February 25, 2020

The ticking clock is often used as a metaphor for life. But is a tick-tock approach to the advancing years an accurate way to measure the aging process? Dr. Joseph Antoun, a physician and CEO of the nutrition technology company, L-Nutra, believes a “biological aging score” is the best way accurately to assess our state of health. He says the human body has the potential to age more slowly than its chronological age, and health care should be based on a better understanding of how well our bodies are performing, from the inside.

Los Angeles-based L-Nutra was founded by the longevity scientist, Dr. Valter Longo, to develop and market a fasting mimicking diet. In this LLAMA podcast interview, with Peter Bowes, Dr. Antoun explains the philosophy and science behind a dietary intervention that is designed to promote longevity.

NOTES & QUOTES

In this interview we cover:

• Why aging is the biggest risk factor for the deadliest diseases of old age.
• Changing the medical paradigm to move away from pills and treatments post-disease onset.
• Engaging with new technology and science to keep people healthy.
• Investing more in disease prevention.
• Partnering with Dr. Valter Longo, director of the USC Longevity Institute, to develop the fasting mimicking diet (FMD).

Listen to Prof. Valter Longo discussing his work and the science behind the fasting mimicking diet.

Episode 1: Periodic fasting for long-term health

Episode 46: Living to 110 on a science-based diet

Background reading: Prof Longo’s book: The Longevity Diet 

• Living healthier, longer and perhaps changing the world through dietary changes.
• What does L-Nutra stand for?
• The value of the prolonged fast and what happens to the body over 5 days of dietary restriction.

“Aging is itself is not a disease, it’s a physiological process, but it’s the biggest determinant of your exposure to diseases.”

• The difference between a fasting mimicking diet and a total water fast.
• Weight loss, the short-term ticket, and the 5-day plan.
• Why the FMD is focussed on the long-term ticket – longevity and health span.

“We should pay tremendous attention to aging, not just chronologically but biologically, meaning how well is our body from the inside.”

• Why the word ‘diet’ may be misleading.
• Learning from the mass production and use of a product based on fasting.
• The emotional impact of the FMD.

“I think biological aging should be the unit of measurement in healthcare.”

• Measuring the impact of a dietary intervention on a person’s potential to age better.
• The value of a biological aging score as a unit of measurement for healthcare.
• Why Americans are living shorter lives, contrary to the popular belief that people are surviving for longer.

The Live Long and Master Aging podcast shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.