How to Fast, Effectively

I think many of us believe that fasting is a good thing. An article in the January 18, 2015 edition of The New York Times Magazine had an article about two different studies with mice. Perhaps, you might apply this to your own eating habits. And in the process, rethink about dieting.

Essentially, researchers at the Salk Institute had mice eating in different patterns. For example, they had some mice eating high-fat food whenever they wanted; and other mice had the same diet, but could only eat during an eight hour time window. And none of the mice exercised. In this study, the mice that ate at all hours grew chubby and unwell with symptoms of diabetes. However, the mice on the eight hour schedule gained little weight and developed no metabolic problems.

In the other study, Salk researchers fed groups of adult male mice, one of four diets: [1. High-fat 2. High fructose 3.  High-fat and high sucrose 4 regular mouse kibble. Even though the choleric intake for all mice was the same, some were allowed to eat whatever they wanted in their waking hours while others were restricted to 9,12 or 15 hours of eating. The findings were: mice eating at all hours were generally obese and metabolically ill. But mice eating within a 9 or 12 hour window remained sleek and healthy, even if they cheated occasionally on the weekend. So in other words, time restricted eating prevented obesity.

These researchers believe that mealtimes effects circadian rhythms. This result influences the genes that involve metabolism. Whether or not their explanation is fully understood, the results speak for themselves. Just think, if you eat your last meal around 5 PM in the evening and then your breakfast is around 7:30 AM, you will have fasted 14 ½ hours. And just think if you do that, five days a week. And this is without exercise. Just think if you add exercise to this program?

In the process, keep moving, laughing, smiling, loving, bonding and appreciating.