This guy had long spans of time between meals, perhaps days
Yet another good post from DietDoctor! Why fast? Among many reasons is that fasting turns on autophagy, which helps clear the debris of daily living out of your cells, probably leading to longer life.
Click here for P.D. Mangan’s post on fasting and autophagy.
Dr. Fung at DietDoctor also warns about the danger of hypoglycemia for certain folks with diabetes. Read that part carefully (click the Source link below).
Anyway, here are Dr. Fung’s top eight tips (direct quotes):
- Drink water: Start each morning with a full eight-ounce glass of water.
- Stay busy: It’ll keep your mind off food. It often helps to choose a busy day at work for a fast day.
- Drink coffee: Coffee is a mild appetite suppressant. Green tea, black tea, and bone broth may also help.
- Ride the waves: Hunger comes in waves; it is not continuous. When it hits, slowly drink a glass of water or a hot cup of coffee. Often by the time you’ve finished, your hunger will have passed.
- Don’t tell anybody you are fasting: Most people will try to discourage you, as they do not understand the benefits. A close-knit support group is often beneficial, but telling everybody you know is not a good idea.
- Give yourself one month: It takes time for your body to get used to fasting. The first few times you fast may be difficult, so be prepared. Don’t be discouraged. It will get easier.
- Follow a nutritious diet on non-fast days: Intermittent fasting is not an excuse to eat whatever you like. During non-fasting days, stick to a nutritious diet low in sugars and refined carbohydrates.
- Don’t’ binge: After fasting, pretend it never happened. Eat normally, as if you had never fasted.
Source: More Practical Tips for Fasting – Diet Doctor
Steve Parker, M.D.
PS: I don’t feature fasting in any of my books, but I’ve gradually come around to seeing the potential benefits.
Diabetic Mediterranean Diet 