Fasting Affects the Brain • Hacker News Board

Re: Fasting Affects the Brain

#131

Post by Zaak » Thu, May 09, 2019, 8:40 PM UTC

beagle3 wrote: post #109

Zaak wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed. It's abstaining from all food and drink for a goal of 24 hours. I generally manage about 12, but it's something I'm working on improving.

Do note that almost everyone else only abstains from food, but does drink a lot of water (often with electrolytes). It makes a huge difference, irritability and otherwise.

That's good to know. Fasting for me is partly an exercise in choosing to do something that's uncomfortable for my body to achieve a higher purpose. It is explicitly not supposed to be damaging or unhealthy in any way (people who are sick etc are discouraged from fasting). I will look into staying hydrated while abstaining from food.

Re: Fasting Affects the Brain

#132

Post by Zaak » Thu, May 09, 2019, 8:41 PM UTC

jawilson2 wrote: post #69

throwaway123x2 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That might be from the caffeine withdrawals. I'm trying it wihtout caffeine at all this year, and it's been great.

Or, a carb-heavy diet. When I fast while doing keto, it's almost not noticeable, and I'll often just forget to eat and suddenly realize I haven't eaten in a day or more. If I've cheated on carbs and try to jump back into fasting, I'm ready to commit murder after 10 hours.

Thanks for the info. I tend to have a carb-heavy diet. I wonder if doing a low-carb diet for a couple days before fasting would help. Or do you think it would take longer than that to acclimate?

Re: Fasting Affects the Brain

#133

Post by hudbuddy » Thu, May 09, 2019, 11:29 PM UTC

wastedhours wrote: post #119

hudbuddy wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think "remembering to eat" is really in line with anorexia, if that's the parallel you're trying to draw. I know you're joking, but it's really not a concern at all. A healthy mind will seek food after a fasting period. I'd add a caution of my own, which is not to gorge yourself during this period. Your body should be given time to adjust back to a normal diet. Though this isn't much of a concern for brief fa…

I was only being slightly flippant - one of the factors (aside from body image and weight loss) that tipped me over the edge was continuing to strive for the buzz from fasting long after it became healthy to do so. From my lived experience I can tell you that if you're vulnerable from the other mental health signals of anorexia, the mental and physical benefits of fasting can be a trigger. So as simplistic as it is t…

Oh yeah that makes sense, thanks for the explanation. Similar to how the positive affects of meditation can be quite addicting, I imagine!

We humans sure do like getting addicted to stuff.

Re: Fasting Affects the Brain

#134

Post by neuralzen » Fri, May 10, 2019, 5:37 AM UTC

x1ph0z wrote: post #32

sepisoad wrote: post #19

yes fasting can have benefits, but the way most Muslims do it (in summer specifically) actually hurts. your body needs a minimum amount of water and salt to work properly throughout the day.

Wouldn't that be mitigated by having enough water before he fast begins? I usually gorge water before and after my fasting for the day.

I would think that depends. In Indonesia a lot of people do just that and seem ok (though lots of hacking and coughing), and in Jordan I saw construction workers toiling in the sun all day who wouldn't drink water while fasting, which seemed dangerous to me. The Bedouins I met in Wadi Rum were more lax, saying while traveling or working, they are allowed to eat and drink even during Ramadan, as a matter of a practicality...being in the desert and all.

Re: Fasting Affects the Brain

#135

Post by phonypc » Mon, May 13, 2019, 2:38 PM UTC

rossenberg79 wrote: post #130

phonypc wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Define low. Unless you're a competitive body builder on show day, you've probably got enough fat to cover a few weeks worth of energy needs.

12% is not that low, but hardly weeks worth of energy needs.

12% fat on a 150 pound person is good for about 63000 kcal. 31 days at 2000 kcal per day.