Thanks to promising reviews from the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP, Health, and more, there’s a big buzz about a new fast-mimicking diet called Prolon. Developed by Dr. Valter Longo, the Director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California, the five-day diet is purported to promote cellular renewal, support metabolic health, enhance clarity and performance, and kick-start fat loss.
In truth, the program is not about fasting at all; it’s a kit with five days worth of meals and drinks that are formulated to help you trick your body into a fasting state (i.e. ketosis) as well as fend off hunger, trigger autophagy, and jumpstart weight loss.
Breakfast is a high-fat (darned tasty) bar. Lunch and dinner are freeze-dried soups that are reconstituted on the stove or in the microwave, which are not as bad as they sound (though they do conjure visions of astronaut food).
Sometimes meals are augmented by kale crackers or a handful of olives or a little crispy, slightly sweet dessert bar, and there’s a bounty of herbal teas in between.
Generally speaking, the daily caloric intake is close to 800 calories, except for the first day (more like 1200).
But most important, when we tried it, it did what it promised: ketosis, weight loss, and no hunger pangs at all along the way. It also is a blessing because there’s no thinking or meal planning that has to happen; Prolon does it all for you!
There’s an opportunity to speak to a real live “coach” if you have questions, and Prolon recommends that you do the program once a month for three consecutive months for best results.
Our team member tried it and after the first month, considered it a great “reset” that allowed the breaking of bad food habits and a path to a cleaner, more keto track, not to mention a quick drop of six pounds, much of which stayed off.
Prolon doesn’t come cheaply; it retails for close to $200. But there are tons of discounts offered on social media, making the cost closer to $170 and including an extra case of Prolon “intermittent fasting” Fast Bars, which are great keto ways to start the day after the fact.
It’s worth noting that Prolon considers itself a modified keto diet, and net carbs are more than 20 grams per day. Also, they recommend you do not try the diet without medical supervision if you are under 18, over 70, or have a diagnosed medical condition.
