Hi, I’m Dr Gigante, a chiropractic physician from Waldwick, NJ. Did you know that intermittent fasting is the only proven dietary activity to extend the life of rodents? In fact, the greater the periods of intermittent fasting, the longer the rodents lived.
So, what is intermittent fasting? Simply, it’s the length of time in a day that someone goes without eating. So, if you eat dinner at 8pm and have breakfast at 8AM you went 12 hours without eating. That’s where the word breakfast comes from, to break a fast. The ideal amount of time to get the full health benefits is between 16 to 18 hours. And that’s with no cheating. So, if you skip breakfast, eat lunch at 1 pm then dinner at 7 pm, and not eat till 1 pm the following day, which would be around 17 to 18 hours of not eating or fasting.
These long periods of not eating will stimulate different reactions in the body designed to strengthen and prepare your body for a possible greater period of not eating or starvation.
Now, these fasting health effects will not turn on if you have any caloric intake during fasting. This includes putting milk or cream in your coffee. If you are going to drink coffee it has to be black. Now, obviously intermittent fasting is not for everyone and if anyone has health concerns such as blood sugar problems, you should ask your Primary care provider and hopefully they are knowledgeable about the benefits of intermittent fasting.
Another great consideration regarding intermittent fasting is it helps the body drop weight easier than that of counting calories. Now to some degree WHEN you eat can trump WHAT you eat. Now, that does not mean you can pig out on doughnuts and ice cream in that 6 to 8 hour window, but you don’t have to be so food group and calorie conscious. Some butter on your potato is ok but not the whole stick.
Anyway, my goal for this is to bring intermittent fasting to your attention and if it resonates with you, for you to do your own research. Stay well and don’t forget our ongoing food drive; helping the Center for Food Action right here in Mahwah.
Please reach out with any questions.
Dr. Alfred Gigante, chiropractic physician
Joint & Spine
83 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, NJ 07463
201-445-1079