Fast for your health
How to become healthier with a five-day diet
Sergey Manukov, "Expert Online"A diet imitating fasting (DPP) is a diet that lasts for a short period of time and repeats cyclically. This is the name of the diet, which was developed by scientists at the University of Southern California and which reduces the number of calories by 30-50% of the usual daily volume.
California nutritionists are considered recognized authorities on DPP. Last year, they found that it improves the overall condition and benefits the body in the long term (see the note "Regular fasting protects and rejuvenates the immune system" – VM). Now American scientists have discovered another advantage of the five-day diet. As it turned out, it slows down the aging process in the body and is even able to prolong life.
"It is difficult to observe strict hunger strikes," Walter Longo, professor at the School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California and director of the Longevity Institute at the university, explained to the Daily Telegraph.- Besides, they can be dangerous. Therefore, we have developed a complex diet that activates the same mechanisms and gives the same results. I personally tested both diets and came to the conclusion that DPP is much easier and much safer. DPP, I think, is also able to prolong life, but more importantly, it successfully fights diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and other diseases associated with aging of the body.
(The press release of Diet that mimics fasting appears to slow aging is published on the University of Southern California website, and the article by Brandhorst et al. A Periodic Diet that Mimics Fasting Promotes Multi-System Regeneration, Enhanced Cognitive Performance, and Healthspan – in the journal Cell Metabolism – VM.)
Experiments on mice have shown that a restrictive diet increases the number of stem cells in organs, including the brain. Stem cells activate the creation of new neurons that improve memory and cognitive abilities.
When middle-aged mice were put on DPP, their immune system strengthened, the decrease in the content of minerals in bones slowed down, the number of cancer and inflammatory diseases decreased. The old mice also had improved memory and cognitive abilities.
During an experiment on humans, it turned out that after three months, biomarkers associated with aging, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases decreased in participants, as well as the fat content decreased. At the same time, they were allowed to return to their usual diets for the remaining three and a half weeks, regardless of whether they were useful or harmful.
Diagram from an article in Cell Metabolism – VM
A diet imitating fasting is divided into two stages: the first day and the remaining four days. On the first day, it is necessary to reduce the number of calories absorbed to 1090. Moreover, the diet should consist of 10% protein, 56% fat and 34% carbohydrates. On the days from the second to the fifth, the number of calories decreases to 725. The diet also changes somewhat: proteins – 9%, fats – 44% and carbohydrates – 47%.
According to California scientists, DPP has a depressing effect on growth hormone, which is associated with the risk of cancer. Ultimately, it slows down the aging process of the body.Professor Longo believes that for most normal people it is enough to get on the DPP every three to six months. Overweight people can do this more often, for example, every two weeks.
Despite the belief in his invention, Walter Longo recommends that you definitely consult a doctor before going on a similar diet.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru19.06.2015