The Longevity Diet

"The Longevity Diet" by Dr. Valter Longo distills decades of research on nutrition, aging, and disease into a comprehensive dietary approach aimed at optimizing health and extending lifespan. Longo, director of the Longevity Institute at USC, bases his recommendations on both laboratory studies and observations of centenarian populations around the world, creating a unique evidence-based approach to nutrition for longevity. At the core of Longo's approach is a largely plant-based, pescatarian diet that emphasizes moderate protein intake, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and limited feeding windows. The book also introduces the concept of the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD), a periodic 5-day modified fasting protocol that Longo's research suggests can produce many of the benefits of prolonged fasting while being more sustainable and safe. Throughout the book, Longo carefully distinguishes between dietary approaches for longevity versus those appropriate for specific populations such as athletes or those with certain medical conditions.