Intermittent Fasting

When was the last time you were on a fast, eating a lot less than normal? The time you had the flu? That medical procedure that required a 12 hour fast, but delays extended it to 16 hours? Not much choice there, but have you ever deliberately chosen not to eat? Well, a few readers are hearing about the concept of occasional or intermittent fasting (IF) for good health and a long life. One big fan of the idea  is Michael Mosely (see pic), who has written a book on the concept of IF. It got a “leg up” on the back of his TV documentary on IF.

  

5:2 eating

The idea is simple. Eat normally, and healthily I presume, for five days and for two non-consecutive days eat only 500-600 Cals (2100 – 2500 kJs). Proponents excitedly explain that you will lose weight. No surprises there. Eat less food and we all lose weight. But is there more to this?

Early this year there appeared an interesting and balanced article in the Scientific American on IF. I recommend it to you as I won’t be repeating much of its information. It mentions Mark Mattson, Institute of Aging in the US, who has studied the area for many years and believes that IF is both brain and heart-protective. His work also suggests that periodic fasting might protect the neurons, lowering the risk of Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. He thinks that IF better mimics how we ate during most of evolution, and offers a survival advantage. If you could go a few days without food, yet still gather and hunt smart, you pass down clever genes. Most studies have been done on laboratory animals. Even if they are encouraging, they aren’t persuasive.

IF not protective against cancer

A recent  review of both regular fasting and IF in humans found no protection against breast cancer, but an increase in the risk of other cancers. Long-term Calorie restriction did see a non-statistical trend to cancer protection in mice, but nothing to get excited about. Their conclusion was to stick to what we have said for years: don’t get fat and eat well. You can’t sell a book with that kind of advice.

**No proof that IF better that good wholesome eating**

One thing I can’t do is separate the benefit of eating well and remaining a reasonable weight from the potential benefits of doing that AND following the 5:2 or IF routine. I know my own Basal Metabolic Rate is 1800 Cals (7500 kJs), done under proper laboratory conditions. I might need 3000 Cals (12500 kJs) or more on a very active day. If I eat less than a quarter of my needs on two days of the week, I just don’t think I can be active as well.

Here is the constant problem we face when trying to advise people of a so-called perfect health-enhancing diet – we live too long. That is, too long to make an assessment of any new diet theory, such as IF or the Paleo Diet. We would need many thousands of people following a new non-traditional diet idea for 60-100 years to then be able to say: “This diet, on average, will give you a lifespan of 120 years.”

The best we can do is observe those that have eaten a specific style for hundreds of years and lived to a good age, reasonably free of disease, and marry that with science of physiology and aging. The traditional Japanese and Mediterranean diets are the most realistic models we have at the moment.

What does it all mean?

Diet sensations come and go, get recycled, repackaged  and return because diet ideas are a commodity. Emphasise a need or concern, supply a solution and six months as a new diet book, with its accompanying cookbook. OK, so I’m not excited by IF, mainly because I haven’t enjoyed hunger nor do I think well when starving. I much prefer that we ate for nutrition, health, enjoyment, community and prepared food for pleasure and discovery.

So, if you like the idea, try it. I don’t think you will come to any harm. You probably won’t have the energy to exercise much on the semi-fasting days. As I have said before, you are your own boss. No evangelistic dogma from me. However, if you are an IF devotee, I would really love to hear of your experiences.

IF may be considered natural, but I think that eating when you are hungry, and drinking when you are thirsty, also neatly fit into a natural philosophy.

Paleofantasy

Last month I was given a book on the Paleolithic diet (PD) written by Marlene Zuk, a professor of evolution at the University of Minnesota. I discussed this topic late last year. Zuk covers it all in much more detail, explaining that there is no single PD, with the Australian Aboriginal diet differing to that of the native North Americans, the eastern Chinese and the early Mayans as they populated parts of South America.

Despite dairy and grain being banned on the PD there is good evidence that our genes have changed in the last 10,000 years (eg lactose tolerance in Indo-Europeans) and we have been eating grains for at least 30,000 years. Zuk cites evidence that even our gut bacteria have evolved over recent years to help us to digest new foods found as we spread over the planet.

There is discussion on other aspects of human evolution. Humans began life at sea level about 200,000 years ago. The Tibetan mountains have been populated for only 3000-6000 years and there are clear genetic differences in those that have adapted to the higher altitude. Tibetans breathe faster and have lower haemoglobin (yes, lower) levels for more efficient oxygen transfer. There are also recent genetic changes to resist malaria and be better able to digest starch.

This book is much more than a debunking of the idea that all was perfect in the Paleolithic era and that we have exactly the same genes as 10,000 – 20,000 years ago. It also discusses the evolution of sex and family. It is a very easy and enjoyable read. I have 12 “stickies” on the pages to denote passages I learned from; any book that has more than 5 stickies is a worthwhile purchase for me. As it is mainly text, I suggest getting the cheaper Kindle edition. Of course, you may prefer the smell of ink. Don’t blame you.

Another review, posted 11 June 2013, by colleague Bill Shrapnel is here.