How often to do fasting?

Some people fast 16 hours every day. I've read that there are benefits to fasting 12 hours every day, which I find pretty effortless. If you don't have any blood sugar issues, then I don't think there are many risks, but I'm curious to know what others think.

Fair enough!

I'm curious, are you fasting to starve parasites?

Do it every day.

I fast 12-16 hours overnight leading into the next day every single day. I would say my average is 14hr. This has been a game changer for me. My relationship with food pre-Lyme was outrageously unhealthy. Fasting helped me gain control of my eating habits. There are many benefits to IF.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-health-benefits-of-intermittent-fasting#section8

We were brainwashed growing up. Told we needed to eat 3 square meals a day. Told fat is the enemy. Sugar wasn't a problem etc.

Fasting 12 hours a day is basically just a normal eating schedule. The benefits come after at least 16 hours because that's when your body is finally done processing food, and there is no insulin around. This is when the body starts repairing itself. This is what will get down the inflammation.

I was eating one meal a day for several days each week—I actually felt better doing it—but I wouldn't recommend it because I found out that I have a parasite issue, and I was probably just feeling better because the parasites were getting less to eat.

As I've said in other posts, I've had a lot of trouble with food cravings and things like that—and for me, it seems to be a parasite issue.

The Dude Abides said...


My personal concern about fasting is the same as any other diet "hack" -- taking things too far. Tell people that fasting is good and they'll turn that into an obsession and try to find a way to stop eating altogether. Obviously, this a slight exaggeration, but it's more true than not.

Most things can be done too little or too much. Many people eat too much and too often. So, rather than doing a two-day fast every week, I'd star with something more simple, as JB alluded -- eat meals in a 12(ish)-hour window and stop eating 3-4 hours before bed. Get on a regular sleep/wake schedule, and all the other things most of us know to do but often ignore. There's more to health than eating...or, not eating.

I think this is why IF is so powerful. It doesn't advocate stopping eating altogether. It just restricts the time window of eating. You still get the pleasure from food while improving your relationship with food. I think the psychological benefits are as important as the psychical benefits. It makes you actually pay attention to HOW you are eating. This will likely make you pay more attention to WHAT you are eating. I think it teaches that hunger doesn't equal starvation or malnutrition. We don't need to binge sugary snacks at the first sign of hunger.

Some people will overdo I'm sure. That is true with anything in life......positive or negative. Hopefully the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I have been eating one meal per day for many years (usually in 18:00 - 20:00 window). You have to focus on eating nutritionally dense foods and it will be a bit tough to get all your daily calories in one sitting (like 1700- 2000 kcal/day). I had a stable weight for many years but just recently increased it from 65 to 68 kgs and cannot shake it off. I eat about 100 g of carbs, proteins and fat. Give or take.
I do not feel hunger the whole day but I am still subject to cravings (mostly nuts). I avoid all the crap that constantly exists in the office (sweets) mainly not to damage my teeth. I just take nuts. I used to neglect this and took sweets (like whats so bad about couple of sweets now and then) but this is most days in the working week and now taking care of my teeth is my new barrier.
Having low calories days (2 per week , about 500 kcal) could be beneficial too.
But you really have focus on nutritionally dense foods in order to avoid deficiencies. Of course as less processed as possible and no poly fats, sugar, wheat and co, artificial crap, etc.