Scientists have long suspected that severe calorie restriction promotes optimal health and longevity by stressing the body in a way that positively influences certain genes. But who wants to undertake a near-starvation diet for the prospect of living longer? The fabulous news is that we may not need to.

Dr. Floyd Chilton proposes that we can achieve the benefits of calorie restriction without actually cutting calories. Drawing on solid scientific evidence he illustrates how—by eating more of some foods and less of others—we can rewrite our genetic blueprint and lose weight, protect against “age-related” illness, and, ultimately, enjoy more healthy, vital years.

Along with this revolutionary new understanding of how food choices influence genes comes a challenge to conventional wisdom of what constitutes healthy eating. For example:

• fruits and vegetables reduce disease risk not because of their antioxidant properties—which actually
may prove harmful—but because of their bioactive compounds, which send signals to the pathway that determines gene expression
• certain types of salmon—a staple of many popular weight-loss plans—may be some of the worst choices for a gene-friendly diet
• omega-3 fats have been heralded as anti-inflammatories, but it’s the ratio of omega 3s to another fat that determines which genes get turned on and off

By identifying the genetic pathway that has been the missing link between diet and gene expression, Dr. Chilton takes healthy eating to a whole new level. Our food can truly be our medicine.