{"id":67706,"date":"2022-06-02T09:46:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-02T13:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=67706"},"modified":"2022-06-16T11:28:10","modified_gmt":"2022-06-16T15:28:10","slug":"david-sinclair-fasting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/david-sinclair-fasting\/","title":{"rendered":"David Sinclair: Fasting and Its Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Is it true that fasting can make you live longer? How does fasting promote longevity? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Australian biologist David Sinclair, fasting can help slow down aging and extend healthspan. This is because fasting triggers hormesis\u2014the process by which your body becomes stronger by repairing cellular damage and activating other survival mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how fasting can turn the biological clock, according to Sinclair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

David Sinclair: Fasting Can<\/strong> Turn the Biological Clock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to David Sinclair, fasting triggers your body\u2019s stress responses without causing malnutrition. He suggests several different variations of IF (intermittent fasting), saying that it\u2019s currently unclear which method is best, but all are beneficial:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Set aside 8 hours a day where you\u2019re allowed to eat, and fast the rest of the time (the 16:8 method).<\/li>
  2. Reduce your calorie intake<\/a> by 75% for 2 days a week (the 5:2 method). <\/li>
  3. Eat no food for a week once per quarter.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Sinclair also says that a vegetarian diet can activate hormesis. The relatively low levels of certain proteins (as compared with meat) can trigger our survival mechanisms in the same way that calorie restriction does. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Finally, Sinclair says that exercise (which, by definition, puts stress on our bodies) can greatly extend our lifespans. For example, researchers have found that exercise lengthens and protects telomeres. Telomeres <\/em>are small complexes of DNA and proteins at the ends of our chromosomes that get shorter each time a cell divides. When the telomere runs out, the cell stops dividing\u2014leading to many of the problems of old age. Therefore, lengthening telomeres can literally keep our bodies younger for longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sinclair adds that exercising in low temperatures appears to boost the youthening effects of exercise, most likely due to combining the stress of working out with the stress of being exposed to cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Fast Safely<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that, while IF can have numerous health benefits, it\u2019s not for everyone. They say that the following people should not <\/em>attempt intermittent fasting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    – People under 18 years old
    – Pregnant or breastfeeding women
    – People with metabolic disorders like diabetes
    – People who suffer from eating disorders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Furthermore, if you do try IF remember that you can drink water and other zero-calorie drinks (such as black tea or coffee) during your fast periods. It\u2019s important to stay hydrated while fasting. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Is it true that fasting can make you live longer? How does fasting promote longevity? According to Australian biologist David Sinclair, fasting can help slow down aging and extend healthspan. This is because fasting triggers hormesis\u2014the process by which your body becomes stronger by repairing cellular damage and activating other survival mechanisms. Here’s how fasting can turn the biological clock, according to Sinclair.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":21951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,16,160],"tags":[632],"class_list":["post-67706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food","category-health","category-science","tag-lifespan","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nDavid Sinclair: Fasting and Its Benefits - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"According to Australian biologist David Sinclair, fasting can help slow down aging and extend healthspan. 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