What is Prolon?
Prolon is a science-backed fasting program developed by Dr. Valter Longo after over 14 years of clinical research. The core of the Prolon program is a 5-day fast-mimicking diet that provides the benefits of fasting while still allowing you to consume nutrient-rich foods.
The meals and snacks in the Prolon box contain a precise ratio of plant-based proteins, healthy fats, complex carbs, and micronutrients. Each day you‘ll consume around 700-1000 calories from items like soups, nut bars, olives, teas and supplements.
The Prolon diet triggers a fasting response, allowing your body to enter a state of ketosis where it begins burning fat for fuel. In human trials, participants lost 3-7% of their body weight in just 5 days. Other benefits include reduced inflammation, improved blood sugar levels, enhanced cognitive function and cellular regeneration.
Prolon‘s fast-mimicking program is based on groundbreaking research on fasting and longevity conducted by Dr. Longo. His study on fasting and its impact on disease won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
What is Kroma?
Kroma Wellness offers a range of cleanse programs and functional foods designed to help you reset your health, lose weight sustainably, and form healthier habits.
Their signature 5-Day Reset package provides nutrient-dense meals and elixirs made from whole, organic superfoods. Over the course of 5 days, you‘ll consume around 1000-1200 calories spread across 9-11 eating occasions per day.
The Kroma diet focuses on removing toxins, reducing inflammation, restoring digestion and kickstarting weight loss. It‘s plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free and low-glycemic. Their box also comes with an OMG Cookie Butter that helps conquer cravings.
While Kroma‘s reset isn‘t technically a "fasting" program, you are meant to limit your eating window to 8-12 hours per day. This gentle fasting combined with nutrient-rich foods provides weight loss and detox benefits. However, since it‘s not truly "fast-mimicking", you likely won‘t experience the boosted autophagy (cellular cleansing) you get with Prolon.
Kroma was founded by Lisa Odenweller, a celebrity nutritionist and wellness expert in Beverly Hills. Her impressive list of clientele includes high-profile names like Jennifer Aniston, Rob Lowe and Sheryl Crow.
Prolon vs Kroma: Program Comparison
Now that you understand the basics of Prolon and Kroma, let‘s compare the key details of their 5-day cleanse programs:
Purpose
- Prolon: Fast-mimicking diet that triggers ketosis and autophagy
- Kroma: Gently fasting reset focused on detox, weight loss and healthy habits
Origins
- Prolon: Created by Dr. Valter Longo; backed by 14+ years of clinical research
- Kroma: Founded by celebrity nutritionist Lisa Odenweller
Calories Per Day
- Prolon: 700-1000 calories
- Kroma: 1000-1200 calories
Eating Frequency
- Prolon: 4 eating occasions per day
- Kroma: 9-11 eating occasions per day
Foods Allowed
- Prolon: Only Prolon meals & limited extras like herbal tea
- Kroma: Kroma meals plus optional extras like fruit and nuts
Benefits
- Prolon: Weight loss, autophagy, reduced inflammation, disease prevention
- Kroma: Weight loss, detoxification, improved digestion, healthier habits
Evidence
- Prolon: 16 published clinical trials
- Kroma: Anecdotal evidence and celebrity/influencer testimonials
Prolon vs Kroma: A Comparison of Taste and Food Quality
One of the most important considerations with a restricted diet program is whether you actually enjoy the food. Taste fatigue can quickly derail your progress.
Both Prolon and Kroma emphasize gourmet, nutrient-dense ingredients in their meal plans. However, when it comes to flavor variety, Kroma pulls slightly ahead:
Kroma
Kroma really focuses on delivering an incredible tasting experience. Their meals feature high-end ingredients like ceremonial grade matcha, collagen peptides, alkalized cacao and coconut yogurt.
With 9 eating occasions each day, you get more opportunity to enjoy different flavors. Standouts include their Beauty Matcha Latte, Blueberry Acai Smoothie, Thai Coconut Chicken Bone Broth and decadent OMG Cookie Butter.
Many Kroma reviews specifically praise the deliciousness factor. Some even complain the meals are too sweet or tasty, increasing cravings. Of course, results will vary by individual.
Prolon
Don‘t let Kroma‘s ultra-indulgent ingredients fool you. Prolon makes fasting delicious in its own right.
Soups come in comforting flavors like mushroom, minestrone and tomato. The bars taste like tasty granola treats with almond and cocoa. Herbal teas, olives and algal oils provide a savory, briny contrast.
The latest Prolon Gen 3 meals also provide bolder, more satisfying flavors than earlier versions. Recent reviews confirm the soups are creamy and filling while the snacks curb cravings.
Since you eat the same Prolon foods each day, some may experience taste fatigue. But the meal plan still beats bland juice cleanses. Exploring different seasoning combos helps keep things interesting.
Prolon vs Kroma: Which Offers More Customization?
When it comes to special diets like vegan, keto and food allergies/sensitivities, customization options are key.
As a fasting-style diet, Prolon necessarily restricts food choices to achieve a specific physiological response. So customization is limited. Kroma offers more wiggle room:
Kroma
Kroma lets you select either the Plant-Powered or Vegan Reset plan if you have dietary restrictions around animal products.
