Periodic prolonged fasting (done consecutively for more than two days) switches your body from using glucose as a fuel to using fat. This provides many advantages particularly for diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic diseases, potentially reducing the risk of diseases that may often come progressively as we age, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and Alzheimer's.
However, prolonged fasting comes with concerns, including compliance and possible side-effects, such as hypoglycemia and dehydration. That's why it’s important to look at different fasting variations that may be more effective in supporting someone’s needs.
These concerns may be reduced by allowing a small amount of food during the fast – usually 250 – 500 calories. This approach has been taken by many research groups and the ‘Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD)’ is designed to preserve all the benefits of fasting, while lowering the risk and increasing compliance. Lowering the hormone insulin activates the body's ability to rejuvenate cells through autophagy. It is also easy to follow and accessible, providing a structured five-day program, followed once a month.
One particular company, L-Nutra Health (LNH) has invested heavily in the science. For the past 25 years they've partnered with 18 prestigious universities and initiated over 30 clinical trials into the benefits of this fasting approach for various diseases, including Alzheimers and cardiovascular health, publishing the remarkable results in some of the top medical journals in the world.
Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disease are primarily dietary diseases. While drugs have clear benefits, they do not resolve the root of the problem, or address behavioral and lifestyle habits and changes - and they often have detrimental side effects. As a dietary strategy for a dietary disease, the FMD, used as part of the comprehensive, physician-supervised programs, presents a great therapeutic option for type 2 diabetes, metabolic diseases, and obesity. We're seeing some of the most impressive benefits on these diseases that we've ever seen.
Learn more about the profound benefits of fasting, particularly on how it can reverse type 2 diabetes, in this fascinating video with Dr. Fung.
Bio: Dr. Jason Fung is a nephrologist, functional medicine advocate, and New York Times best-selling author. His pioneering books, including "The Obesity Code" and "The Diabetes Code," challenge conventional medical perspectives on chronic diseases, advocating for, and introducing, dietary strategies like fasting to manage and even reverse them. As the co-founder of The Fasting Method, he provides education, tools and community to successfully implement intermittent fasting - and LNH is proud to partner with him.
