WEDNESDAY, FEBRUAY 24, 2021

 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 - FASTING

Fasting - has been around “forever”.  Scriptures talk about fasting as a disciple to focus more on spiritual things.  The concept of ‘feast or famine’ goes back to caveman - there were days (or weeks) of good hunting and days (or weeks) or poor hunting.

Recently (at least to me), the concept of Intermittent fasting for dieting has gotten attention.  Now, the discussion of fasting has been applied to dementia.

“Neurodegenerative diseases: Studies with animals indicate that intermittent fasting can slow the progression of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s because the plaques that clog neurons feed on glucose, not ketones. No studies have yet been published testing intermittent fasting in people with neurodegenerative diseases.”

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/articles/intermittent-fasting-is-it-for-you 

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Hold it - intermittent fasting that is great for dieting can also work for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?  Really?

LET’S LOOK AT THE DIETING ASPECT OF INTERMITTENT FASTING FIRST:

“The catalyst for intermittent fasting’s health benefits, they say, is metabolic switching, which occurs when cells transition from using glucose for energy to using ketone bodies, and then back again.”

“A typical carbohydrate-rich diet of three meals a day plus snacks provides more than enough glucose to power cells. But during fasting, glucose runs out and the liver responds by converting fatty acids to ketone bodies, a process known as ketosis. Ketone bodies provide steady, fat-derived energy and appear to regulate proteins and molecules related to health and aging, they write.”

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Thus, our traditional dieting had too much glucose - but by fasting, our bodies convert fatty aspects of our bodies into energy.   

From my reading, it seems like the most popular intermittent fasting is the 16/8.  The concept is - on a day that you are fasting you can eat for 8 hours on that day, but then for 16 hours of a day, you don’t eat.  

The experts say:

“it’s important to stick to nutritious whole foods and beverages during your eating periods.

Filling up on nutrient-rich foods can help round out your diet and allow you to reap the rewards that this regimen has to offer.”  (Like most diets, there are suggestions for nutrition - and, it doesn’t include candy or soda - and suggests water, unsweetened tea, and coffee !!)

The experts say you can choose to do a 16/8 intermittent fasting diet every day or on one or two or more days a week.

Another article suggested “It’s generally recommended that women only fast 14–15 hours because they seem to do better with slightly shorter fasts.  (Okay, that appeals to me!!!)

Seemingly, most people eat their first meal at noon (12 p.m.); and their last meal before 8:00 p.m. - then these people fast from 8:00 p.m. to noon the next day (or 16 hours).  If women (using the suggestion above) fast 14 hours - you could go from 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  

For me, I have always eaten breakfast.  The concept of “breakfast is the most important meal of the day'' stuck with me.  And if you really look at the word “break” the “fast”. So, if (and when??) I do this, I’ll probably do an 8:00 to 6:00 (so using the women’s suggestion)  That would be 10 hours of eating and thus 14 hours of fasting.  I’d get my oatmeal (or eggs) and start my day with good nutrition.  Then a lunch about noon and dinner about 5:30 to 6:00 (and then fast until the next morning).  And, the suggestions include drinking water, coffee, tea!!!  

As for the meals during the eating period some people get three meals - and some only two meals.  Looking at a three-meal on the 16/8 version, you could eat at noon; again at (say 3:30 to 4:00), and again from (say) 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.  

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Okay - I’ve written that about 2/3rds of Americans are overweight - so if 16/8 (or another form) of intermittent fasting works for losing weight, maybe it is time to see if that fits into your lifestyle.

And, if (as the early results indicate) intermittent fasting can help with Alheimzer’s/dementia and Parkinson's - that’s good as well.

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Feast or Famine - eat, drink, and be merry, or abstain from food (fast).  

It may be time to look at the Intermittent fasting regiment as a method for dieting - but maybe as a spiritual discipline.  AND - such intermittent fasting seems to be tied with decreases in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

(Okay, true confessions - as I write today, my mind is screaming at me - DON’T DO THIS!!  Yes.  I love to eat, yes, when I write, I get up and walk around - which invariably means grabbing a snack - maybe peanut butter on a cracker with jelly and butter - yea!!!  My mind is made up - don’t confuse me with the truth!!!  Hey, you are 73 - why should you go crazy with fasting?

I don’t know the answer.  My logical brain says “Yup - you should do this.  My emotional brain says “No, No, No”!!  

I’ll put this on the backburner - or I might try it (I’m on the fence!!!) - I hope somebody bugs me down the line and asks “Okay Karen.  Did you set up a fasting plan?  For both weight loss, decreases dementia risks, and for spiritual growth?”  I’m going to “fast and pray” about taking time to “fast and pray”!!!!)

What do you think?

LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!!

Karen