Product of the Week: Prolon 5-Day Program
The 5-Day program tricks your body into thinking that it’s fasting through caloric restriction, which the company claims has longevity benefits
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Prolon is the flagship product of L-Nutra, a nutrition technology company that touts longevity benefits. Prolon’s 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) is the first patented precision nutrition program that the company claims supports cellular rejuvenation and metabolic reset. Tried by celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Eva Longoria, the 5-Day Reset comes in five smaller boxes made up of soups, bars, snacks, drinks and supplements. Scientific studies have also found that FMD cycles are effective ways to reduce markers and risk factors for aging. Ranging from under 800 calories to around 1100 calories per day, the Reset provides everything you need for the duration of the program. So how does Prolon stack up to competitors like Kroma and Methodology? Athletech News put the 5-Day Reset to the test.
Pros
The program comes in fairly compact packaging that clearly demarcates which foods and beverages belong to which day. Each day consists of a nut bar for breakfast, a plant-based soup for lunch and dinner and snacks throughout the day. The snacks are olives and kale crackers. My personal favorite was the Choco Crisp bar, which was a subtly sweet treat to reward yourself for getting through the day. It also comes with supplements, which I found unique compared to competitors.
The newly upgraded program has better-than-ever soups, which made a big difference in improving the experience. Previously, the soups were dehydrated but now come in liquid form, tasting fresher than ever. My favorite was the tomato soup mix, which only had four grams of sugar and 110 calories but was filling and sweet.
While you will likely lose a few pounds over the course of the five days, the better aspect of the program is that it forces you to “reset” your cravings and habits, making it easier to resist unhealthy foods by day six. It was incredibly easy to pack the food and beverages for consumption throughout the day, no matter your schedule. For the soups, access to a microwave or store is needed (unless you’re okay with cold soup).
Cons
One of the most difficult parts of Prolon for a serial exerciser was that it was fairly difficult to do the program and maintain my cardio and strength routines. Unlike other programs like Kroma, which allows for supplementation (I sometimes added meats to the broths), Prolon has been scientifically crafted around its fasting science. Therefore, light exercise is likely best (yoga, stretching and light walking) given the caloric restrictions. It also doesn’t allow coffee, which may be tough for caffeine addicts (like me). However, similar to my experience with Kroma, I found my caffeine dependence subsided after a few days. More generally, the program is difficult—by day three, the calorie deficiency becomes mentally and physically very challenging. For $185 (for the expanded variety version), the program is not cheap, either, so you need to be willing to make the investment into the reset (and commit to following the program).
Overall, while the program is difficult for those new to fasting, the experience definitely helps your body hit reset on nutritional and longevity goals. For its health benefits, as well, the food and beverages are appetizing and portable. If you’re looking for a big reset on your nutritional goals this year, look no further than Prolon’s 5-Day Reset.