Understanding the ProLon Diet: 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Meal Plan Review
A nutrient-focused approach that unlocks fasting benefits with hassle-free meals.
What Is the ProLon Diet?
The ProLon Diet is a five-day prepackaged meal plan designed to mimic the physiological effects of intermittent and prolonged fasting. Rather than abstaining from food entirely, you eat carefully designed plant-based meals that provide limited calories and nutrients, tricking the body into a fasting state while still allowing you to eat.
Developed by Dr. Valter Longo at the University of Southern California, the diet aims to deliver fasting’s potential benefits: weight loss, metabolic improvements, cellular rejuvenation, and cardiovascular health, all while avoiding the complete deprivation that traditional fasting methods entail.
ProLon Diet vs. Intermittent Fasting
Although often confused with intermittent fasting, the ProLon Diet is unique:
- Intermittent fasting alternates between periods of eating and not eating, but during fasting, you eat nothing at all.
- ProLon provides food each day but keeps calories, proteins, and carbohydrates low while focusing on healthy fats, designed to mimic fasting without complete restriction.
This means your body initiates some of the same physiological processes triggered by fasting, such as autophagy (cellular cleanup) and metabolic changes, but you are consuming specific nutrients throughout the program.
How Does the ProLon Diet Work?
The ProLon Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) is delivered as a boxed kit containing all meals and supplements for each day:
- Duration: 5 consecutive days per cycle
- Calories: Day 1 is about 1,100 calories; Days 2–5 drop to 700–800 calories per day
- Content: Lunch and dinner soups, nut-based bars, teas, crackers or olives, energy drinks, and nutritional supplements
- Meal Structure Example:
- Breakfast: nut bar
- Lunch: dried vegetable soup
- Snack: kale crackers or olives
- Dinner: heartier soup
- Dessert: bar
- Teas and supplements provided each day
- Repetition: Typically recommended once a month, for up to three consecutive months
Only foods from the kit are consumed during these five days. The plan is not meant to be DIY: the balance of nutrients, calories, and timing is key to its scientific design and intended effects.
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The Science Behind the Fast-Mimicking Diet
ProLon is based on research showing that specific dietary patterns can trigger fasting-like cellular pathways—notably:
- Activating autophagy, a process where the body clears out damaged cells
- Promoting cellular rejuvenation and reducing inflammatory markers
- Potentially improving metabolic health
Unlike simply cutting calories, the ProLon protocol carefully targets nutrient-sensing biological pathways associated with fasting. Research has been conducted on the commercial kit rather than homemade versions, emphasizing that results may not be replicated by doing your own low-calorie plan.
Benefits: What Can You Expect?
According to ProLon and research studies, potential benefits of the fasting mimicking diet include:
- Support for healthy aging and cellular restoration
- Metabolism boost and support for healthy blood sugar
- Lowered blood pressure
- Weight loss with maintenance of lean muscle mass
- Reduction in inflammation
- Convenient, pre-planned meals: no shopping or cooking required
| Benefit | Evidence Type | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Weight loss | Human clinical trial, ProLon users | Short-term (after 5-day cycle, repeated monthly) |
| Cardiovascular improvements | Animal studies, preliminary human data | Repetitive cycles (up to 3 months) |
| Cellular/Metabolic health | Lab studies, animal trials | Longer term, needs more human research |
Meal kits may also qualify for reimbursement through flexible spending or health savings accounts in some cases.
Disadvantages & Drawbacks
Despite its touted benefits, the ProLon Diet is not suitable for everyone. Significant drawbacks include:
- High cost: Each 5-day kit costs between $175 and $249, with recurring cycles recommended ($525+ over three months)
- Strict protocol may be difficult for those with food allergies or preferences
- May lead to dizziness, fatigue, headaches, and poor concentration during the low-calorie phase
- Not appropriate for those engaging in strenuous activity or exposed to extreme temperatures (hot tubs, saunas)
- Not a long-term lifestyle solution; repeated short cycles rather than ongoing maintenance
Who Should Consider—and Who Should Avoid—ProLon?
