Kidney disease is really common, and often leads to kidney failure. Once you have kidney failure, you have to do dialysis treatments, which have a variety of downsides. They’re expensive, time-consuming, and your health and quality of life go downhill fast. The bad news is that kidney failure is NOT reversible. The good news? In …
Prevent Kidney Failure with Fasting / Keto [Avoid Dialysis!] Read More »
Many, many people have blood sugar problems these days. Prediabetes, type 2 diabetes…each of these means high blood sugar, and high insulin levels. It’s truly an epidemic in our society, based on a combination of ultra-processed food, high stress levels, and other unhealthy habits. When I work in the emergency room, I constantly see people …
I’ve tried fasting with and without salt. When I fast with salt, it’s a lot easier. Basically, having enough salt during a fast (especially a long fast) helps me feel more energetic, and able to do physical activities that might otherwise be difficult. It also helps prevent certain side effects, like headaches or fatigue. Overall, …
How Much Salt Do You Need While Fasting? [& How to Get It] Read More »
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a common hormonal disorder among women of childbearing age. Not only does it cause substantial health problems (similar to diabetes), it can also be really frustrating for women who are trying to get pregnant. The good news? Once you understand the root cause of PCOS, it quickly becomes clear that …
Intermittent Fasting for PCOS [Why it Helps + How to Do It] Read More »
Have you ever gotten a headache while fasting? Or perhaps you’ve heard of other people getting headaches while fasting, and wondered how to avoid them? Today I’ll explain what causes fasting headaches, and what you can do to prevent them. I’ll also explain two methods you can use to treat a headache if it starts …
Do you know someone with Alzheimer’s? Are you worried about getting it yourself? As many of us have witnessed, it’s a devastating disease that can turn family members into someone completely different. While Alzheimer’s dementia was traditionally considered irreversible (and hard to prevent), that’s gradually starting to change. Today I’ll explain how intermittent fasting and …
KetoFlex 12-3 [Fasting + Ketosis for Alzheimer’s] Read More »
While you fast, your body adapts. No food is coming in, so digestion shuts down. In other words, your stomach and intestines get a rest. So does your liver. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider what to eat after fasting — especially if you’re doing an extended fast (24 hours or more). Today I’ll …
The 7 Best Foods to Break a Fast [What to Eat & Why] Read More »
Intermittent fasting (aka time-restricted eating) has a bunch of cool health benefits. Some of them are more obvious than others. Today I’ll cover 9 significant benefits of intermittent fasting that I suspect you would want to know about. Each of these benefits is related to common health problems (including some of the biggest killers out …
9 Key Benefits of Intermittent Fasting (aka Time-Restricted Eating) Read More »
If you’re thinking about fasting, you’re probably wondering how hungry you’re gonna get. That’s one of the most common concerns I hear: “I’m gonna get hangry!” Here’s the good news: With a thoughtful approach, dealing with hunger pangs while fasting is not that difficult. It also gets easier the more you do it. Today I’ll …
How to Deal with Hunger while Fasting [3 Practical Strategies] Read More »
Life in the Fasting Lane is a well-written book, great for beginners. The book has 3 co-authors, so it provides a useful mix of perspectives. Overall, it shares a valuable combination of basic science, practical fasting tips, and troubleshooting ideas for beginners. Not to mention plenty of personal experience. In case you haven’t had …
Fatty liver has gotten super-common of late. Roughly ⅓ of Americans have it. It means just what it sounds like: Excess fatty deposits in your liver. It’s now a leading cause of liver failure, and contributes to many other health problems — like liver cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and more. The good news? Fasting can …
Fasting to Cure Fatty Liver [Why It Works + How to Start] Read More »
In recent years, keto has gotten super trendy. But even most of the people who try it don’t really understand how it works, and often don’t do it right. Today we’re gonna fix that. In this post I’ll explain everything you need to know as a beginner getting started with keto. That includes the physiology, …
When I first decided to try a ketogenic diet (back in 2016), I wasn’t really sure what to eat. Even though I had taken about a million biochemistry and physiology classes, it still seemed confusing and unfamiliar. Perhaps you can relate. Today I’ll share a list of low-carb foods that are simple, easy, and don’t …
When it comes to fasting, women have some unique challenges. Hormonal fluctuations play a big role, along with a few other factors. Obviously I don’t have personal experience with this topic. But I have picked up a few things from research, and talking to other people. Today I’ll cover 5 topics that I believe are …
