I’ve wanted to interview Dr. Valter Longo for years, and today I finally get to! In this episode, we explore all things fasting — one of my favorite health topics — and especially the fasting mimicking diet, a precise system of fasting that he invented. In fact, his diet was granted one of the only patents in healthcare on promoting longevity and healthspan as well as treating diabetes.
Dr. Longo received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1997 and his postdoctoral training in the Neurobiology of Aging and Alzheimer’s Diseases at USC. He currently is the director of the Longevity Institute and professor of gerontology and biological sciences at the University of Southern California. He has made tremendous contributions in research related to longevity, aging, fasting, and metabolic disease. TIME Magazine has called him the Longevity Guru and named him one of the top 50 influential people in health, and I agree!
Episode Highlights With Valter Longo

What we mean when we talk about fasting, and the different types
Why a lengthy water fast may not be the most effective way to fast (and can in fact be dangerous)
How fasting protects normal cells from cancer
What recent research shows about using chemotherapy and the fasting mimicking diet together as cancer treatment
The best amount of protein to eat each day for longevity
How Dr. Longo defines healthspan (and why it’s disappearing)
Simple changes to make to what you eat and when that will make a big difference in weight and overall health
Why to try a fasting mimicking diet (and how often)
And more!

Resources We Mention

ProlonFMD (Dr. Longo’s fasting program)
The Longevity Diet by Dr. Valter Longo
The Valter Longo Foundation

More From Wellness Mama

201: Understanding Fasting & Keto for Women (Even During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding) + Instant Pot Tips
134: Five Benefits of Fasting, Autophagy, Diet Variation & Cellular Healing with Dr. Daniel Pompa
210: Why Most Detox Methods Are Dangerous & What to Do Instead With Dr. Shayne Morris
26: Fasting for Women & Music Therapy
Can Intermittent Fasting (Skipping Meals) Make You Healthier?
Reasons to Stop Eating at Night
Water Fasting Benefits, Dangers, & My Personal Experience

Have you tried a fasting mimicking diet? Are there other questions about fasting you’d like me to tackle here on the podcast? Please drop a comment below