Fasting
Fasting As A Health Span And Longevity Modality
Fasting as a health span and longevity modality is becoming increasingly more popular. With time restricted feeding (mostly referred to as intermittent fasting) becoming a dominant method. There are many types of fasting with various benefits and some that come with risks. It is important to understand that not all types of fasting should be performed by every person. According to the research there are more optimal ways than others for optimal benefit and minimal side effects. Most importantly, we must first define what, exactly, we are trying to accomplish. Only when we understand this can we develop the best plan of fasting for the individual.
Examples of the types of fasts:
- Time Restricted Feeding
- 8:16, 4:20, or some other variation
- According to the circadian rhythm
- Intermittent Fasting
- Alternate Day Fasting
- 5:2 Method of 5 days of feeding and 2 days of fasting per week
- Water Fasts
(varying is duration) - Fasting Mimicking Diet
(varying duration) - Prolonged Fasts
(5 days or more) - Ekadashi Fasting
- Calorie Restricted Diet
An important note about how to choose the right fast for you. You must truly understand your health status, goals, and how to be integrate into your lifestyle to best decide which method(s) are best for you. You must also factor in the other types of stressors you expose yourself to. This includes, but is not limited to, cold exposure, sauna, exercise, special diets, etc.
The benefits of fasting very depending upon the type and duration of the fast. It is important to note that not all types of fasting provide the same benefits.
Some of the benefits to choose from are:
- Train and Enhance the Autophagy System
- This helps with the recycling of older more dysfunctional cells
- Reduce Cancer Risk by limiting cancer cells’ adaptability, survival, and growth
- Organ Regeneration
- Improves Metabolic Profile
(cholesterol, diabetes) - Reduce Visceral (BAD) Fat/Losing Weight
- Improves Immune System Function
- Reduces Inflammation
- Increases NAD+ for Mitochondrial Function
- Stimulate repair in DNA
- Brown Fat Creation
- Mood Enhancement
