Prolon 5-Day FMD Interview with Melanie Murphy Richter & Taylor Colvey
May 19, 2025
This meeting featured a discussion with Melanie Murphy Richter, a registered dietitian nutritionist and Director of Communications at L-Nutra Health. Melanie discusses various fasting approaches and their benefits, focusing on the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) offered by L-Nutra. Melanie explained the differences between intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating, and prolonged fasting, highlighting the potential health benefits of each method, including improved metabolic flexibility, weight loss, and cellular rejuvenation. The conversation also covered the safety and suitability of FMD for different groups, its potential impact on gut health and various medical conditions, and the development of new product versions to enhance user experience and accessibility.
L-Nutra's Fasting Approaches Discussed Taylor introduces Melanie Murphy Richter, a registered dietitian nutritionist and Director of Communications at L-Nutra, the parent company of Prolong and L-Nutra Health. Melanie joins the conversation from her patio on a beautiful spring day. Taylor plans to ask Melanie about the differences between various fasting approaches and other topics related to L-Nutra and Prolon.
Intermittent Fasting vs Prolonged Fasting
Melanie explains the differences between intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating, and prolonged fasting. She describes intermittent fasting as caloric restriction within a 48-hour period, with time-restricted eating being a common form that involves designated eating and fasting windows within 24 hours. Melanie highlights the benefits of intermittent fasting, including improved metabolic flexibility and potential weight loss. She then explains that prolonged fasting, lasting more than 48 hours, activates autophagy, a cellular cleaning process that can help reduce chronic diseases and benefit aging pathways. Melanie recommends doing prolonged fasting a few times a year, while intermittent fasting can be practiced more regularly.
Prolonged Fasting Benefits and Programs
Melanie explains the benefits of prolonged fasting and autophagy, including reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and potential effects on Alzheimer's and mental health. She describes L-Nutra's two main offerings: Prolon for prevention and wellness, targeting healthy individuals aged 18-80, and L-Nutra Health, a medical division offering personalized programs for those with existing metabolic conditions. Melanie then introduces the fasting-mimicking diet, a 5-day program designed to provide cellular rejuvenation benefits without complete food deprivation, making it safer and easier to follow than traditional prolonged fasting.
Fasting Mimicking Diet for Visceral Fat
Melanie explains that the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) program targets visceral fat, the most dangerous type associated with chronic disease, while protecting muscle mass. She emphasizes that this approach is superior to other weight loss methods, as it ensures the right type of weight loss and maintains metabolically active muscle tissue. Taylor shares her personal experience with the FMD, noting its advantages over water fasting and praising the program's ease of use and high-quality food options.
Fasting-Mimicking Diet vs GLP-1 Medications
Melanie discusses the safety and suitability of the fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) for various groups, including pregnant women, people over 65, and those with a history of eating disorders. She then addresses the use of GLP-1 medications, comparing them to the FMD. For those using GLP-1s solely for weight loss, Melanie recommends considering the FMD as a more sustainable alternative, citing concerns about muscle loss with GLP-1s. For diabetic patients using GLP-1s, she suggests working with medical professionals to incorporate FMD and reduce medication use over time potentially. Melanie emphasizes the cost-effectiveness and comprehensive nature of their programs compared to GLP-1 medications, especially given recent changes in access and pricing.
Fasting Mimicking Diet and Gut-Brain Axis
Melanie discusses the potential benefits of the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) on gut health and the gut-brain axis. She explains that preclinical studies show three consecutive cycles of FMD can positively alter the microbiome, favoring beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and strengthen the gut barrier. Melanie also highlights how FMD may improve neurotransmitter function in the gut by reducing problematic microbes, potentially impacting mood and behavior. She emphasizes that most of their research focuses on three consecutive monthly cycles of FMD before transitioning to a maintenance phase.
Positive Results From Customer Surveys
Melanie shares positive results from customer surveys, with 80% of participants feeling more energetic and motivated after following their program. She also mentions a recent study on diabetic patients that showed significant improvements in insulin levels, weight loss, and muscle benefits. Notably, participants in the FMD program increased their physical activity by 6 hours per week on average, while those on a regular calorie-restricted diet decreased activity by 3 hours. Melanie highlights upcoming research tracks for L-Nutra Health, including IBS, IBD, PCOS, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia.
Next Gen Prolon Soup Differences
Melanie discusses the differences between the original Prolon and the new Next Gen version. The Next Gen soups are ready to eat without rehydration, contain visible food chunks, and are 100% organic. They also lack inulin, making them easier to digest for some people. Melanie mentions that an expanded variety of Next Gen is in development, offering more flavor options. Taylor shares her excitement to try Next Gen and mentions her mother's difficulty completing the original Prolon due to autoimmune issues.
Fasting Strategies for Chronic Conditions
Melanie discusses strategies for introducing fasting to people with chronic conditions or sensitivities. She recommends starting with the one-day reset once a week for a couple of weeks, followed by intermittent fasting with a 14:10 schedule. Melanie emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body and gradually increasing tolerance. She also suggests focusing on a whole plant-based diet before starting the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD). Melanie concludes by highlighting that the FMD's purpose is to promote long-term health and meaningful longevity.
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