Know Thyself E172 - Dr. Alan Goldhammer: The Science of Fasting: How to Heal the Body and Rewire the Mind
10 snips
Nov 18, 2025 
Dr. Alan Goldhammer, co-founder of TrueNorth Health Center and a veteran in therapeutic fasting, shares his decades of wisdom on healing through water fasting. He explores the body's innate healing ability, the interplay of fasting and psychology, and the dangers of hyper-processed foods. Alan emphasizes how fasting can rejuvenate health, reduce chronic diseases, and even uplift moods by resetting cravings. He also outlines essential guidelines for safe fasting, including the importance of controlled refeeding and the benefits of aligning with natural rhythms.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Medicine Manages Symptoms, Rarely Cures
- Modern medicine treats symptoms with lifelong drugs instead of addressing root causes like diet, sleep, and exercise.
- Alan Goldhamer argues fasting and lifestyle change can restore health rather than just manage disease.
Fasting Is An Evolutionary Tool
- Humans evolved fasting to switch brain fuel from glucose to fat, extending survival during scarcity.
- Today fasting is repurposed to reverse diseases caused by dietary excess and ultra-processed foods.
Adopt A Whole Plant Food Diet
- Return to whole plant foods: fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds; avoid animal foods, oil, salt and sugar.
- This dietary pattern reduces visceral fat, inflammation, and disease risk over time.
