The Consistency Project Does Fasting Really Decrease Inflammation? What the Research Actually Shows
Nov 19, 2025
Discover the myths surrounding fasting and inflammation. Explore how inflammation can actually be beneficial and learn about autophagy, the body's cleanup process. Recent research reveals that prolonged fasting may even raise inflammatory markers. Contrary to popular belief, fasting doesn't uniquely reduce inflammation compared to a balanced diet. Instead of viewing it as a quick fix for health, consider using fasting strategically for weight management or hunger. Insightful takeaways await as hosts break down the science and practical implications!
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Inflammation Isn't Always Bad
- Inflammation is not inherently bad because it represents necessary immune activity like fighting infections.
- Treating inflammation as always negative oversimplifies biology and misleads fasting claims.
Autophagy Isn't A Simple Switch
- Autophagy is a cellular cleanup process that increases when nutrients are scarce, but it's not a simple on/off switch controlled by short fasts.
- People overgeneralize autophagy to justify time-restricted eating without solid evidence.
Don't Overapply Long-Fast Findings
- Don't extrapolate long fast study results to short or overnight fasting; the scoping review examined fasts of 48+ hours.
- Avoid panicking about 16-hour or normal overnight fasts based on 48-hour-plus data.