Cellular Magic Happens
WHEN YOU STOP EATING
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Think of your body like a house that needs regular maintenance. Over time, things wear down and need repair – that’s exactly what happens inside your cells too. This natural process of renewal is what keeps us feeling young and vibrant. When we take a break from constant eating through strategic fasting, we’re essentially giving our body’s maintenance crew the space to work their magic.
Dr. Valter Longo’s fascinating research shows that these short breaks from food activate powerful cleaning and renewal processes that have been part of our biology for thousands of years. It’s like pressing a refresh button on your cellular health. Learn how this works in today’s episode.
Understanding the Science of Longevity
The science is remarkable: during periods of caloric restriction, your body initiates autophagy—a process where cells digest their own damaged components and recycle the materials to create new, healthier cellular structures. Simultaneously, your stem cells shift from a dormant state to an active regenerative phase, preparing to rebuild tissues more efficiently when nutrition is reintroduced. Dr. Longo, who recently appeared on the Rich Roll podcast, returns to our show to explain how his Fasting Mimicking Diet® (FMD) triggers these precise biological pathways through $36 million worth of research that’s revolutionizing our approach to longevity medicine.
What is the science behind the reset? The cellular transformation during fasting occurs in two distinct phases…. Read more!
In today’s episode, Dr. Longo and I explore:
• Autophagy… the cleaning of aging and damaged cells
• Why fasting specifically targets belly fat while preserving lean muscle mass during refeeding
• The molecular mechanisms that allow fasting to reduce biomarkers for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes
Meet Dr. Valter Longo
Dr. Valter Longo is the Director of the USC Longevity Institute and was named one of TIME’s 50 most influential people in healthcare. His research focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of aging and developing interventions to reduce age-related diseases.
