The power of intermittent fasting. What do you think?

[Quantess]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19112549

Scientists are uncovering evidence that short periods of fasting, if properly controlled, could achieve a number of health benefits, as well as potentially helping the overweight, as Michael Mosley discovered.

Calorie restriction, eating well but not much, is one of the few things that has been shown to extend life expectancy, at least in animals. We've known since the 1930s that mice put on a low-calorie, nutrient-rich diet live far longer. There is mounting evidence that the same is true in monkeys.

One area of current research into diet is Alternate Day fasting (ADF), involving eating what you want one day, then a very restricted diet (fewer than 600 calories) the next, and most surprisingly, it does not seem to matter that much what you eat on non-fast days.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19112549

[longship]

1. Where is this going?

About people who obsess about their diet to promote a longer life:

The number of years their lives are extended is directly proportional to the horror of their existence.

Food is good for you. That's why I eat food every day. Anybody who says any different has some kind of agenda. Just eat lots of different things and you'll do fine. But, by all means, eat what you like.

I do not like food nazis, those people who try to tell people what they should or should not eat. So now we have to fast every other day? Screw them.

Sorry for the rant.

[HockeyMom]

2. I have been doing this my entire life

Not because of some diet or health, but simply because it's how I feel. Some days I feel like eating and other days I don't. I eat according to what my body tell me.

I've never been overweight or on a diet in my life. I weighed 100 lbs in my 20s, and still do in my 60s.

[longship]

3. Good for you!!

That is kinda what I was trying to say. Everybody has their own needs with regards to food. I find myself eating lighter these days. I, also, am slender and have been all my life. I weigh 145 lbs. As a six foot guy, that makes me pretty skinny.

But since turning 60, I no longer eat as much. Maybe my metabolism is slowing down, or something.

I eat when I am hungry. I do not worry about what I eat too much. I eat what I like, except that my rather extreme lactose intolerance pisses me off -- no more pizza or ice cream. And, Bleu cheese gives me a migraine every time.

But food is good. Eat what you like. Life is too short to put artificial constraints on living a happy life, just to live a longer one, albeit restricted one.

The one exception. If one is obese, one should do something about it. The only real solution is not going on a diet. It has to be a life change. Eat less and exercise more. It is a simple equation. Calories in; calories out. Thankfully I don't have that problem. But I feel for those who do. Changing lifelong habits is very difficult.

Thanks for your response.

[HockeyMom]

4. People don't MOVE enough either

Eating and then just sitting for hours after is also very bad. You don't need "exercise" per se, just getting up, moving around, walking, etc., really is enough if you aren't overeating to begin with. I guess what I am saying is don't be a couch potato in front of the TV and eating.

Isn't it strange that nobody listens to those of us who are slim, and have always been so? Maybe we are doing SOMETHING right?

[trotsky]

5. It makes sense from an evolutionary perspective.

Until the development of agriculture (in other words, for the first million or so years of our species' existence), it was feast or famine. Was the hunt successful? Were fruits/berries in season? Plenty of food for all. Neither is true? Try to subsist. Seems reasonable to say that our metabolism is still capable of (and perhaps best suited for) this kind of eating pattern.

Interesting stuff.

[Quantess]

6. I went 18 hours without food today

Counting from last meal before bedtime until dinner the next day. All I had was water and coffee. It was not hard to do, since I was busy all day. I felt fine, but maybe a little tired. This article inspired me to try it.

Strangely I was not all that hungry for dinner. I probably could have gone even longer, but I don't want to wreck my metabolism.