Fasting your way to health

Luis M. Serrano
Aug 8, 2021
2 min read

Let's start by saying that I'm not a health professional nor claim to be an expert, even though I have tried to eat healthy most of my adult life (Eating Right).

This time I want to talk about Intermittent fasting as a method or technique to reach our own health goals. What I've read so far (and there are many good and bad sources of information out there) fasting has been around for thousands of years. From the religious standpoint, nothing is accomplished without fasting. From Buddha, to Mohammed, to Jesus Christ, they all required their followers to fast in order to get things done. So fasting is not like a new trend, a diet fad that any modern random person came up with. Fasting has been around for a very long time and may be the secret to a healthy life.

What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent Fasting is an eating modality where one switches between periods of eating and fasting. Most popular type of fasting is 16:8, were you eat during an 8-hour window and fast for the remaining 16 hours of the day, everyday.

What's fascinating about fasting is that scientist and doctors are looking at it as a clinical solution to diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, and more. A particular study on time restricted feeding and the circadian rhythm by Dr. Panda, demonstrated that when two identical mice were given the same amount of food, the mouse that ate throughout the day got heavier while the mouse that was given the same portion of food during a restricted time of the day kept it's original weight. There is something there! It is clear that, if you are a mouse, It's not so much what you eat but when you eat it. The study also discovers that the same results can be seen when the study is done for a seven day period of fasting, or a five/two routine (five days fasting/two days no fasting).

What Does Circadian Rhythm Affect Besides Sleep?

Research continues to uncover details about circadian rhythms, but evidence has connected them to metabolism and weight through the regulation of blood sugar and cholesterol. Circadian rhythms influence mental health as well, including the risk of psychiatric illnesses like depression and bipolar disorder.

More information on Intermittent Fasting and the Circadian Rhythm is available online to everyone from reputable sources and experts. Before you start this or any regime you should consult your doctor, specially if you are taking medications for treating a chronic decease like diabetes. Certain medications are not compatible with fasting.

References: