In our last edition, I wrote about the Fasting-Mimicking Diet (FMD) created by modern longevity expert Valter Longo, PhD. The evidence-based programs from L-Nutra provide nutritional meals that bring your body into a fasting state, leading to cellular reset through ketosis and autophagy. The health benefits are well documented in peer-reviewed journals via clinical trials with Harvard, Yale, Stanford, UCLA and USC over the past 25 years. I was so impressed with the results from my first FMD, which the company sent me, that I purchased two more rounds and completed them within the recommended three-month timeframe. From here, I plan to do them quarterly. Within the last year, L-Nutra’s medical division, L-Nutra Health, started offering its comprehensive program to employers as an employee wellness initiative. It is not a program for a specific condition; rather, anyone can participate to improve metabolic factors, support diabetes remission, or focus on prevention and longevity. Instead of addressing one aspect of health, such as smoking cessation or weight loss, this program promotes lifestyle factors and food as medicine. Beyond the five-day prepared organic meals, participants receive one-on-one coaching, educational webinars, twice-monthly registered dietitian visits and lab work. Employers receive quarterly outcome reports to track progress. “Our program specifically incorporates a lifestyle medicine curriculum,” says Ashley Bizzell, RD, LDN, CDCES, L-Nutra's director of clinical nutrition and global training. “We want to treat the whole person by addressing the foundations of health: nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management and avoidance of risky substances, while also creating connectivity and purpose.” The number of companies offering employee wellness programs has increased 107% since the beginning of the pandemic.¡ The success of these programs depends largely on the company's culture, along with the structure and support employees receive.¢ Bizzell says many programs see a sharp fall-off rate after three months when the initial excitement wears off. However, the average length of stay in L-Nutra Health’s six-month metabolic program is seven months, because most people want to continue. She adds that L-Nutra’s net promoter score (NPS), a global customer loyalty metric, is 85, whereas the global average is 32.¥ From my experience, I understand why. “The goal for employers is to reduce healthcare costs by having a healthier workforce,” says L-Nutra’s Vice President of Growth Renee Fitton, MS, RDN. “Our program allows us to effectively measure outcomes through improved biometrics.” L-Nutra Health offers individualized programs for longevity (3 months), metabolic health (6 months) and diabetes remission (12 months). Employers may choose to offer one or all three programs. Employees then opt to participate and, according to Fitton, appointment retention averages an impressive 95%. Currently, employers pay for the L-Nutra Health program at a monthly cost of $149–$299 per participating employee (if employees discontinue the program, the employer is not charged). This includes all the elements described above, plus one week a month of prepared meals that employees take home. The L-Nutra team handles all implementation, including on-site education by medical professionals. This year, the company is launching a six-month clinical trial with a large insurer and working toward widespread coverage for the FMD program. Initial outcomes are scheduled to be announced in early 2027. I love the thought of co-workers taking part in this program together. One of the things I enjoy the most is the educational webinars led by registered dietitians that start each day of the five-day fast. Participants are encouraged to share thoughts, comments and questions, which others answer, creating a strong sense of community, support and inspiration. Identifying your “why” is a motivating part of the program, and the best answer I’ve heard is, “I’m training to be 90.” The FMD results are very infectious. It’s easy to see how one person’s success can inspire others, building a healthier community at large. Groups, organizations and individuals interested are encouraged to reach out as well. Lauren Del Sarto is founder/publisher of Desert Health and can be reached at Lauren@DesertHealthNews.com. For more information on the L-Nutra Health employee programs, visit www.l-nutrahealth.com. For more information on the Fasting-Mimicking Diet, visit www.prolonlife.com. References: 1) https://deserthealthnews.com/story/a-new-fan-of-fasting-for-life/; 2) https://l-nutrahealth.com/pages/science; 3) www. myshortlister.com/insights/workplace-wellness-trends-report-2026; 4) https://hbr.org/2024/10/why-workplace-well-being-programsdont-achieve-better-outcomes; 5) https://www.surveymonkey.com/learn/customer-feedback/net-promoter-score-benchmarks-customerloyalty/. www.DesertHealthNews.com September/October 2026 Integrative Medicine The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 13 www.cellrejuvenationspa.com Reset Your Body. Restore Your Balance. Feel Your Best. Relaxation-focused therapies designed to support your nervous system and overall well-being Why PMST and Spinal Flow Work? The body can hold onto stress and tension from daily life. These therapies are designed to support the nervous system and help the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state. Clients often experience: A greater sense of ease in the body Improved relaxation and circulation A feeling of alignment and renewal Physio-Magnetic Transduction • Promotes relaxation and overall comfort • Supports mobility and body awareness • Encourages natural recovery processes Spinal Flow • Helps release built-up tension • Supports nervous system balance and mind-body connection • Encourages a sense of alignment and ease Purification Wrap • Supports relaxation and lymphatic flow • Encourages a refreshed, lighter feeling • Promotes full-body renewal Electro-analgesia + IV • Promotes relaxation and overall comfort • Available through physician-directed care • Typically 24 sessions per week • One IV session per week By appointment only 760.556.5781 44 419 Town Center Way, Ste. 134 Palm Desert cellrejuvenationspa.com Medicare accepted The nutritional element of the program is five days of macronutrient-rich meals. Should We Return to Full-fat Dairy? Continued from page 12 rather than relying upon the mixed bag of saturated fats from full-fat dairy products. With the number of people taking the C15 supplement growing globally, will this result in a new cohort of super-agers, or just financial success for the author? Since most people cannot afford, or may choose not to take, the supplement, a major weakness of this book is that Venn-Watson fails to provide clear dietary recommendations for achieving healthy C15 levels. Joseph Scherger is the founder of Restore Health Disease Reversal in Indian Wells, a concierge primary care clinic dedicated to reversing chronic conditions through lifestyle medicine. For more information, call (760) 898.9663 or visit www.restorehealth.me. References: 1) Khan MAB, Hashim MJ, King JK, et al. Epidemiology of Type 2 Diabetes – Global Burden of Disease and Forecasted Trends. Epidemiol Glob Health. 2020;10(1):107-111; L-Nutra Offers ‘Food as Medicine’ Employer Programs By Lauren Del Sarto “We want to treat the whole person by addressing the foundations of health...while also creating connectivity and purpose.” — Ashley Bizzell, RD, LDN, CDCES
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