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BITESIZE | The Benefits of Fasting for Health and Longevity | Dr Mindy Pelz #427

Feb 16, 2024 18m 38s 14 insights
CAUTION: This podcast discusses fasting, and its advice may not be suitable for anyone with an eating disorder. If you have an existing health condition or are taking medication, always consult your healthcare practitioner before going for prolonged periods without eating.  It’s not just what we eat that’s important for our health and longevity, but also when we eat, and how much. Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 342 of the podcast with nutrition expert and author of the book ‘Fast Like a Girl’, Dr Mindy Pelz. In this clip she shares the potential benefits of different types of fasting, and why men and women may need to adopt different approaches. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Find out more about my NEW Journal here https://drchatterjee.com/journal and click here https://drchatterjee.com/events to join me at an exclusive event on 29th February. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/342 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Avoid Fasting with Eating Disorder

Do not engage in fasting if you are suffering with or recovering from an eating disorder, as the advice may not be suitable for your condition.

2. Consult Doctor Before Prolonged Fasting

Always consult a healthcare practitioner before going for prolonged periods without eating, especially if you have an existing health condition or are taking medication.

3. Embrace Fasting as Designed

Recognize that the human body was designed to fast and thrive in a fasted state, allowing access to a fat-burning energy system and promoting healing.

4. Train for Fasting Gradually

Approach fasting as a training process, similar to marathon running, starting gradually and being playful and curious, as it gets easier with practice.

5. Initiate Fat Burning (12-16h Fast)

Fast for 12 to 16 hours to switch into the fat-burning system, produce calming GABA, shut off hunger hormones, reduce inflammation, and increase growth hormone and testosterone.

6. 16-Hour Fast for Metabolic Immunity

Practice a 16-hour fast daily to become metabolically immune from the damage of a Western high-fat, high-sugar processed diet, helping balance insulin and glucose, and reduce inflammation.

7. Trigger Autophagy (17+ Hour Fast)

Fast for 17 hours or more to initiate autophagy, where the body repairs cells, removes bacteria and viruses, and eliminates damaged or senescent cells through apoptosis.

8. 24-Hour Fast for Gut Reboot

Implement a 24-hour fast to reboot intestinal stem cells, repair the mucosal lining (beneficial for leaky gut), eliminate bad gut bacteria (helpful for SIBO), and redistribute microbes for better nutrient absorption.

9. 36-Hour Fast for Belly Fat

Engage in 36-hour fasts (e.g., 36 hours fasting, 12 hours eating, repeated) to lose more weight, specifically belly fat, and convert white fat into easier-to-burn brown fat.

10. 48-Hour Fast for Dopamine Reset

Fast for 48 hours to reboot your entire dopamine system, increasing D2 receptor sites and enhancing your ability to enjoy simple dopamine rushes in daily life.

11. 72-Hour Fast for Immune Reset

Undertake a 72-hour fast to reboot your entire white blood cell count and immune system, as described by Walter Longo.

12. Men: Fast for Testosterone Boost

Men can significantly increase testosterone by fasting; a 13-hour fast can increase it by 1300%, and a 24-hour fast by 2000%.

13. Women: Align Fasting with Cycle

Women should align their fasting practices with their menstrual cycle, avoiding fasting and low-carb diets the week before their period when progesterone needs higher glucose, and fasting more when hormones are low.

14. Daily AG1 for Gut Health

Consider taking AG1 daily as it supports digestion and contains five strains of gut bacteria that enrich the gut microbiome by increasing beneficial bacteria up to tenfold.