The GoodLife isn’t just a slogan, it’s a genuine way of life at Buena Vida Estates. Recently a joint venture, in partnership with the Cognitive Health Institute in Tampa, has presented residents with a comprehensive program to increase overall health, cognition, and quality of life.

The program arose from a belief that many chronic diseases associated with aging have inflammatory changes at their core. In addition, the typical modern diet with its high-carbohydrate load and low-nutrient density is predisposing people to inflammation.  Diets lower in carbohydrate and higher in nutrient density may be able to reduce inflammation. 

Regenerative therapies are also proposed to alter the body’s inflammatory response. As part of this program, the fourteen residents and four staff members who participated receive a combination of a monitored low-carbohydrate, nutrient-dense diet in combination with administration of platelet-rich plasma infusions that could reduce inflammation throughout the body thus improving quality of life and cognitive function.  

To go into greater detail:

• The current program was designed to last for 18 weeks, and started January 14th.
• The first six weeks are strictly focused on consuming a low-carbohydrate, nutrient-dense, fat-adaptive diet.  All meals are made on-site by the Buena Vida Estates culinary staff using the following ingredients: meats and seafood, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices, non-starchy vegetables, berries, dairy products low in carbohydrate, avocado, olives, and cooking oils low in omega-6 fatty acids like olive oil.  Participants are instructed to keep their carbohydrate intake low (below 65 grams a day), their protein intake adequate, and their fat intake high enough for satiety which is typically at or above 50% of their overall caloric intake.
• During the program, participants will also take supplements that support gut health and reduce inflammation like a probiotic and a fish oil supplement.
• After the first six weeks, participants are administered a platelet-rich plasma infusion that is provided by their own bodies.  Dietary intervention and follow-up testing continues for 12 more weeks after administration of the cellular therapy.
• Testing is done at baseline and every six weeks during the program and includes multiple inflammatory markers like C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Quality of Life questionnaires, and a functional test of cognition known at the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Throughout the program, participating residents work with a dietitian in both group and individual settings, who help them make adjustments as needed.

By reducing systemic inflammation, this program supports the bodies natural ability to heal and recover.  The goals of this joint venture are to improve the quality of life, maintain or improve cognitive function, and alleviate any pain or discomfort associated with inflammatory conditions or chronic disease.    

Results are already being seen and reported. One participant, a 62-year-old male resident, confirms he is seeing positive results.

“While we don’t know the effect yet on my cognition, three months into the study, there have been some obvious other benefits. The inflammation from the arthritis in my wrist has subsided enough that for the first time in seven years I’ve been able to serve a tennis ball. I’ve played tennis with my wife the past two weekends without the debilitating pain previously associated with serving a tennis ball.”

Menu choices that align with the program will continue, and numerous items had already been on our menu rotation. Options will now be notated as “AI” (anti-inflammatory).

The following are testimonials we received directly from participants in the CHI program at Buena Vida Estates. These were provided with permission to use as testimonials.