Back in 2018, James Clear published his bestseller, Atomic Habits. I’d already been following him for a few years before that, so I figured the book would be great. I was right. 🙂 The author spent several years digging into the best research about habit formation, and then carefully distilled it down into simple, practical …
Applying “Atomic Habits” to Fasting, Fitness, & Overall Health Read More »
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about processed versus unprocessed foods. You know, like when people talk about eating “whole” foods that weren’t made in a factory. (Ironically, the store called “Whole Foods” sells a TON of processed foods, maybe even more than other grocery stores.) Here’s why I think this matters: Overall, when we …
How to Eat “Real Food” (and Why it Matters so Much!) Read More »
Have you ever been told that if you fast, you’ll lose all your muscles? That’s a common fear. But don’t worry, it’s mostly nonsense. 😉 Case in point: Wolverine. In case you didn’t know, Hugh Jackman used intermittent fasting for muscle gain when he was getting ripped for the X-Men movies. Obviously, fasting didn’t consume …
Does Fasting Burn Muscle? [The Full Story, Backed by Science] Read More »
At first, I was hesitant to try fasting at work. Later, I did some “intermittent” fasting at work, which turned out to be pretty easy. Eventually, I tried doing some prolonged fasting while working as well. Once I figured out how to do it, it was easier than expected, and had some unforeseen benefits. Today …
Fasting While Working in the ER [My Experience + 3 Keys to Success] Read More »
Yes – typically it’s ok to take medication while you fast. But it depends on the specific medication. For example, Tylenol is pretty safe, but insulin and other diabetes medications need to be carefully monitored while fasting. The duration of your fast also matters. For example, a 3-day water fast will affect your blood sugar …
Can You Take Medication While Fasting? [Overview + Examples] Read More »
Recently I wrote an article about why fasting is the best way to reduce body fat (and a lot more effective than counting calories). Today’s article will make a lot more sense if you read that one first. So if you haven’t yet, go do that now! 🙂 This time around, I’ll share with you …
Your Step-by-Step Approach to Lose Weight with Fasting [& Conquer Plateaus] Read More »
This is the complete beginner’s guide to intermittent fasting. So if you want to: Then you’re in the right place. 🙂 Let’s dive in. Chapter 1: What Is “Intermittent” Fasting? Intermittent fasting means different things to different people, so it’s easy to get confused. In this chapter I’ll cover the various meanings, and the one …
Intermittent Fasting for Beginners [The Complete Guide] Read More »
Fasting helps reverse a lot of the harmful effects of overeating junk food. So for most people, I’d say it’s a good way to get back on track after binge eating. But it helps if you know what you’re doing. And your mindset matters a lot. Today I’ll explain several ways to fast after a …
How to Fast After a Cheat Day or Binge Eating [5 Methods] Read More »
For decades, we’ve been told to “eat less, move more”. In other words, create a “negative energy balance” in your body, and you’ll lose weight. That’s basically what they taught me in medical school, and PA school. So I assumed it was right. I’ve since learned better. 🙂 Today I’ll share with you why fasting …
Why Fasting Works Better for Weight Loss Than Counting Calories Read More »
I’ve learned a ton from books about fasting. Today I’ll share with you some of the best books about intermittent fasting, extended fasting, and related topics that I’ve found. I’ll also include a summary of each book. Whether you’re a beginner with fasting, or a little more experienced, I think you’ll find some valuable options …
The Best Books About Fasting & Nutrition [+ Summaries of Each] Read More »
I recently finished Dr. Ben Bikman’s new book, Why We Get Sick. It’s really good! I took pretty detailed notes as I was reading, so I thought I would share them in case anyone finds it useful. (I also added a much shorter summary to my book list.) The main theme of Why We Get Sick …
Book Summary: “Why We Get Sick”, by Ben Bikman PhD Read More »
Sure, fasting means not eating…but what can you drink while fasting? Today I’ll share with you some drinks that are helpful, harmful, or kind of neutral while you fast. By understanding which drinks fall into each category — and why — you’ll be better prepared to make solid decisions and have success with fasting. Let’s …
What Can I Drink While Fasting? [What Helps, What Hurts] Read More »
A lot of people ask about the “stages” of fasting. In other words, what happens inside your body when you fast? And how long does it take? Today I’ll share with you a fasting timeline, and some key health benefits that happen along the way. I’ll also share some tips from my own experience that …
The 5 Stages of Fasting [Benefits + How to Make Easier] Read More »