How fasting protects against ageing-related diseases

[Farooqji]

Researchers found evidence that fasting affects circadian clocks in the liver and skeletal muscle, causing them to rewire their metabolism, which can ultimately lead to improved health and protection against aging-associated diseases

guardian.ng/features/health...

[jimcaster]

Yet another informative, encouraging post! Thanks for sharing! This particular study examined a 24 hour fast, as opposed to a daily intermittent regimen of 16-18 hours. I have been trying to limit eating between 2:00 and 8:00 p.m. daily, but maybe I should just skip one day per week. Does anyone have any thoughts one way or the other?

[Grumpy77]

Definitely NOT for me, fasting for me only results in anorexia.. and all the ill health that comes with it - speaking very frankly here

The assumption that everyone has the tendency to be obese and have to "fast" it away has always been amusing to me

[LAJ12345 in reply to Grumpy77]

I think fasting allows the type of bacteria that repair the gut lining to increase to stop leaky gut. Without a rest from food the other digesting bacteria stop them doing their job.

It isn’t necessarily about obesity and calories restriction. When the gut is leaky it allows partially undigested food out into the body into places it shouldn’t be which saps energy and causes inflammation, or so I have read.

[M1tz1 in reply to Grumpy77]

Hi, Grumpy, if you look at the published pictures of neurologist, Dr David Perlmutter, you'll see that he certainly has no weight problems. Far from it. But he advocates and practises fasting. A close member of his family had Alzheimer's and he is determined not to let AD happen to him. Having said that, I myself am not partial to the idea of fasting but he recommends a late breakfast (around 11.00 am, but earlier if you can't manage that) and nothing to eat after supper. That gives a fairly good and beneficial break from eating if you can't manage an occasional day or two without food. I certainly can't but find that a late breakfast and an early supper are manageable. 🙂

[francis6 in reply to Grumpy77]

Fasting is not about weight loss! I do intermittent fasting but eat well when I finish and am maintaining a healthy weight. I also follow a ketogenic (high fat diet) which really helps with fasting as you just don't get hunger pangs as you do on a carb rich diet. I barely notice if I don't eat until midday or later and then just have a big meal to makeup for it. It helps to give your body a break from constantly processing food and promotes autophagy (cellular clear out and repair) which has got to be good for you.