Why intermittent fasting?

with Marisa Moon

Why is intermittent fasting trending right now? Should we embrace it? Is it in keeping with ancestral eating patterns? What are its benefits? And how do we get started with it?

Marisa Moon, Intermittent Fasting (IF) instructor and Certified Primal health coach, addresses all of the above. She is convinced that IF is very much aligned with how our ancestors ate and she explains why it’s a good idea to incorporate the practice into our lives. In our conversation, she covers how fasting stimulates autophagy (a cellular clean-up process), restores metabolic balance, triggers longevity pathways, and stimulates brain cell growth and connectivity. She gives practical ideas for how to get started with IF and explains why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all fasting model.

Notes:

Highlights from the conversation include:

the definition of intermittent fasting (contrasted with regular fasting)
its benefits that include allowing cells a chance to renew and triggering longevity pathways
Marisa’s journey to intermittent fasting though her ADHD
how our ancestors did this, when they were deprived of food, and the result
where the idea came that we need to eat three times a day
where the slogan came from “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”
why intermittent fasting is trending in the wellness community
how fasting stimulates autophagy and reduces systemic inflammation, increases BDNF brain-derived neurotrophic factor & gets the body in ketosis–burning stored glycogen
how our mitochondria prefer ketones as energy
what intuitive fasting can look like
how to begin IF slowly, gradually
why skipping breakfast might be the best way to go at first
the difference between fasting vs. chronic caloric restriction
why lowering carb intake is helpful
the importance of eating nutrient-dense foods while attempting IF
how hunger hormones are triggered by our habits