Dr. Nicholas Perricone is a dermatologist who promotes a special anti-aging nutrition program--the Perricone Anti-Aging Diet. His book, "The Perricone Prescription," details his recommended eating plan, along with suggestions for cosmetic preparations and supplements. He promises that this diet will reverse symptoms of aging, while improving your health and appearance.
Basic Tenets
Dr. Perricone proposes that you combat aging, obesity and most disease by adopting his 28-day anti-aging diet. His prescribed diet plan features an increase in foods with high antioxidant levels, along with the elimination of foods that contribute to inflammation--a factor in aging. The diet also promotes the consumption of a variety of nutritional supplements that boost your levels of vitamins, essential fatty acids and minerals. Perricone's anti-aging plan also limits your daily food intake to 1,450 calories, according to Ball State University.
Eating Plan
Dr. Perricone's anti-inflammatory food plan features lean meats and fish, like wild salmon, mackerel and sardines, all of which provides omega-3 essential fatty acids that may help to reduce inflammation, notes Consumer Reports. You can also eat poultry and soy proteins, like tofu. The plan allows you to eat vegetables, fruits and any carbohydrates that have a low glycemic load rating.
You must eliminate high-glycemic foods like bread, potatoes, and may only eat unsaturated fats from olive oils, nuts, seeds and cold-water fish. He also recommends substituting green tea and other beverages high in antioxidants for coffee, sodas and alcohol. Boost your water intake to a minimum of eight to 10 glasses of spring water daily.
Supplements
The list of supplements Dr. Perricone recommends for the anti-aging diet will give you additional nutrients and antioxidants that act as anti-inflammatory agents. This includes B vitamins, vitamins C and E, along with minerals like magnesium and calcium. He rounds out the list of diet supplements with a targeted group of anti-aging trace minerals and health boosters like coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, l-carnitine and carnosine.
Additional Diet Components
Topical antioxidants form the third element of Dr. Perricone's anti-aging diet. While the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods restore your body from the inside, you rejuvenate your skin from the outside with creams and other skin preparations. Dr. Perricone has patented the formulas for the topical cosmetics that you will use to complete the skin care regimen that completes his anti-aging diet. Therefore, you will need to purchase these items directly from Dr. Perricone's website.
Considerations
Quackwatch, a reputable health review site, questions the validity and logic of several of the claims Dr. Perricone makes for his anti-aging diet, notably that treating inflammation will reverse aging. His diet plan is low-calorie, but lacks supporting evidence for the role of 25 nutritional supplements the diet requires. His anti-inflammatory eating plan and cosmetic advice come from his personal experience and that of his patients. Epicurious notes that the diet's rich omega-3 and antioxidant content should decrease inflammation, which contributes to strokes and heart disease.
It is possible that following the reduced-calorie diet regimen could help you lose weight, and that your intake of dietary supplements might boost your health. However, the cost of the supplements and the topicals is significant. Consult your personal physician before you adopt this diet, which may not be appropriate for you.
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