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Alternate day fasting (ADF) has gained growing attention due to its dramatic effects on improving disordered metabolic parameters. However, the effects of ADF on atherosclerotic plaque formation remain inconsistent and controversial in atherosclerotic animal models. Using atherogenic mice, scientists have worked jointly and reported that ADF aggravated Western diet (WD)–induced atherosclerotic lesion formation, and they also validated that such effects were mediated by inhibiting the expression of hepatic activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) under ADF intervention. The findings suggest the potentially harmful effects when ADF intervention is applied to the population at high risk of atherosclerosis. In this study, 11-week-old...

Researchers have discovered a key mechanism used by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), to induce cancer. The research points to effective new treatment options for KSHV-associated cancers, including Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and HHV8-associated multicentric Castleman disease. "Our findings have significant implications: viruses cause between 10% to 20% of cancers worldwide. Treating virus-induced cancers with standard cancer therapies can help shrink tumors that are already there, but it doesn't fix the underlying problem of the virus," said Jun Zhao, Ph.D. The study reveals that KSHV manipulates two human enzymes called CDK6 and CAD...

Glucagon, a hormone best known for promoting blood sugar production in the liver, also appears to play a key role in maintaining kidney health. When researchers removed receptors for this hormone from mouse kidneys, the animals developed symptoms akin to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Researchers have discovered that cells in the pancreas produce glucagon when blood sugar, or glucose, dips below a certain threshold. This hormone migrates through the bloodstream to receptors on the surface of liver cells, prompting the liver to produce glucose that fuels cells throughout the body. More recent research has shown that the kidneys also bear...

Cycles of a diet that mimics fasting can reduce signs of immune system aging, as well as insulin resistance and liver fat in humans, resulting in a lower biological age, according to a new study. The FMD is a five-day diet high in unsaturated fats and low in overall calories, protein, and carbohydrates and is designed to mimic the effects of a water-only fast while still providing necessary nutrients and making it much easier for people to complete the fast. The study analyzed the diet's effects in two clinical trial populations, each with men and women between the ages of...

Scientists have identified a less stringent and more manageable alternative to traditional intermittent fasting, offering new possibilities for extending lifespan and promoting healthy aging. This novel method, involving short-term isoleucine deprivation, has shown remarkable results in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). The research found that intermittent, short-term omission of only the essential amino acid isoleucine from the diet significantly increases stress resistance and extends lifespan in fruit flies. "Unlike conventional intermittent fasting, this approach does not require drastic reductions in overall food intake, making it a more practical and feasible strategy," said Tahila Fulton. Previous research has shown that moderate restriction...

Former offensive lineman Russell Okung recently completed his second 40-day fast of 2023 and is now under 200 pounds. Okung discussed details of the fast — which ended over the weekend — in videos that he uploaded to Twitter on Monday. The 34-year-old revealed in early June that he'd lost more than 100 pounds since his NFL playing days thanks to a 40-day fast. Okung's listed weight during his time on the field, according to Pro Football Reference, was 310 pounds. The two-time Pro Bowler is now 192 pounds. Okung was selected sixth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the...

Eating in a ten-hour window is associated with higher energy and mood and lower hunger levels, results from the largest UK community science study of its kind shows. Intermittent fasting (IF), or restricting your food consumption to a set window, is a popular weight loss regime. A ten-hour window means limiting your daily eating schedule to ten hours and fasting for the remaining 14 hours. For example, if you eat your first bite at 9am, you must eat your last bite by 7pm. Despite some IF advocates commonly promoting restrictive eating windows as low as six hours, findings detailed in...

Time-restricted eating, also known as intermittent fasting, can help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight and control their blood sugar levels, according to a new study. Participants who ate only during an eight-hour window between noon and 8 p.m. each day actually lost more weight over six months than participants who were instructed to reduce their calorie intake by 25%. Both groups had similar reductions in long-term blood sugar levels, as measured by a test of hemoglobin A1C, which shows blood sugar levels over the past three months. The study was conducted at UIC and enrolled 75 participants into...

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is disruption to the body's circadian rhythm, the internal biological clock. Nearly 80% of people with Alzheimer's experience these issues, including difficulty sleeping and worsening cognitive function at night. However, there are no existing treatments for Alzheimer's that target this aspect of the disease. A study has shown in mice that it is possible to correct the circadian disruptions seen in Alzheimer's disease with time-restricted feeding, a type of intermittent fasting focused on limiting the daily eating window without limiting the amount of food consumed. In the study, mice fed on a time-restricted...

