Book Report: The Longevity Paradox by Steven R Gundry, MD

I heard about this book when the author, Dr. Steven Gundry, was interviewed on the Impact Theory podcast (listen to it here); I was so intrigued by what he had to say that I went to the library the very next day to get the book, and devoured it in two sittings.   

Dr. Gundry’s main premise is that our health is dictated by what happens in our gut; that the gut is not even the “second brain” as some have theorized, but actually the first brain, because so much of our fate as human beings – our health, how we age, and even our behavior - resides in the millions of microscopic organisms in our microbiome, more specifically in our gut bacteria.  He covers some familiar ground, exploring grain-free and plant-based arguments from a slightly different angle; while introducing some other strategies to stimulate your stem cells and “wash” your brain at night through fasting.

The book does a nice job outlining the science of the gut and how disease both begins and can be stopped there, as well as debunking what he terms “The Seven Deadly Myths of Aging.”  It’s no surprise that animal protein, sugar, and wheat are bad actors in anyone’s quest for health; but Dr Gundry also outlines some pretty compelling evidence for the preventative properties of exercise, the importance of “washing” your brain, and the role of cholesterol in the blood stream that I hadn’t heard before.  One of the biggest “A-ha” moments for me was his discussion of the dangers of a heightened metabolic state and the glycation process (sugar + protein + heat = serious aging!).  This section of the book sent me immediately to consult my latest blood panel to see how my A1c level measured up, and according to Dr. Gundry, I have some serious work to do there.  Yikes.

A good amount of time is spent discussing the benefits of intermittent fasting, which I appreciated since I have only recently started experimenting with it.  Dr. Gundry’s advice is to limit your eating to a six-hour window for the best results – once a week if you are in good health, more if you are suffering from a degenerative disease.

The Longevity Plan consists of fast-mimicking days (900 calories/day once per month), free days (eating as much as you want of “good” foods), brain-wash days (18/6 intermittent fasting), and optional calorie restriction days.  The foods to avoid: dairy, grains, sugar, eggs, soy, animal products, nightshades, and fruits; a complete list of included foods, as well as meal plans and recipes are in the book.  Dr. Gundry gives plenty of modification advice for specific conditions, as well as suggestions for supplementation.

I’ll dig deeper into some of the specifics of the book later, once I’ve had a chance to read the supporting research and digest it (haha, pun intended).  In the meantime, I recommend picking up The Longevity Paradox and giving it a read yourself!