Recap: How to do intermittent fasting properly | Gin Stephens and Professor Tim Spector
Aug 13, 2024
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Gin Stephens, a New York Times best-selling author of "Fast. Feast. Repeat," joins Professor Tim Spector, a renowned dietary researcher, to explore the fascinating world of intermittent fasting. They discuss the health benefits like improved blood sugar control, heart health, and mood enhancement. Listeners learn practical strategies for starting their fasting journey, including beverage choices that won't break a fast. They also dive into how fasting impacts gut health and the importance of finding a personalized eating schedule that works for you.
Intermittent fasting can improve health markers such as blood sugar control and mood while promoting cellular cleanup through autophagy.
Gradually easing into intermittent fasting helps individuals listen to their bodies and discover a sustainable eating schedule that suits their lifestyle.
Deep dives
Understanding Intermittent Fasting Benefits
Intermittent fasting can offer numerous health benefits, such as improved blood sugar control, enhanced heart health, and better mood regulation. The practice allows the body to enter a state of autophagy, which is the process of cellular cleanup, helping to clear out old proteins and support immune function. Engaging in intermittent fasting, especially with a clean fast that includes only plain water, black coffee, or tea, can amplify these effects. By sticking to a clean fast, individuals may experience significant differences in their overall well-being and weight management in comparison to including flavors or additives.
Building Up Fasting Habits Gradually
It's essential to gradually build the habit of intermittent fasting, as one cannot expect to start with a restrictive fasting routine right away. Just like training for a 5K, individuals should ease into fasting by learning to listen to their bodies and adjusting their eating windows based on personal experiences. During the initial adaptation phase, individuals may experience hunger pangs or hunger-induced irritability, but this should not be viewed as failure; instead, it is a natural part of the learning process. Over time, as bodies adjust, many discover their optimal fasting schedule that fits their lifestyle, whether it involves a midday eating window or later in the day.
The Microbiome's Role in Fasting
Fasting has a profound impact on the microbiome. Different microbes respond to food intake and can help repair gut health when given adequate time to function without interruptions from constant snacking. Specific microbes, like Acamancia, thrive during fasting periods, promoting metabolic health and helping in weight management. Allowing the microbiome to operate in a fasted state supports the body's natural repair processes and contributes to overall longevity improvements.
Today we discuss intermittent fasting with Professor Tim Spector, and Gin Stephens, New York Times best selling author of Fast. Feast. Repeat.
As many of you long term listeners will know, ZOE ran the world’s largest ever study on intermittent fasting. We know a lot of you are interested in the potential benefits. I’m talking about improved blood sugar control, heart health, and mood.
But practically, how do you get started with fasting?
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