provided by the meal plan. Soup mixes, kale crackers, oils, olives, herbal teas, l-drinks (mainly water and vegetable glycerin), and l-bars (nut-based snacks) are all part of the regimen.
What You Should Know
This diet is a 5-day meal plan that should be followed once a month at most, preferably for 6 months. Because each day’s worth of food is particularly designed to give a variety of nutrients, it is not advisable to mix and match the components of each meal.
A diet that mimics fasting, like the ProLon Diet, is low in calories, protein, and sugar while being high in unsaturated fats. As Dr. Connor points out, the food designed for the meal plan fools the body into believing it is fasting owing to the low caloric intake (low carb, high fat), but the meals are nutritionally sufficient to support your body.
What to Eat ProLon offers pre-packaged meals.
What You Shouldn’t Eat
Anything not covered by the plan
Pros and Cons
Intermittent fasting and calorie restriction have been found in studies to alleviate inflammation induced by high caloric consumption. This means that fasting can counteract the bloating caused by overeating, which is probably why this diet is commonly referred to as a cleanse.
The ProLon Diet, like other fasting-type diets, is only supposed to be followed for a maximum of 5 days each month. Subjects in a study who followed a fasting-like diet for a total of 3 months, 5 consecutive days each month, had a decreased body fat percentage and blood pressure. Intermittent fasting can lower body fat, which may help prevent type 2 diabetes and enhance cardiovascular health.
People who have used ProLon have experienced increased energy and fewer food cravings after completing the fast, according to Darria Long Gillespie, MD, an ER doctor and TEDx speaker. They have also noticed increased focus and clarity.
“Multiple cycles of ProLon may also [potentially] support overall metabolic health,” explains Dr. Gillespie. “I’m a big fan of intermittent fasting, as are many of my medical colleagues, but I find it extremely difficult to stick to.” I’ve always respected the research that went into ProLon.”
It is also hypothesized that intermittent fasting combined with energy restriction can help prevent cancer, though further research is required. Fasting and fasting-like diets, on the other hand, are known to cause hypoglycemia and dehydration. Those with diabetes should not fast or follow this diet in this regard.
Pros
- There was no planning involved
- There is food provided
- Health advantages are possible
- Short-term dedication
Cons
- Restriction on what you can eat
- Utilization is costly
- Dehydration or hypoglycemia may occur
- This is not a long-term solution
Is the ProLon Diet a Good Option for You?
Fasting and fasting-like diets have been shown to have certain health benefits when done carefully and responsibly. However, fasting can produce hypoglycemia and dehydration, among other symptoms, in certain people.
Fasting-like diets may have certain health benefits, such as lower blood pressure and improved cardiovascular health. However, if not followed properly, diets like this might be harmful. Before fasting or adopting any form of diet, always consult with a healthcare expert.
Health Advantages
People who practice intermittent fasting report feeling better overall and having more energy. Here’s a rundown of some of the ProLon Diet’s potential health benefits.
Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation occurs in the body when you overeat or consume specific meals. This phenomenon helps to explain why we feel “bloated” after eating too much. The ProLon diet simulates fasting, which is known to reduce inflammation by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, lowering body fat, and lowering leukocyte circulating numbers.
It may Aid in Weight Maintenance.
Fasting and fasting-like diets are known to boost metabolism and cause weight loss. Fasting-like diets, such as ProLon, are also intended to preserve muscle mass by providing nutrients that the body requires. One study found that three cycles of a fasting-like diet resulted in both weight loss and body fat loss.
Lowering Blood Pressure
While fasting-like diets are known to lower blood pressure, it was shown that the diet benefits people who are already at risk for disease. As a result, while it can benefit almost everybody, it is extremely useful for some.
May Benefit Cardiovascular Health
Intermittent fasting and fasting-like diets are known to produce weight loss, which has been related to improved cardiovascular health. As a result, persons who fast are less likely to develop heart disease. Even said, it should be emphasized that losing weight is not for everyone.
Diabetes Type 2 Prevention
Intermittent fasting has also been shown to slow the progression of type 2 diabetes. This advantage is inextricably connected to the weight loss and lower blood pressure that dieters experience.
Cancer Prevention
Fasting causes a “clean-up” of cells, which reduces the possibility of cancer cells developing. This school of thought believes that intermittent fasting can help prevent cancer, but further research is needed.
Health Dangers
If you have or are at risk for any health concerns, consult your doctor before fasting or following a fasting-like diet like this one. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or very active, you should avoid fasting or adopt a fasting-like diet.
Essentially, you should not fast if you are in a situation where you require extra nutritious sustenance than usual. Fasting is also not recommended if you are dependent on a stable diet, such as individuals with reactive hypoglycemia or diabetes. If you suffer unfavorable symptoms such as severe thirst or blood sugar fluctuations, you should always break the fast or diet.
If you are fasting or following a fasting-like diet, drink plenty of water and take a multivitamin every day. Fasting and fasting-like diets may deplete nutrients and produce dehydration, as well as hypoglycemia, in individuals who are prone to it.
To Conclude
Fasting, in general, as well as the ProLon Diet, is recognized to have various health benefits when done safely and effectively. Fasting, on the other hand, might be risky, especially if you have any health concerns or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Before fasting or adopting any diet, consult with your doctor.
While we do not support fad diets or unsustainable weight loss approaches, we do give the facts so that you can make an informed decision that best suits your nutritional needs, genetic blueprint, budget, and goals.
If weight loss is your aim, keep in mind that reducing weight isn’t always synonymous with being in optimal health, and there are many other methods to achieve health. Exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors all have a significant impact on your overall health. The best diet is one that is well-balanced and fits your lifestyle.