We’re constantly told breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Sugar is the enemy. And skipping meals is a health hazard.
But not for Dr. Silvio Garattini, a respected name in pharmacology and cancer research in Spain.
At 96, the renowned Italian oncologist and pharmacologist lives by a routine that would shock most nutritionists.
His mornings start with coffee — and then another. No food. No breakfast.
Lunch? Just some orange juice and a couple of cookies.
Only at dinner does he indulge in a full meal, complete with dessert. And yes, that includes sugar.
The sweet truth about longevity
In a recent interview, Garattini defended his unconventional diet. According to him, the brain needs about 90 grams of sugar a day — from both simple and complex sources.
“For example, I don’t say no to a small dessert in the evening”, he said confidently to Diariodenavarra.es.
Despite decades of warnings about sugar consumption, he remains in excellent health. The only medicine he takes is a blood thinner for mild atrial fibrillation.
He hasn’t taken antibiotics in over 40 years.
Still walking, thinking and shaking up the system
Garattini doesn’t just challenge ideas about food. He’s also critical of modern medicine, warning that it has become a commercial market.
Too many people, he says, are overmedicated — especially with antibiotics. In his view, prevention should come before pills.
At nearly 100, he still walks five kilometers a day, calling it a form of meditation. He writes books, attends conferences, and speaks out on public health.
And while others obsess over superfoods and supplements, he sticks to coffee, cookies, and dessert — and keeps going strong.
This article is based on information from Diariodenavarra.es.
