Shouldn’t it be called Regular Fasting?

Not Intermittent Fasting…

The human brain and body loves routine and rhythm, especially in relation to your eating window during the day

The Longevity Blog   •   February 25th, 2019

Fasting is not new, and you are not new to it either…

What did the renown medical physicians, philosophers and scientists Hippocrates, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and Galen all have in common? Fasting

Paracelsus, one of the three fathers of Western medicine, is quoted as saying, “Fasting is the greatest remedy–the physician within.”

You have been going through periods of fasting ever since you were born…

When?

Fasting is simply the time period when you are not consuming and calories or by some definitions, consuming any nutrients which also includes water…

So you are basically fasting every night when you are asleep

However, there is a massive health trend at the moment on the idea of Intermittent Fasting

This concept which seems to get a lot of people confused dives into extended time periods of fasting, much greater than the time you would normally be fasting while asleep

Why the confusion? Well…

Intermittent is defined as:

occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady

Fasting:

abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink (for simplicity let’s say intake of energy)

What most peeps in the health, medical and on the net define are currently defining it as:

abstaining from food and/or drink for a certain amount of the SAME time each day

SAME… that’s not intermittent at all

And that’s why it should be called regular fasting

But regardless of the words that define this process let me explain exactly what it is…

 

What is Fasting?

The period of time of which you DON’T eat

For how many hours you abstain from intaking energy during a 24-hour period

Now there is well known ‘diet’ which I believe better suits the term intermittent fasting and that is the 5:2 Diet

This is basically where one reduces energy consumption dramatically for 2 days during the week, therefore abiding by the irregular nature of the definition

“Time Restricted Fasting is what most people are talking about”

Before moving onto the types, fasting is a natural process, human beings are designed to do it

That’s why we have developed the ability to store fat on our bodies, to fuel us in low energy intake times

Types of Fasting

A Somewhat Normal Human 13:11

Eating Window: 13 Hours

Fasting Window: 11 Hours

~ as a normal human usually eats upon waking (6-7AM) and eats within close proximity of going to sleep (7-8PM) the eating window can be spaced out over the whole day

The Three Most Common

The 10:14

Eating Window: 10 Hours

Fasting Window: 14 Hours

Eg. Eating all your energy (meals) between 8 AM and 6 PM

The 8:16

Eating Window: 8 Hours

Fasting Window: 16 Hours

Eg. Eating all your energy (meals) between 10 AM and 6 PM

The 6:18

Eating Window: 6 Hours

Fasting Window: 18 Hours

Eg. Eating all your energy (meals) between 11 AM and 5 PM

Now…

The Benefits & the Research

There are many potential benefits of eating in a narrow time window

• Giving the Gut a rest from digestion
• Personally, it has helped a lot with my heartburn/acid reflux
• Improved insulin sensitivity (Anson et al., 2003)
• Promotes anti-inflammatory effects reducing inflammation within the body (Choi, Lee, & Longo, 2017)
• Has the potential to reverses autoimmune disorders (Choi, Lee, & Longo, 2017)
• Assists with regulating hematopoietic stem cell protection, self-renewal, and regeneration (Cheng et al., 2014)
• Can be a preventive and therapeutic approach against obesity and metabolic disorders (Kim et al., 2017)
• Can potentially increase brown adipose fat stores(Cheng et al., 2014)
• Reduced risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease & cerebrovascular diseases (Mattson & Wan, 2005)
• Slowed aging and enhanced cellar regeneration (Mihaylova et al., 2018)
• Dietary restrictions and fasting decrease immunosenescence (Choi, Lee, & Longo, 2017)
• Inhibits tumor growth and helps to protect against cancer (Pietrocola et al., 2016)

Recommended Blogs, Articles, & Podcasts (Click on them for the Links)

The Tim Ferriss Show

• Episode 117 – Dom D’Agostino on Fasting, Ketosis, and the End of Cancer
• Episode 188 -Dom D’agostino on Disease Prevention, Cancer, and Living Longer
• Episode 213 – Fasting vs the Slow Carb Diet
• The Three Day Fast Methods (from fast lifehacks)

Dominic D’agostino

• Fighting Cancer Nutritional Ketosis and Intermittent Fasting

The Model Health Show

• Episode 124 – 8 Incredible Health Benefits Of Fasting
• Episode 261 – Stress-Activated Foods, Intermittent Fasting, & The Principles Of Stress – With Ori Hofmekler

Also, you might like:

Dr. James Fung and author Jimmy Moore reveal the numerous benefits of fasting. A process that can help people lose weight, improve brain function, promote longevity, speed up the metabolism, strengthen the immune system, and contribute to self-enlightenment.

• Why You Shouldn’t Fear Fasting with Dr. Jason Fung and Jimmy Moore

A quote to leave you with:

There is nothing new, except what has been forgotten – Marie Antoinette

As always I would appreciate your feedback 

Feel free to reach out by emailing hello@jakeholness.com

“Knowledge withheld is knowledge wasted”

Exercise Physiologist

Jake Holness