So if you have been on the internet or YouTube the buzz is Fasting, Intermittent fasting, and prolonged fasting.
Fasting is an ancient practice that has its basis in rituals of several different religions. All of the major religions and spiritual practices like Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism have some form of fasting as part of the practice. It is usually centered around certain days in the lunar calendar like Islam and Ramadan or the Solar calendar like Christianity and Lent.
Recently with the Nobel prize in 2016 and research done by Prof V. Longo show studies that shed light on fasting and it’s ability to reduce oxidative damage and inflammation, optimizing energy metabolism and improve cellular protection.
Chronic fasting seems to according to Professor Longo extend longevity. This is great news for seniors and baby boomers worldwide. To reduce and in some cases eliminate autoimmune diseases and extend the quality of life. And this can be done with regular fasting!
Could this be the elimination of Neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and autoimmune diseases like cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. He recommends 4 times a year reducing your calorie consumption to lower than 500 calories for 5 days. No special pills or drugs you have to buy. Just stop eating. He then recommends going to a plant-based diet after completing the fast moderate exercise, meditation, and stress reduction.
If you are considering this process here are a few tips
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that has periods of fasting and periods of eating. It doesn’t specify which foods you should eat but rather when you should eat them. These are some popular ways of completing intermittent fast:
- The 5:2 Pattern: Restrict your calorie intake for two days per week (500 calories per day for women and 600 for men).
- The 6:1 Pattern: This pattern is similar to the 5:2, but there’s only one day of reduced calorie intake instead of two.
- A 24-hour complete fast 1–2 times per week.
- The 16:8 Pattern: This pattern involves only consuming food in an eight-hour window and fasting for 16 hours a day, every day of the week.
- Most of these regimens advise short fast periods of 8–24 hours.
- Eat small amounts on fasting days.
- Stay hydrated by drinking at least 2 liters of water.
- Go for walks and meditate on fasting days and moderate exercise on non-fasting days.
What Is long term fasting? Long term fasting is for periods longer than 24 hours or longer. Generally, you refrain from eating food and you drink water during the fasting period. Some long term fast allows tea, juice or coffee. Some people do dry fasting which looks like intermittent with no foods or liquids.
One of the main benefits of long-term fasting is autophagy, a natural process which allows your cells to recycle themselves while the body removes toxins and heals.
Autophagy happens in your body regularly, but it increases during a fast of 24 hours or more. Research shows fasting for just 24 hours can improve autophagy by 300% fasting for an additional 24 hours will improve autophagy by 30%.
Fasting long term increases the body’s ability to promote healing which is why when you get sick, you don’t want to eat. The energy that would be used for digestion is now redirected to healing. Maybe one of the most important benefits of long-term fasting is detoxification that happens when you fast.
When we don’t consume food, your body will use fast deposits for energy. This allows the chemicals from those fat reserves to be released and the body can rid itself of the toxins.
The next important benefit for long term fasting is detoxification. During autophagy, the body uses fat reserves and this allows toxins to be released and then eliminated by your body.
Regular long term fasting also triggers stem cells in the body and this causes the immune system to regenerate. The new cells are stronger and more healthy. Getting stem cell replacement surgery is very expensive. You can actually get this expensive procedure by fasting.
Long term fasting along with a plant-based diet will cause you to lose weight which for some people is a huge benefit for obese people.
In conclusion, intermittent fasting and long-term fasting will get your body in shape to eating a day’s calories in a small amount of time. This promotes better use of insulin and reduces insulin resistance.
References:
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2016/ohsumi/facts/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24440038
Valter Longo PhD.–The Longevity Diet: Discover the New Science Behind Stem Cell Activation and Regeneration to Slow Aging, Fight Disease, and Optimize Weight
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