Maura Fanti, PhD, Research Assoc. Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at USC

Want to live longer? It's all about our food. In fact, "we are what we eat" isn't just a phrase about weight. Maura Fanti, researcher at USC's longevity institute, has been connecting the benefits of calculated fasting and metabolism, inflammation, and a healthier life, and she says to live longer, we need to give our digestive system a break. Please welcome Maura to our show, who joins us to discuss how fasting doesn't just help shed pounds, it can increase our life span, too. She talks about the benefits to our liver, which we know filters out toxins in our systems, and she wants people to be educated to make healthy decisions because our lives literally depend on it. Maura is from Italy and studied at the University of Calgary before joining USC, and she points to how the American diet is so radically different from the Italian diet, and how incorporating proper fasting with certain foods can drastically reduce inflammation, which we all know is the culprit to declining health and weight gain. And we don't have to fast all day. Maura gives us practical tips on the best way to achieve a healthy fast without feeling famished. I met Maura at an event sponsored by @ItalyInLA and @IICLosAngeles, and we spent some time discussing how to get people to make healthy, which is often difficult, but perhaps approaching from a clinical perspective might be more beneficial. We'll talk about that, in addition to her early work in Italy, eventually leading her to Los Angeles. And she's one of our featured guests as part of Italian Heritage Month. Please welcome Maura Fanti to our #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, & #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I'm your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us. @maurafanti #food #italianheritage