— Effects in small study seen independent of weight lossJust 1 week of early time-restricted feeding (eTRF) cut fluctuations in blood sugar levels, and reduced the time that blood sugar was elevated, in people with prediabetes and a high BMI, according to the TRIO study. The difference in the mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE) -- the standard for assessing short-term within-day glycemicopens in a new tab or window variability -- was 2.9 mmol/L with a usual feeding pattern versus 2.4 mmol/L with eTRF, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.001), reported Joanne Bruno, MD, PhD, of NYU Langone Health...

Ive known about it for many years but have been watching this Dr Jamnadas on YouTube and I’m getting motivated again. See link for one of his videos if interested.

A study analyzes in old rats the effects of a calorie-restricted diet on the hippocampus, a brain structure that is critical in learning and memory processes. The results corroborate that there is a cognitive improvement derived from diet, linked to a reduction in the levels of inflammation and neuronal loss in the hippocampus. It has been described that some of the brain alterations observed during aging are related to the cognitive dysfunction that manifests naturally as we age. These processes, which depend on both genetic and environmental factors, are particularly important in the hippocampus. Calorie-restricted diets have been shown to...

A fasting diet which focuses on eating early in the day could be the key to reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers compared two different diets: a time restricted, intermittent fasting diet and a reduced calorie diet to see which one was more beneficial for people who were prone to developing type 2 diabetes. "Following a time restricted, intermittent fasting diet could help lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes," said Professor Leonie Heilbronn. "People who fasted for three days during the week, only eating between 8am and 12pm on those days, showed a greater tolerance...

Few things are as difficult in the modern world as fasting. It is not simply the action of changing our eating habits that we find problematic – it’s the whole concept of fasting and what it truly entails. It comes from another world. We understand dieting – changing how we eat in order to improve how we look or how we feel. But changing how we eat in order to know God or to rightly keep a feast of the Church – this is foreign. Our first question is often, “How does that work?” For we live in a culture...

Intermittent fasting, especially when done over the course of decades, can have positive effects on metabolic and cardiovascular health. Now, a new study finds that it may also add an extra layer of protection from heart-related COVID-19 complications in people who had already sought cardiac care. "We already know that regular fasting over long periods of time can lead to overall health improvements. Here we found that it may also lead to better outcomes in COVID-19 patients who required a cardiac catheterization," said Benjamin Horne, Ph.D. "Fasting won't necessarily stop a cardiac event from happening, but it may prevent someone...

Nutrition researchers studied 80 people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and found those who followed an alternate-day fasting diet and exercised were able to improve their health. The researchers report that over a period of three months people who exercised and alternated feast and fast days—eating without restriction one day and eating 500 calories or fewer the next—saw increased insulin sensitivity and decreased liver fat, weight and ALT, or alanine transaminase enzymes, which are markers for liver disease. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a buildup of fat and inflammation in patients who drink little to no alcohol. Approximately 65% of...

Researchers have found more evidence that dry fasting (fasting without food or liquid intake) from dawn to dusk for four weeks has an anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic effect on the proteins in a type of immune cell called a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). "We know that disruptions of the circadian rhythm are associated with cancer and metabolic syndrome. This type of fasting can potentially act as a reset to normal for the circadian rhythm," said Dr. Ayse Leyla Mindikoglu. "After fasting, our participants lost weight, and their blood pressure and insulin resistance improved." The researchers previously found similar results...

The term intermittent fasting covers several approaches. The "Eat Stop Eat" method: Alternate days of normal eating and fasting, including two non-consecutive fasting days in a week. The 5:2 method: This alternates between five days of normal eating and two days (which can be consecutive) of 70-75% calorie reduction during the week. Time-restricted eating: This consists of narrowing the food intake window to between 6 and 10 hours per day, fasting between 14 and 18 hours during the day. With the "Eat Stop Eat" and 5:2 approaches, the data has shown they can effectively help us lose weight and improve...

In a new study carried out by Chinese researchers, almost half of a group of people who fasted intermittently experienced remission of their Type 2 diabetes. The research found that people who fasted for five days, then ate a normal diet for 10 days, were much more likely to see their condition go into reverse than individuals who did not fast. The findings may be of particular interest in the UAE because the country has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world. 90 day experiment The researchers in China looked at 72 people with Type 2 diabetes,...

How do you stop raiding the office pantry for snacks? And why do some people crave salty snacks, while others prefer sweet treats? We put down our bag of chips to ask the experts.It’s 3pm and like clockwork, your brain – and colleague – are nudging you to make that trip to the office pantry for coffee and snacks. Or if you’re working from home, you can’t help but be drawn to the fridge like, every five minutes. Why are you hardwired to snack, especially when you’re trying to lose weight – and if the boss is reading this over...