I've studied longevity for 35 years: Here's the 1 habit I won't change even for a longer life
Is Skipping Dinner Key to Living Longer?
Valter Longo, a longevity expert with 35 years of research, emphasizes the importance of diet, particularly the Mediterranean diet, in promoting longevity. He practices a fasting-mimicking diet, recommending a 12-hour daily fast. Despite the potential benefits of having a larger lunch and a smaller dinner earlier, Longo prefers a large dinner late in the evening due to his schedule, accepting this as a minor compromise in his otherwise health-focused lifestyle.
What is the relationship between the eating patterns endorsed by Longo and the diets of the world's longest-living people?
Valter Longo, a longevity expert, endorses an eating pattern that involves fasting for 12 hours daily, typically from 8 a2.m. to 8 p2.m. or from 7 a.m. to 7 p2.m., which he refers to as the fasting-mimicking diet. This dietary approach is aligned with the eating habits of the world's longest-living people, who typically consume most of their calories earlier in the day and follow a pattern that could be described by the adage "breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper134." This method is supported by scientific research suggesting that such eating patterns contribute to better health outcomes4. Despite the benefits, Longo personally chooses to eat a larger dinner later in the evening, a deviation from the ideal that he acknowledges as a compromise in his lifestyle2. This highlights a practical aspect of dietary guidelines: while they can be based on the habits of long-lived populations and supported by science, individual variations and lifestyle needs may influence personal adherence to these patterns14.
What is the one habit Valter Longo refuses to change, even if it might increase his lifespan?
Valter Longo, a longevity expert, refuses to change his habit of having a large dinner late at night. Despite understanding that it would likely be healthier to have a big lunch and a smaller dinner earlier in the evening, Longo finds that skipping lunch and eating a substantial dinner fits better with his schedule. He acknowledges that this eating pattern is not ideal but believes that the negative impacts are relatively minor, describing it as one of the compromises he is willing to live with.