Health professionals agree that diet and the composition of diet is a key to a healthy prolonged life. "Keto” is currently a hot diet topic in the clinical research and social media communities. We must “strike while the iron is hot” to fold this broad interest in diet into preparing for long-duration space flight (LDSF). All sorts of diets and variations of diets are being considered. So...Are you ready to figure out what to eat for our next great adventure into outer space?

We want you to explore and share your passion about LDSF and the challenges it poses. Imagine yourself traveling in space for several months or years. What challenges might you encounter and how would you meet those challenges? The topic of the contest is 'PLAN A DIET TO SUPPORT LONG DURATION SPACE FLIGHT” Do you support the use of a ketogenic diet for a model mission to Mars? If so, describe the body of evidence to support your conclusion. If not, then propose an alternative diet that addresses the known health issues associated with LDSF.

As a place to start with your evidence search, look at the work of Prof. Thomas N. Seyfried who, contrary to the conventional model of carcinogenesis, has demonstrated that cancer initiates in abnormally functioning mitochondria. The genetic damage commonly found in the nuclei of cancer cells is secondary to the mitochondrial dysfunction, and is not entirely due to external factors like ionizing radiation and reactive toxins that directly damages genetic material.

The substance of the challenge to you is: Can we protect against the damaging effects of radiation the same way we are learning to protect against the damaging effects of food choices and toxins commonly ingested in daily life on earth?

New and Simplified! Rationale and Complete Guidelines for the Contest