Intermittent Fasting is a Rich Habit because, besides sleep and exercise, it is one of the healthiest things you can do.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent Fasting involves not consuming any calories for 14 consecutive hours.
That’s impossible, you say.
Well, most people finish dinner by 7pm and go to bed at around 10pm So, assuming you eat nothing else after 7pm, that’s three hours of fasting right there.
And most people sleep around seven hours a night, so that’s another seven hours of fasting there.
The hard part, I agree is the last four hours of fasting – that time between when you wake up in the morning until lunchtime.
When I was doing my Rich habits Study, I was fascinated by how many self-made millionaires engaged in Intermittent Fasting. At the time, I didn’t even know what it was.
So, I did some research and I learned that there was a very good reason my Rich Habits Millionares had forged the Intermittent Fasting Rich Habit – Intermittent Fasting has some very powerful health benefits:
- Fasting reduces the Glucose levels in the bloodstream – Too much Glucose can lead to Type II Diabetes.
- Fasting stimulates Autophagy – Fasting reduces the amount of Insulin released into the bloodstream as a result of the lower levels of Glucose in the bloodstream. Reduced Insulin puts your body into Standby Mode, which allows your body to focus on repairing damaged cells, removing damaged cells that are beyond repair (called Autophagy) and this Autophagy allows the body to produce new replacement cells to do the work the damaged cells were previously doing.
- Fasting boosts cognitive function – When Glucose levels drop too low, the body will melt fat cells to release Ketones. Ketones are an alternative source of fuel for the body and the brain. The interesting thing about Ketones is that when they are converted to ATP, the ultimate fuel for every cell in the body, those Ketones produce more brain fuel. Because the brain is an energy hog (it consumes 20% of all Glucose), Ketones provide brain cells with 20% more energy than Glucose, thus improving cognitive function.
- Fasting increases how long you will live – As I mentioned, Fasting puts your body in Standby Mode. During Standby Mode the body replenishes Telomeres (caps at the end of chromosomes, inside the nucleus of every cell). This helps keep Telomeres from getting too short. When Telomeres get too short, the chromosomes unravel and the cell is forced to commit suicide. This isn’t a problem when you’re young, but when you’re old, cells don’t reproduce as frequently and existing cells are needed to keep the body alive. The longer your Telomeres are, the longer cells will live.
- Fasting reduces the production of IGF-1 – IGF-1 is a growth hormone which accelerates aging. So, less IGF-1, means less aging.
- Fasting reduces the release of Neurotransmitters inside the brain – This gives your brain a much needed rest.
- Fasting reduces Oxidative Stress – When the body is low in Glucose it must rely on Ketones to fuel the body and the brain. Because Ketones produce 20% more ATP, this means the Mitochondria (fuel factories inside every cell) don’t have to work as hard. This also gives brain cells a much needed rest.
- Fasting boosts the release of BDNF – BDNF is a protein which keeps the Myelin Sheath (insulation for Axons) healthy, thus improving brain cell health, brain cell communication and neurogenesis (the birth of new brain cells).
- Fasting reduces Chronic Inflammation – Chronic Inflammation can lead to disease, so, reducing it reduces the risk of disease.
- Fasting starves Cancer cells – Cancer cells need Glucose to survive. Starving Cancer cells of Glucose impairs those Cancer cells.
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Hey Tom,
Very interesting post!
Bambi
Intermittent Fasting is the only way I have found to lose Weight. Was rather frustrated that, despite eating healthy, I would either maintain or GAIN weight!
Great information and research! Thank you!
Wow! This is a great study of all the health benefits of Intermittent Fasting. Thanks so much for sharing.
Some good points, but unless the author is a recognized medical expert or scientist, citations of studies supporting his or her statements need to be included.
Hello, Thanks for the info I’m attempting to do all I need to master around intermittent fasting/fasting.That said, I was hoping you had any up-to-date suggestions for good books/resources to learn info about the method? I comprehend its been around for a while, and I like doing my research before going into a fresh diet plan simply because I have difficulties with yo-yo eating or being fooled by trend meal plans.Have you seen the Eat Stop eat intermittent fasting guide yet? I heard about it on another website (Don’t know if I can link here but google “PushPedalCrank Eat Stop Eat” if you’re curious) and it sounded GREAT in her review, but I wanted a second opinion before I buy it.Have you examined that/checked it out? If so, How’d you like it?It appears like a enlightening ebook to purchase from the review, yet I’m still on the fence.I just want to get my hand on as many books that WORK as possible, so I can be sure that this time, my diet plan stays. I’m sick of the yo-yoing and of being unhealthy, particularly in recent times. But I believe a person like you might be able to help me figure out which Intermittent fasting guide programs I should particularly buy. Appreciated in advance! Hope you’ll be able to answer when you get the chance. Sincerely, J.J.
Dave Asprey has spoken about intermittent fasting. He wrote two great books (Bulletproof Diet & Head Strong) which provide cutting edge health tips/habits.