- May be beneficial for adults seeking structured weight loss or metabolic benefits and who can tolerate brief low-calorie periods
- Not suitable for pregnant/nursing women, children, those with eating disorders, diabetes, or serious medical conditions
- Anyone with food allergies should carefully check the contents before purchasing
- Consult a doctor before starting, especially if you have a medical history or take medications that impact blood sugar or metabolism
It is highly recommended to speak with a licensed healthcare provider before starting the ProLon Diet. Providers—from medical doctors to nurse practitioners and even some dentists, podiatrists, and optometrists—can approve patients to purchase ProLon under the company’s guidelines.
What Does ProLon Feel Like Day-by-Day?
Here’s a closer look at a typical five-day cycle:
- Day 1: Highest calorie intake (~1,100 calories). Most participants feel normal, may notice the new flavors and textures.
- Days 2–5: Calories drop (~700-800/day). Hunger, fatigue, and mild discomfort may occur as the body adapts. Menu remains similar but portions shrink. Herbal teas and supplements are included for flavor and support.
- Common experiences: Loss of energy, slight headaches, or feeling cold at times. Most symptoms are mild.
Coffee, alcohol, additional snacks, and non-kit foods are not permitted during the program.
ProLon Diet Cost Breakdown
| Item | Cost | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Single 5-day kit | $175–$249 | Depends on source, potential discounts for bulk orders |
| Monthly plan (3 months recommended) | $525–$747 | Not counting doctor consultation fees |
| Doctor/Provider purchase | Varies | May differ from ProLon official site pricing |
What Foods Are Included in the ProLon Meal Kit?
- Nut-based bars (breakfast, dessert)
- Plant-based soups (lunch, dinner)
- Kale crackers or olives (snack)
- Herbal teas
- Supplements (provided in the kit)
- Energy drink: Water with vegetable glycerin (certain days only)
The kit also includes a comprehensive guide on what to eat and at what times, aiming for a simple step-by-step experience.
Should You Try ProLon?
ProLon offers a novel, science-based approach to short-term fasting intended to deliver health benefits while providing some nutrition. However, it may not suit everyone due to its price, rigidity, and potential side effects. The majority of ProLon’s scientific evidence stems from animal studies and short human trials; more long-term data is needed before broad health claims can be made. Always consult with a doctor before making significant dietary changes, especially a fasting regimen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is ProLon the same as intermittent fasting?
A: No. ProLon is a fasting mimicking plan—low in calories and nutrients designed to trigger fasting pathways—while intermittent fasting typically involves periodic complete abstention from food.
Q: Can I substitute ProLon foods with my own low-calorie meals?
A: No. The kit’s composition is precisely balanced to impact nutrient-sensing pathways; substituting other foods could undermine the scientific basis and intended effects.
Q: Who should not use ProLon?
A: Children, pregnant/nursing women, those with diabetes, eating disorders, or other serious health conditions should avoid ProLon, as well as anyone allergic to ingredients within the kit.
Q: How often should I repeat the ProLon cycle?
A: The company suggests one five-day cycle per month, up to three consecutive months, then a doctor should evaluate further usage.
Q: What are common side effects?
A: Most users report mild hunger, headaches, fatigue, and some difficulty concentrating, especially in days 2–5 of the cycle.
ProLon Diet: Key Takeaways & Tips
- The ProLon Diet is a doctor-approved, 5-day fasting mimicking protocol with credible scientific roots.
- Structured meals and supplements are provided for you—no meal prep or guesswork required each cycle.
- Potential benefits include weight loss, metabolic improvements, and support for cellular and cardiovascular health.
- High cost and restrictive regimen are significant limitations.
- Consult your healthcare professional before starting or repeating ProLon, particularly with medical conditions or medications.
With thoughtful preparation and medical guidance, ProLon can be an interesting option for those seeking fasting’s benefits without complete deprivation. As always, keep your expectations realistic and pay attention to your own body’s signals.
References
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/prolon-diet
- https://theceliacmd.com/fasting-mimicking-diet-what-is-it-does-it-work/
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a29760789/prolon-diet-review/
- https://prolonlife.com/products/intermittent-fasting-bundle
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRR6Be9Lmp8
- https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/fast-track-health-inside-fasting-mimicking-diet
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