Their app also suggests optional add-ins like non-dairy milk, avocado, berries and nuts to personalize your daily calories and nutrients. You can customize further by excluding certain ingredients if needed.
Besides their standard 5-Day Reset, Kroma also offers a 7-Day Reset for extended support.
Prolon
As a science-based fast-mimicking diet, Prolon requires strict adherence to their provided meal plan. No customization or substitutions are permitted.
You can choose between the regular Prolon box or the Prolon Gen 3 box which contains bolder flavors. But the actual foods are the same.
Right now Prolon only offers a 5-day program. A vegan option would be game-changing, but Dr. Longo feels more research is needed to formulate vegan fast-mimicking meals.
For those new to fasting, Prolon‘s foolproof system makes compliant eating effortless. But those with greater dietary needs may feel too restricted.
Prolon vs Kroma: How Much Support Do They Offer?
Sticking to a reduced calorie fasting program can be challenging, especially if you feel hungry, tired or are experiencing side effects. So coaching and community can be invaluable.
Here‘s how Kroma and Prolon compare on support offerings:
Kroma
- Kroma FAST Track App: Daily guide, recipes, shopping lists, mindfulness exercises
- Private Facebook Support Group
- Nutritionist consulting for an added fee
- Wellness advisors available by text
Prolon
- Access to Prolon coaches via email
- Online FAQ and resources
- Option for add-on LABS coaching and telehealth provider access
Kroma has a clear edge when it comes to support due to their app, social platforms and one-on-one consulting options. Having an encouraging community and experts to turn to can make diet struggles feel more manageable.
Prolon‘s email-based coaches and self-serve diet resources are good backups. But those wanting more personalized guidance may feel isolated or overwhelmed at times. Adding a support forum could help address this gap.
Prolon vs Kroma: How Much Weight Can You Lose?
Natural weight loss results will always vary based on the individual and adherence levels. However, both programs cite impressive stats:
Prolon
In clinical studies of hundreds of participants, people lost an average of 5.7 to 7.6 pounds after 5 days on Prolon. Some lost up to a pound per day. For such a short program, these are incredible results.
The main driver of Prolon‘s weight loss impact is the diet‘s ability to mimic fasting. This allows the body to quickly enter fat burning ketosis mode for energy instead of carbohydrates. Reduced calories accelerate this response.
Appetite and cravings are also blunted due to the fasting state. This makes restricting easier. Some Prolon users felt hungry initially but adjusted after a few days.
Kroma
Kroma cites weight loss statistics on par with Prolon of about 6 pounds in 5 days. However keep in mind their reset is not actually fasting.
Reduced calories and lower glycemic load of Kroma meals encourage mild ketosis and appetite suppression. But results seem more mixed than Prolon fasting according to reviews. Some cite great weight loss while others struggle.
More consistent weight loss may require extending Kroma‘s tips on mindful eating and fasting beyond the 5-day period. Their more flexible program puts greater accountability on the individual.
Prolon vs Kroma: How Much Does it Cost?
Upfront cost can sway decisions too. Let‘s compare what you‘ll pay:
Kroma 5-Day Reset
- Signature Box: $395
- Refills: $385
- Plant-Powered or Vegan Box: $395
Prolon 5-Day Reset
- Original Box: $247
- Gen3 Box: $199
Clearly ProLon comes in at less than half the cost of the Kroma reset. However Kroma meals do feature more indulgent ingredients that come at a premium like collagen, maca and matcha.
Prolon offsets costs via larger production, simpler meals and a focus purely on efficacy vs taste. But hundreds of positive reviews confirm it over-delivers on value.
Both offer discounts for first-time vs repeat customers as you saw above. ProLon also provides discounts for larger bulk orders, healthcare workers and the military.
The Verdict: Which is the Best Option for You?
So when it comes down to deciding between Prolon vs Kroma, which fasting reset should you choose?
Here are key questions to ask yourself:
Are you looking for autophagy support or just a nutrition reset?
If cellular cleansing is your goal, Prolon is scientifically proven to boost autophagy.
Do you want gourmet, indulgent flavors or are you ok with simpler, whole food fare to get the job done?
Kroma wins for luxury ingredients and sweet flavors. But Prolon meals get top marks from folks focused on efficacy.
Is having greater customization important? Any food sensitivities or allergies?
With more flexible eating guidelines, Kroma can likely accommodate more dietary needs.
Is having extra support via coaching or an online community appealing?
Kroma offers far more support resources overall.
How much are you comfortable spending?
If budget is a top concern, Prolon can‘t be beaten at $199 for a 5-day supply. But for some, Kroma‘s higher price equals premium quality.
As you can see, each fasting reset has tradeoffs. There‘s no universally "best" option. But deciding which priorities matter most to you individually quickly reveals the right fit.
Based on the comparisons above, those wanting a simple, foolproof fasting approach backed by lots of research may lean towards Prolon. Foodies searching for a more bespoke and flexible cleanse experience will likely appreciate Kroma’s luxurious approach.
Whatever you choose, both programs offer easy-to-follow resources that set you up for short term success. Just be prepared that keeping weight off long-term still demands commitment to overall healthy eating habits and positive lifestyle routines.
Have you tried either the Prolon or Kroma fasting experience, or another brand? Share your thoughts in the comments!
