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Fasting can improve overall health

sciencedaily.com

11–20 of 76 posts

Re: Fasting can improve overall health

#11
post #2

Before anyone breathlessly gushes about their life-changing fasting regime, remember that this study was done on mice.

Not only that, more often than not, it turns out that the original claims turn out to be false or negligible at best. The latest weight fad was intermittent fasting. Turns out it isn't any better than any other weight loss regime. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18537250

I don't know about intermittent fasting, and don't feel like checking your source at the moment. But I know in the case of "low-carb" diets the people publishing research articles on it made up their own definition that has nothing to do with what people actually call "low carb".[1]

So the track record of people who study diets is abysmal in my experience.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18453665#18457257

Re: Fasting can improve overall health

#12

I only have anecdotal evidence but occasional 24 hour fasts seem to reset my appetite in a way that makes me less hungry throughout the day. The easiest way to do it is to start after lunch - and have a late lunch the next day.

I've had exactly the same experience. There's something about going without food for 16 to 22 hours that reduces hunger the following days.

Re: Fasting can improve overall health

#13
post #8

I only have anecdotal evidence but occasional 24 hour fasts seem to reset my appetite in a way that makes me less hungry throughout the day. The easiest way to do it is to start after lunch - and have a late lunch the next day.

Did it affect your sleep? I find that being hungry at night affects my sleep significantly.

Not OP, but juicing I had the same kind of problem. It took about three days and I “got over it”. Even giving up alcohol entirely (not that I drank much before hand) made a surprising difference.

It’s surprising how quickly your body adapts to a total change. It’s worth experiencing before you make a decision.

Re: Fasting can improve overall health

#14
post #8

I only have anecdotal evidence but occasional 24 hour fasts seem to reset my appetite in a way that makes me less hungry throughout the day. The easiest way to do it is to start after lunch - and have a late lunch the next day.

Did it affect your sleep? I find that being hungry at night affects my sleep significantly.

I used to think so as well. I was always of the mindset that I had to feel somewhat full to "relax" me so I can go to sleep. I could never seem to fall asleep while hungry.

But, I found out, it's actually just a mindset thing. Once I realized that, I found that I could go to bed hungry and still get a great nights sleep. I know it sounds incorrect but sometimes attitude and mindset really can influence outcomes.

Re: Fasting can improve overall health

#15
This might interest some of you - it is a documentary on the same topic - where a doctor goes ahead and explores intermittent fasting for longevity / reducing aging issues. He ends up trying it and becoming a convert.

https://vimeo.com/170735109

This doctor (Dr Berg) also has a channel on the same - and provides some interesting easy to understand scientific explanations on different intermittent fasting related items. I remember the explanations on the body need for potassium was interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3w193M5tYPJqF0Hi-7U-2g

Re: Fasting can improve overall health

#16
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did it affect your sleep? I find that being hungry at night affects my sleep significantly.

I used to think so as well. I was always of the mindset that I had to feel somewhat full to "relax" me so I can go to sleep. I could never seem to fall asleep while hungry. But, I found out, it's actually just a mindset thing. Once I realized that, I found that I could go to bed hungry and still get a great nights sleep. I know it sounds incorrect but sometimes attitude and mindset really can influence outcomes.

That's why the placebo effect works.

You can improve quite a lot about your life if you can control your mindset.

Re: Fasting can improve overall health

#18
post #15

This might interest some of you - it is a documentary on the same topic - where a doctor goes ahead and explores intermittent fasting for longevity / reducing aging issues. He ends up trying it and becoming a convert. https://vimeo.com/170735109 This doctor (Dr Berg) also has a channel on the same - and provides some interesting easy to understand scientific explanations on different intermittent fasting related item…

A little more info on Dr Berg: he's a chiropractor doctor not a medically trained doctor. He has a lot of good information, but it's also wise to verify any of his info from other sources.

Re: Fasting can improve overall health

#19
post #2

Before anyone breathlessly gushes about their life-changing fasting regime, remember that this study was done on mice.

And for only 24 hours of fasting. I wish we could get more scientific literature on the 16:8 fasting cycle.

Now that the 16:8 fasting method is becoming more popular, more research is being done specifically for that regimine.

Re: Fasting can improve overall health

#20
It's interesting but without large, long term longitudinal studies making health claims is shaky at best.

It might improve specific health parameters but whether those improvements translate into a longer and/or healthier life can't be assumed.

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