Fasting Might Help You Live a Longer and Healthier Life Longevity Playbook
go to original June 8, 2023

For thousands of years, people have fasted - sometimes voluntarily, sometimes because food was scarce. By fasting, we mean either going without food entirely (except for water), or a very calorie-restricted diet. Today, in developed countries, food is abundant, so fasting is done usually for religious or therapeutic reasons.

Therapeutic fasting means drastically cutting calories for so long that your body changes the way it uses energy. Normally, after you eat, there's a lot of glucose in your system and your body uses it for energy.

When you fast, your body starts to use fatty acids and ketones as fuel instead - so your body can take the time it needs to get the most out of nutrients and repair itself. The repair process, called autophagy, is responsible for improvements in health and longevity experienced by people who fast.

If you have any condition like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or eating disorders, ask your doctor if you can fast. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you probably should not fast. If you get the OK, you'll know you can start fasting when you’re ready.



Learn more at Longevity Playbook

Related: What’s the Best Fasting Method for Longevity, Health, and Weight Loss? (Novos)

Related: Eat Less, Live Longer? The Science of Fasting and Longevity (USC Leonard Davis)