New Delhi (India), January 04: People have started to understand that health is eventually the most treasured thing that a man can possess. No matter how much wealth one has earned or how bigger one’s social circle is- it all comes down to how healthy one is to enjoy these big and little things in life.
Our very own Diet Expert Guru Simrat Kathuria says that she is slowly witnessing the transition of her clients who initially came just for weight loss and now have understood that being healthy is much more than just numbers on the weighing scale.
Since the beginning of time, researchers have studied different theories on staying in good shape and living a long life. One such research was conducted by biochemist Valter Longo, director at USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. He proposed a Longevity diet which was initially recommended for adults. But many of the young generations are also adopting this diet and making it their lifestyle.
The longevity diet has many proven benefits but is it practical to follow it throughout life? Let us know what this longevity diet actually is, how to follow it, its benefits, and drawbacks.
What is the purpose of the Longevity Diet?
We can say that a longevity diet is a fusion of several diets. Valter Longo took valuable points from several health plans. This is mostly a plant-based diet with very little meat and dairy. It consists of green leafy vegetables, fruits, oil, nuts, and seafood- basically things with low mercury levels. The point of including green veggies is the intake of more vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and less salt and saturated fats. Meat and dairy products are more processed and include saturated fat. Longo recommends having yoghurt and cheese in dairy products as it is more beneficial than milk.
It also includes periodic or, as we famously know it, intermittent fasting. This diet directs you to eat between 12 hours and fast for the rest of the day. It specifically asks you to avoid eating 3-4 hours before bed, which is particularly difficult for many people. Studies have shown that intermittent fasting helps control the glucose level in the blood and prevents chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, etc.
How to Follow a Longevity Diet?
According to Longo, you should start this diet by eating 800-1100 calories for 5 days to trick your body into believing that it is fasting. This process is called a fasting-mimicking diet. After these 5 days, you should switch to eating recommended foods in the 12 hours. You should repeat this diet 2 or 3 times a year.
Along with focusing on green and leafy vegetables, this diet also includes switching to olive oil. All processed meats, like sausages, salami, etc., are completely restricted. You can also have nuts and dark chocolate. People who are 65 and older should take more protein, but the younger lot should restrict their protein intake as well.
Benefits of a Longevity Diet
This diet was personally supervised by Valter Longo, and he wanted to ensure a way to a long and healthy life. According to his research, life expectancy can be increased from 5-12 years by excluding red and processed meat from your diet.
It has been proven repeatedly that a vegan diet is great for cardiovascular health. Foods that are rich in potassium, like fish and avocados, lower the risk of any heart disease.
This diet is quite beneficial if you want to lose that extra weight. It disciplines one’s eating pattern.
Drawbacks of the Longevity Diet
Simrat Kathuria, the owner of Diet Experts, says that for a diet to give its full impact, you need to make it your lifestyle. It is important to study and research a particular diet thoroughly before starting it so that you can decide in advance whether you want it to be your new eating lifestyle or not. And this diet is very difficult to follow throughout life. You may follow it once in a while as a process of detoxification, but this is not a permanent solution or lifestyle.
Although Longo suggests consuming multivitamins while following this diet, it is still not advisable for people to follow this diet who are already deficient. It may lead to further deficiency and may weaken your bones and immune system.
Longevity Diet is very recent; it is too soon to confirm whether this research stands up to its claims. Although the study and research are deep, there is not much evidence to prove if it increases your life span.
Conclusion
However good and true this diet might be, it all comes down to how dedicated and disciplined you are in following it. No amount of fad diets will work if you keep hopping from one diet to another and keep bouncing back to old habits in between. Magic happens from within- with your discipline and your honesty with yourself.