Fasting Benefits / Add Years To Your Life

I came across an article on fasting concerning adding 40-50 years of healthy life to your life span. This MIGHT be beneficial for type 2 diabetics under strict supervision. It would also depend on how long you have been a diabetic, what your last couple of A1C readings were and what medications your are on or whether or not you are on insulin. Do not attempt to try something like this on your own.

Rather than comment on the article, I will cut and paste it here for your review. Previously in this BLOG I have commented on a less restrictive and probably less effective program for long term health, called "Medifast" Dan

Link to ZenKefir Blog Post On Fasting

Here is the article: (IF you are diabetic, do NOT, I repeat DO NOT attempt any sort of fasting without medical supervision)

Fasting (Add 40-50 Healthy Years To Your Lifespan)

The name of this fasting and caloric restriction article certainly caught my eye when I first saw it too.  Its based on numerous studies that take advantage of caloric restriction and periodic fasting to alter how the body works.  The study concludes that out of the two options (CR) or periodic fasting, that fasting is the better option.

Here's why:
Fasting gives the body a complete break
CR demands continuous low calorie eating days without a definitive break

Pleasures of eating - while fasting hunger disappears and you eat normal on non fasting days
CR - your always under eating and always craving food without having a complete break from it (Torture?)

Psychological effects during fasting allow for a clearer mind and appetite disappears without food
CR can cause you to become moody and always hungry

Fasting can fit well into a religious calendar and can be used for spiritual benefits as well

Fasting saves time, if you are fasting for 70-100 days per year, you only have to cook, eat, clean and shop 265-295 days out of the year vs 365 days.
CR - your eating everyday and skipping days may increase the hunger and binging with no time off from cooking, cleaning up dishes and grocery shopping.

Here is the plan they recommend:

Option 1
1500Kcal / Day with Moderate fasting (1 year plan)
Week 1 - Fasting Week  (168 Hours Fasting)
Week 2 - Recovery Week  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 3 - Normal  Diet (24 Hours Fasting) - Normal eating 6 days, fasting for 1 day (Tue or Fri)
Week 4 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)
Week 5 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)
Week 6 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)
Week 7 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)
Week 8 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)
Week 9 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)
Week 10 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)
Week 11 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)
Week 12 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)
Week 13 - Normal  (24 Hours Fasting)

This 13 week plan is then repeated over and over (4 cycles in a year)
Total Fasting Days - 72
http://www.anti-aging-guide.com/30fasting.php

RECOVERY WEEK (for 1500 kcal/day plan). After the 7 day total fast the recovery period ("recovery week") will also be 7 days. On the first day after the end of the fast (the 8th day after the start of the fast) you should take 200 kcal; on the 2nd day 300 kcal; on the 3rd day 400; on the 4th, 600; on the 5th, 900; on the 6th, 1200; and on the 7th day 1600 kcal. So during these 7 "recovery days" your total intake will be 5200 kcal.
http://www.anti-aging-guide.com/30fasting.php

Based on this information and previous studies I have discussed, I would make the following changes to the weekly fasting days as follows:

Option 2
(1 year plan)
Week 1 - Fasting Week  (168 Hours Fasting)
Week 2 - Recovery Week  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 3 - Normal  (44 Hours Fasting) Once during week
Week 4 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 5 - Normal  (44 Hours Fasting)
Week 6 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 7 - Normal  (44 Hours Fasting)
Week 8 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 9 - Normal  (44 Hours Fasting)
Week 10 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 11 - Normal  (44 Hours Fasting)
Week 12 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 13 - Normal  (44 Hours Fasting)

This 13 week plan is then repeated over and over (4 cycles in a year)
Total Fasting Days - 72

RECOVERY WEEK (for 1500 kcal/day plan). After the 7 day total fast the recovery period ("recovery week") will also be 7 days. On the first day after the end of the fast (the 8th day after the start of the fast) you should take 200 kcal; on the 2nd day 300 kcal; on the 3rd day 400; on the 4th, 600; on the 5th, 900; on the 6th, 1200; and on the 7th day 1600 kcal. So during these 7 "recovery days" your total intake will be 5200 kcal.
http://www.anti-aging-guide.com/30fasting.php

Option 3 (My preferred)
In this plan, I allowed 1 week of normal eating all 7 days followed by a week with a 2 day fast.  This plan sounds like the best to me so far, as you are allowed 2 completely normal weeks of eating prior to the 7 day fast at the beginning of each cycle.  This plan may be more suitable for those under weight or those wishing to increase muscle mass, while teaching the body to self regulate and rebuild damaged or old tissues on a regular basis.

(1 year plan)
Week 1 - Fasting Week  (168 Hours Fasting)
Week 2 - Recovery Week  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 3 - Normal  (48 Hours Fasting) Once during week
Week 4 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 5
Week 6 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 7 - Normal  (48 Hours Fasting)
Week 8 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 9 - Normal  (48 Hours Fasting)
Week 10 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 11 - Normal  (48 Hours Fasting)
Week 12 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)
Week 13 - Normal  (0 Hours Fasting)

This 13 week plan is then repeated over and over (4 cycles in a year)
Total Fasting Days - 68

RECOVERY WEEK (for 1500 kcal/day plan). After the 7 day total fast the recovery period ("recovery week") will also be 7 days. On the first day after the end of the fast (the 8th day after the start of the fast) you should take 200 kcal; on the 2nd day 300 kcal; on the 3rd day 400; on the 4th, 600; on the 5th, 900; on the 6th, 1200; and on the 7th day 1600 kcal. So during these 7 "recovery days" your total intake will be 5200 kcal.

(MY INPUT) I am posting a second LINK below to fasting specifically under medical supervision for type 2 diabetics.  - YOU SIMPLY MUST HAVE MEDICAL SUPERVISION TO ATTEMPT THIS TYPE OF FASTING

Link To Fasting For Type 2 Diabetics 

(SHORT EXCERPT) Please read entire article for more information 


   If you suffer Type 2 diabetes, FCI will be happy to address it at greater length for you, including comments from clients resolving it on our Scientific Fasting Program. Simply email your request to FastMaster@fasting.com, knowing we'll not only address "Diabetes"FCI's overriding approach-- for you, but also "Diabetes Prevention." BECAUSE FASTING is contraindicated for those with Type 1 Diabetes (formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), FCI focuses its Scientific Fasting Program's healing potential exclusively on Type 2 diabetics (formerly known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). As noted in the "Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide":
      "Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. At least 90% of diabetics have Type 2 diabetes. In this form, the body's cells gradually become less responsive to insulin (insulin resistance). Normally, when insulin attaches to a cell, it sends a signal inside the cell that tells chemicals called glucose transporters to take glucose into the cell.
      "In insulin resistance, that signal is blocked, and the cells do not take in enough glucose from the blood. This causes blood-sugar levels to rise, which leads the pancreas to produce even more insulin. For some months or years, the pancreas can produce enough extra insulin to counteract the effect of insulin resistance. Blood-sugar levels remain relatively normal, and there are no symptoms. Ultimately, however, the insulin resistance grows stronger, and the pancreas becomes exhausted from making extra insulin. At this point, blood-sugar levels rise well above normal, and symptoms begin.