There is a lot of talk about the benefits of fasting for our health. Animal testing studies demonstrate animal calorie restricted diets increase lifespan by up to 40%. How about us?
Let’s look at few examples.
Biosphere 2
Eight people unexpectedly tested this theory when locked into a bubble. From 1991-93, Biosphere 2 was a scientist’s Disneyland, a 3-acre ecological laboratory in Arizona which housed 8 different ecosystems. Completely isolated from the outside world, scientists gr100% of their food and recycled all of their air and water.
Unfortunately, they experienced some logistical problems. For the first 6 months, the scientists food supply was limited to around 1,750 calories daily, just a little more than required for basic functionality. So it wasn’t surprising that they lost average 15% of their body weight and subsequently slowed their metabolism and reduced levels of insulin, lipids, glucose, and T3 thyroid hormones.
Okinawa, Japan
Okinawa, Japan has 4 to 5 times the average number of folks over age 100. What’s makes them unique? These folks grew up with a farming lifestyle and experienced a 20% reduced caloric intake as school children during WWII compared to their mainland Japanese counterparts wo did not experience food scarcity issues.
Dutch Överkalix genetics study
When researchers reviewed the lineage of 94 people out 200 people born in 1905, they found that grandsons of Överkalix boys who experienced a “famine” season just before puberty lived on average 6 years longer than the grandsons of Överkalix boys who had “feasted” during that same period.
A Harvard University 2003 study may tie these all together.
“Interestingly, centenarians have lower blood glucose, insulin, leptin, free T3 and serum triglycerides than those who do not, live to be over one hundred years old. Therefore, the fundamental mechanism by which calorie restriction improves lifespan appears to alter these metabolic parameters”.
According to Dr. Dale Bresdon MD, intermittent fasting helps enhance the removal of old cells, optimize mitochondrial health, and reduce inflammation. If this has gotten your attention, you might want to try a simple form of fasting–fast 12 hours every night, starting around 3 hours prior to bedtime. Please continue to hydrate until bedtime.
