Go UnPro: A Doctor’s 52 Week Journey to an Unprocessed Life
Go Un-Pro with Dr. Brent W. Laartz, MD FIDSA: Living an Unprocessed Life for Longevity and Healthspan
Have you ever known that something is SO good for you that you just can't wait, but life gets in front of you and prevents you from doing it? The inaction and procrastination could occur for a variety of reasons, and we will delve into my motivations and affirmations of a healthy life from this day forward. I am starting this series of videos and articles so that I can be accountable to myself regarding the changes in my diet that I REALLY NEED to survive into my 90s without heart disease, dementia, and arthritis. And hopefully, as you follow along, you can make your own improvements that will extend your life and prevent the horrible illnesses that are heart disease, dementia, and arthritis.
Can I introduce myself? I'm Dr Brent W. Laartz, and I am an Infectious Diseases physician with a Master's in Neuroscience, author, creator, and entrepreneur. I've been involved with medical education for almost all my life and have been sharing my knowledge, teaching students, patients, and other doctors as faculty of a medical school, in hospitals, and clinics around the world. I’m ashamed to admit that I have lived a life of processed foods despite knowing the facts that are stacked against me if I continue living this way. My most recent research into longevity and its connection to our diet, exercise, sleep, and mental health, all with help from our microbiome, the bacteria living in our body, has me wanting to shout this information to the masses from the rooftops! This is so important that I am going to communicate what I have learned in every forum possible. Simply put, I am not going to do it anymore, and I am going to stay accountable to myself so that I follow through with it this time.
Hence, the launch of this podcast, which I have been wanting to do for quite some time now. In addition, I am also launching publicly available Master courses that will delve incredibly deeply into the science behind diet and other interventions that will help me live well into my '90s and 100s, but not just live, but REALLY live! This is the concept of Healthspan. I know there are a lot of billionaires who are prominent in the media, trying to live forever, spending millions of dollars, but I am here to prove you can do it without spending a lot of money. The interventions I am doing will cost a little more money, but my budget is to only increase expenditures by a few $100 a month.
Listen on:
Episodes
Apr 20, 2026
Apr 20, 2026
1hr 8 min
Speaker-Organized Summary: Key Points, Decisions, and Next Steps
Dr. Brent Laartz
Key Points & Decisions:
Continuing the "Go Unpro" journey to an unprocessed life, building on progress from Week 1
Focusing on 4 pillars of longevity: diet, exercise, sleep, and social connection
Instituting a low-sugar, high-fiber, mostly plant-based diet
Avoiding processed foods, plastic containers, and seed oils
Implementing time-restricted feeding/intermittent fasting
Tracking habits and progress using apps for accountability
Next Steps:
Eliminate fast foods, limit packaged foods, and avoid soda this week
Drink 32oz of water twice daily
Eat berries daily, trying a new fruit/veggie each week
Aim for 40 different fruits, nuts, and veggies per week for microbiome
Incorporate 3 days per week each of cardio and resistance training
Improve sleep hygiene by reducing light exposure at night
Reconnect with someone you haven't spoken to in a while, 2-3 times per week
Practice mindfulness and creativity to support overall wellbeing
The key is a gradual, sustainable approach with celebration of small successes along the way. Dr. Laartz emphasizes the importance of self-love, therapy, and surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals to stay motivated and overcome obstacles on the journey to an unprocessed life.
Apr 20, 2026
Apr 20, 2026
12 min
Summary of Key Points, Decisions, and Next Steps by Speaker
Speaker: Dr. Brent W. Laartz
Key Points and Decisions:
Longevity and health span are the focus, defined as living a long, healthy life into the 90s and beyond.
Four key pillars for health span: diet, exercise, sleep, and sense of purpose.
Transitioning to a whole, minimally processed, mostly plant-based diet.
Incorporating small, achievable goals each week rather than drastic changes.
Emphasizing the importance of hydration, reducing plastic use, and establishing a consistent sleep-wake cycle.
Avoiding strict diets or excessive supplements, focusing on sustainable lifestyle changes.
Building a supportive community to foster accountability and shared progress.
Next Steps:
Normalize drinking 32 ounces of plain water each morning, adding a small amount of psyllium husk.
Identify and replace one plastic item in the household with a more sustainable alternative.
Establish a sense of purpose by committing to this health journey and creating community.
Expose oneself to early morning sunlight to regulate the circadian rhythm and improve sleep.
Explore accountability apps and tracking tools to monitor progress, but avoid obsessing over the scale.
Gradually introduce additional weekly goals and lifestyle changes backed by scientific evidence.
Maintain a positive mindset, celebrate small wins, and be willing to restart after any setbacks.