Will You Extend Your Life Through Intermittent Fasting?

At first, many embark on the fasting journey for rapid weight and fat loss.

Many people do not realise that Intermittent fasting has a profound effect on your longevity, providing benefits above and beyond other diet plans.

Having gone through many different diets most of my life, I can say with great certainty (due to my own experience) that fasting has always been the best lifestyle choice.

It has given me the health and longevity benefits I've always wanted.

Many wonder why they hadn’t started this journey a long time ago, saving themselves endless hours wasted on restrictive and calorie-controlled eating, filled with mindless bouts of over-exercising.

The health benefits of IF

The health benefits are astounding.

Mini fasts support metabolic health by improving your insulin levels & controlling body weight.

Other benefits include cardiovascular support and increased brain function.

Short term fasts are a realistic lifestyle choice and suit almost anyone’s schedule.

Prolonged fasting, on the other hand (more than 48 hours), has some fantastic benefits.

These include immune strength, longevity and healthy ageing.

Prolonged fasting has been shown to work well with chemotherapy.

Here is an exciting piece of information that appeared in the 2014 study in Cell indicating the difference between micro and prolonged multi-day fasting.

“The physiological changes caused by IF are much more pronounced than those caused by caloric restriction or fasting lasting 24 hours or less in part because of the requirement to switch to a fat fully- and ketone bodies-based catabolism after glycogen reserves deplete during IF.” Read more here

Cell growth balance

It’s important to note that our bodies transition to an anabolic state when consuming too many calories.

We shift the balance towards a catabolic (breaking down) pathway system when we fast.

This activates IGF-1 (insulin growth factor) and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin.)

It signals the cells and organelles in your body to become recycled and repurposed.

Reduced mTOR signals demonstrate an extended life span in different organisms.

The mTOR inhibition has been primarily identified as a longevity mechanism and lifespan extension. — Clinical interventions of ageing paper.

Dr Jason Fung has noted that eating only fat (and no protein) could positively modulate mTOR.

You can read more on this particular diet plan from any of Dr Gundry’s books.

He specialises in this and makes it easy to understand the medical jargon.

Inflammation

As we age, we’re more inclined to experience the effects of inflammation.

Sometimes this damage becomes so great that it’s like a chronic inflammatory illness.

Fasting reduces inflammation and can improve cognitive function.

It also preserves the brain against distress by regulation of inflammatory responses.

Intermittent fasting is a great way to prevent age-related damage.

Damage naturally occurs in the brain.

Final thoughts

Above, we have outlined the many benefits of fasting.

However, it is worth noting that there’s more than one way to trigger some of these responses.

It’s also important to note that some health benefits occur during fasting and others when we begin to eat normally again.

Remember that fasting primes our system for rejuvenation, but it’s the re-feeding that builds the new cells and organelles.

Therefore, we must keep in mind that we consume only the best forms of protein, fats, and carbohydrates during the re-feeding period according to our lifestyle and exercise habits.

Naturally, as we fast for prolonged periods, we won't be inclined to binge eat as a form of overcompensation.

Our bodies take in what they need and utilise it accordingly.

I hope this convinces you to pursue IF for longer, more vibrant health and longevity.

The constant challenge of exceeding my fasting times is gratifying.

Just think of all the beautiful benefits occurring on a cellular level.