Intermittent Fasting is a Rich Habit

tip-o-the-morning

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All human cells are powered by one of two fuel sources:

  • Glucose or
  • Ketones

In either case, glucose or ketones, once they enter the cell membrane they are converted to ATP by the mitochondria (fuel power plants that reside in every cell). ATP is then used to power every human cell.

Cells prefer glucose because glucose is easily mined. You can get glucose from just about any readily available food source.

Any excess glucose-based food source is then converted into glycogen and stored in our muscles, liver or our fat cells.

When food is scarce, glycogen is first released from the muscles and liver and converted into glucose. It is then sent around the body, via our blood, to where it is most needed.

When our muscles and livers run out of glycogen, the body then turns to fat. The fat is broken down, converted into ketones, and sent around the body, via our blood, to where it is most needed.

When you do not eat for four or more hours, you run out of glycogen stored in muscles and the liver.

The body then begins breaking down fat to produce ketones in order to keep the body fueled. This is known as the ketogenic state.

Thus, fasting for four hours or more, or abstaining from eating for four hours or more, forces you into a ketogenic state.

Why is this important?

  • Fasting forces the body to rely on ketones. Ketones, when converted into ATP, produces 20% more energy for our cells to use. Ketones are, therefore, a much more efficient and powerful source of energy.
  • Fasting has been shown to lower blood sugar levels by reducing the production of insulin and Insulinlike Growth Factor (IGF-1), a hormone that is linked to cancer and diabetes. So, fasting reduces blood sugar levels and the incidence of cancer and diabetes.
  • Studies have shown that fasting also reduces the incidence of heart disease.
  • Toxins are stored in fat. Those toxins play havoc with your body. Fasting reduces fat, thus reducing the inventory of toxins stored within the fat cells of the body.
  • Fasting reduces bad cholesterol (LDL).
  • Fasting reduces blood pressure.
  • Studies have shown that fasting can reduce the incidence of strokes, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
  • Fasting has been shown to reduce epileptic seizures.
  • Fasting has been shown to increase life spans by 30%.
  • Fasting increases the production of proteins that protect brain cells.
  • Fasting improves the ability of cells to repair damaged DNA.
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Thomas C. Corley About Thomas C. Corley

Tom Corley is a bestselling author, speaker, and media contributor for Business Insider, CNBC and a few other national media outlets.

His Rich Habits research has been read, viewed or heard by over 50 million people in 25 countries around the world.

Besides being an author, Tom is also a CPA, CFP, holds a master’s degree in taxation and is President of Cerefice and Company, a CPA firm in New Jersey.
 
Phone Number: 732-382-3800 Ext. 103.
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Comments

  1. In South India, traditionally, we observe fasting twice a month. On the eleventh day from New Moon day/Full moon day..

  2. Thanks for the info, I’ve heard that fasting is great for you. So for how long and how often would you recommend fasting?

  3. Thanks for that great information. I have been battling my weight for years, and also struggling trying to avoid sugar – it’s in so much food that we buy. It was like a light being turned on for me as now it makes sense to stay hungry for a few hours at least once a day. Then I guess you could monitor the results and either increase or decrease the length of time you are not eating. It’s also one way to fight the oversupply of food, and take control, for better health all round.

  4. Lisa Schreiber says:

    I have the same two questions that Michael Japuncic asked.

  5. My grandma always ate breakfast at 7, lunch at 12 and supper at 6. She lived to be 97. It looks like this goes along with what you say? Just an everyday habit?

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