How Does the Sirtfood Diet Work and Is It Worth Following?
The sirtfood diet is a new trend that has become popular among celebrities and movie stars. Its adherents claim that following this diet will keep you young, slim and muscular mass, and give your body the perfect look like the celebrities who also follow it. However, where did this diet come from and how does it work?
In this article, we will understand the details of the sirtfood diet, find out what foods are included in its diet, and how you can further improve your results by following this diet. If you want to try this diet or just learn more about it, this post is for you. Join us to learn all about the sirtfood diet and its potential benefits.
Understanding the Sirtfood Diet
We have enzymes in our bodies called sirtuins, and they play an important role in the aging process. Sirtuins are located mainly in the cell nucleus and mitochondria, the structural units of the cell that are responsible for energy production. As you know, the cell nucleus contains DNA, our genetic material. Sirtuins have the function of protecting our DNA from damage that can be caused by environmental and other factors. DNA damage is a major factor in aging, and sirtuins play a key role in preventing this damage.
The more effectively sirtuins work, the better they protect our DNA from damage. As a result, our DNA becomes less damaged, repaired and acquires characteristics that are characteristic of young cells. Sirtuins are often called “youth genes” and “slimness genes,” but they are actually enzymes that play an important role in maintaining health and slow aging.
Some studies show that activation of sirtuins can lead to weight loss and a decrease in adipose tissue levels, which may be associated with increased metabolism and improved insulin sensitivity. Thus, effective sirtuins may help not only to fight aging, but also to maintain a healthy weight and overall health. Also, this process can lead to loss of fat mass, but retain muscle mass, which contributes to resistance to various metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis.
In addition, as a result of optimal sirtuins, the body begins to behave like a young person or child who can consume fizzy drinks, ice cream and other sweets, yet not gain excess weight and maintain high blood counts. This may indicate that such people retain a high level of energy and vitality. In general, optimal sirtuin function can play an important role in maintaining health and preventing various diseases. However, to achieve this condition, certain rules must be followed, including a proper diet, a healthy lifestyle, and regular exercise.
Principles of the Sirtfood Diet and a List of Foods That Will Help You Get Rid of Excess Weight
The activation of sirtuins is a task that has attracted the attention not only of pharmacological companies but also of many researchers in the field of dietetics. There are many ways to stimulate sirtuins, but one of the most interesting ways is to use a special diet. In 2016, two nutritionists developed a unique diet that they claim can significantly activate sirtuins.
The basic idea behind this diet is to use certain foods that can stimulate sirtuins. These foods were selected based on research in genetics and nutrition. As a result, 20 foods have been identified that can be used as the main ingredients of this diet.
Among these foods are:
- Kale cabbage;
- red wine;
- strawberries;
- onions;
- soybeans;
- parsley;
- virgin olive oil;
- dark chocolate (85% cocoa);
- matcha (green tea);
- buckwheat;
- turmeric;
- walnuts;
- arugula;
- “bird’s eye” chili;
- amaranth;
- dates;
- red chicory;
- blueberries;
- capers;
- coffee.
According to research, certain foods in the sirtfood diet can stimulate sirtuins. However, in addition to the list of foods, the classic version of this diet also includes a special diet. In the first phase of the diet, a person must reduce calorie intake to less than 1,000 calories per day for the first three days.
During this period, the daily diet consists of 4 meals, of which 3 are green juices or smoothies, and one meal should be denser and more nutritious. For example, it could be chicken breast, salmon, nuts, etc. Not surprisingly, this dietary regimen causes a severe caloric deficit in the first three days, resulting in rapid weight loss in people following this diet.
From day 4 to day 7, two solid meals and two smoothie meals are allowed. This means that the total number of meals remains the same, four meals per day, but the food composition changes. The caloric content of food increases slightly and can be as high as 1,500 kilocalories per day. As a result of such a diet, people can lose weight, on average about 3 kilograms per week.
In the second week, the dietary changes continue: one meal is replaced with a smoothie, and the other three meals remain solid foods. This helps to further reduce the number of calories consumed and gradually lose weight. Keep in mind, however, that each body is different, so results may vary depending on many factors, such as initial weight, physical activity, age, etc.
This diet has a duration of about three weeks and can lead to a sense of improvement in health and appearance. Its proponents declare the appearance of alertness, freshness and restfulness, as well as a noticeable rejuvenation of the skin. After the three-week diet period is over, you can return to your normal diet, but if necessary, it can be repeated again.
To date, there are no studies that fully meet the requirements of evidence-based medicine to prove the effectiveness of this diet. The special literature does not provide information on any correlations between following this diet and its health effects. Thus, the benefits of the sirtfood diet remain the subject of speculation based on sirttein activation at this time. However, sirtfood activation has an evidence base regarding its effects on disease control and improved quality of life. Nevertheless, it is unknown how this all relates to the sirtfood diet and what specific benefits it may bring.
How Combining the Sirtfood and Mediterranean Diets Helps You Get Better Results?
There are many ways to improve the sirtfood diet, and one of them is to introduce elements from the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is a diet based on the traditional foods of the Mediterranean region that has been proven to be effective in maintaining health and longevity.
The basis of the Mediterranean diet is a food pyramid that begins with lots of vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables, which are preferably not processed. It is recommended to consume 2 to 3 servings of vegetables per day, which is about 600-700 grams.
The next step on the pyramid is fruit, which should also be consumed in 2 to 3 servings per day. This is followed by whole-grain cereals, various grains and legumes, as well as nuts, olive oil and seafood. Small amounts of dairy products may also be added to the diet.
Red meat should be limited to 500 grams per week in cooked form to avoid increasing the risk of oncogenesis and other undesirable effects. Overall, the Mediterranean diet is recognized as one of the healthiest diets in the world, and introducing its elements into the sirtfood diet can further improve its effectiveness.
Conclusion
So, we can conclude that the sirtfood diet has its benefits and sound principles, but it is not the most ideal diet to achieve optimal health. At the same time, there is the example of the Mediterranean diet, which is a well-studied and scientifically proven effective diet for health and longevity.
Thus, incorporating elements of the Mediterranean diet into the diet and into the sirtuin diet is a good solution for those seeking to maintain health and longevity. However, it should be noted that the best results can be achieved by following not only individual principles of the diet, but the whole Mediterranean diet as a whole.