The Longevity Factor

By Joseph Maroon
Atria Books, $26.95, 368 pages

The hype about the actions of certain plant molecules within the human body has really increased in the last two decades. Starting with links between the French habit of wine drinking and their lower rates of heart disease, research into polyphenols, and specifically resveratrol, has lead to many extravagant claims of extended and healthier life spans. The reality may, as is often the case, be more complicated or not quite as easy as taking a pill to offset bad physical and eating habits. In The Longevity Factor, neurosurgeon Maroon explores resveratrol, fish oil, calorie restriction and other possible ways to extend life and increase health along the way.

There isn’t a lot of critical analysis of the smaller study’s findings, something that is necessary when many of the clinical trials only consist of a couple hundred people. But for the studies that have been done, Maroon covers them in regards to how better eating of specific types of foods, or supplements, can potentially help prevent or correct diabetes, strokes, cancer, Alzheimer’s and more. He provides a number of resources for people interested in taking supplements, including manufacturers and the amounts of active ingredients included. There are also a couple of chapters on creating a good life balance, and suggested diet menus for longevity and weight-loss, focusing on healthy foods, balanced meals, and my personal favorite, wine with dinner every night. Even though Maroon is obviously an advocate of resveratrol and polyphenols, the book doesn’t come across as an infomercial sales pitch for any particular brand or supplement.

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