in my opinion, Fasting is the greatest discovery of modern society. You can create a quality of mitochondria. Fasting can prevent premature aging and death, active sirtuin longevity genes, and better expression of “BDNF” protein, improving cognition.
Researchers from the University of Southern California examined the effects of fasting on neurons in mice and humans with multiple sclerosis in a new study. They discovered that a fasting-like diet improved myelin repair.
In mice, fasting triggered autophagy, killing the bad cells. Dry fasting or Absolute Fasting is undoubtedly the most superior form of cleansing, especially autophagy. It’s said that one-day water fast is as effective as three-day water fast or a six-day juice fast. What makes it so powerful?
- Fasting your body will also result in many hormonal reactions. One of the primary effects is that your body will begin to secrete a massive amount of higher growth hormone levels. Growth hormone is often referred to as “the fat-burning hormone.”
- According to research, adopting a calorie-restricted diet or one that simulates fasting suppresses mTOR, increasing the sort of cells that assist fight inflammation.
- Dry fasting increases Ketones and leads to an increase in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH). This powerful metabolic co-factor makes it easier for your body to bring antioxidants back to life by giving an important reducing electron. It gives them electrons to help reduce the amount of oxidative stress.
Why is Autophagy So Important To Brain Health?
Autophagy keeps our bodies healthy. But when it’s off, a protein, alpha-synuclein, travels from the brain to the gut. This trip is made using what’s called the vagus nerve. When there’s more of these proteins, that’s bad news – neurotransmitters (like dopamine and GABA) can’t do their job.
Luckily, autophagy helps. It gets rid of old cells and makes way for new ones, keeping our brain safe from harm. One approach to autophagy? Lowering insulin and mTOR levels. How? With One Meal a Day (OMAD), dry fasting, or skipping meals sometimes. This plan enhances autophagy, sparks brain cell growth, and shields neurotransmitters.
Related: Does Autophagy Make You Look Younger?
Stimulating Autophagy by Fasting inhibits tumor growth by eliminating damaged organelles/unfolded proteins. This is because Autophagy suppresses p53 genes(which promotes tumor growth) and eventually prevents tissue degeneration.
In this article, we will cover the health benefits of dry fasting.
Alpha-synuclein is a presynaptic protein linked neuropathologically and genetically to Parkinson’s disease.
Dry fasting calms inflammation and slows free radical production, boosting cognitive performance and delaying brain aging.
Our Body Makes Its Water
Even without drinking during the fast, your body tries to create its own water. Curious as to how? During the fast, your body burns fat. The hydrogen from this process combines with oxygen in the air, producing water.
However, this isn’t regular water. The water created by your cells is top-notch. It wipes clean any prior bad imprints within the body. This gives cells a fresh start, soaking up any water from the air and supplying it to the healthy cells. This process is one of the major healing actions of dry fasting, and it’s unique to this fasting type.
Toxins Are Destroyed (burned) Rather Than Flushed Out By The Urine, Colon, Kidneys, Liver, And Skin.
Just like a heater, cells that lack water start to burn off harmful matter. Weak cells are in a tough spots. They can’t win the fight for minimal water because they’re already unwell or not as robust.
While doing a dry fast, our body cleverly uses air’s carbon dioxide and nitrogen to create its essential amino acids. With no water to wash away toxins, our body uses a special way to get rid of them. It’s a method not found in any other fasts. So, in essence, every cell turns into a little furnace, burning away its own rubbish.
Strongest Cells And Mitochondria
Autophagy is a process which destroys old cells. Fasting is tough and only robust, healthy cells make it through. This can reduce cysts and benign tumours through autolysis, where the body takes out its unhealthiest cells to stay alive. Great news: Only fit, robust cells endure dry fasting. Even a short stint of dry fasting can help ward off cancer, an encouraging fact. More good news: A boost in mRNA and protein expression goes hand in hand with longevity, counteracting cancer and affecting cells. Research showed that a 24-hour fast in mice amplified mRNA and protein expression. This includes SIRT1, which helps manage the development of long-term inflammatory and metabolic illnesses and even cancer.
Be careful; Excessive autophagy may cause muscle and lean tissue loss, which promotes premature aging. Although you’re causing protein breakdown, autophagy is needed for muscle homeostasis. You need to activate anabolic pathways like mTOR and insulin to build new tissue and keep your cells alive.
Ketones For Brain, Body, And Cells For FUEL
When you fast or severely cut carbs, your liver starts to break down fats to make ketone bodies. These easy-to-dissolve molecules are excellent fuel for our mitochondria, even better than sugar. You’re in the state of ketosis when your mitochondria burn ketones to produce ATP, and dry fasting speeds this process up. Why am I a fan of ketones? Simple. Ketones reduce the pile-up of intracellular β-amyloid (Aβ), enhancing learning and memory by increasing BNDF protein.
They hamper inflammation channels, which is useful against COVID-19 and other viruses. Following a cyclical ketogenic diet and using C8 (caprylic acid) MCT oil are two methods to boost your body’s natural ketone count.
More: The Fastest and Most Effective Way to Get New Brain Cells
Think of this as a power-up mode (though not meant for constant use). It boosts your energy creation, lowers harmful active atoms, and increases your GABA neurotransmitter production. Let’s discuss different methods to achieve ketosis – this state of high energy production. Ketosis raises GABA and antioxidant levels, reducing seizure risks. Also, your energy machines work better with ketones compared to glucose, causing less damage due to harmful active atoms and giving your brain cells more power to manage over-excitation.
Dry fasting heals one from High Levels of Radiation Exposure
Potassium iodide (KI) is a kind of iodine. It can help block your thyroid from taking in radioactive iodine (I-131). This can help shield your DNA against high radiation levels.
Fasting adds to this protection by helping your body get rid of toxic stuff like radionuclides, nitrates, poisons, and heavy metals. Also, it boosts how well your organs work, keeping them safe from radiation. It’s super helpful for city folks regularly exposed to radiation. If you’re dealing with cancer, you might face radiation treatments. Dry fasting could help you heal from the tough side effects of chemotherapy. Plus, fasting also keeps your DNA from damage and boosts genes that help you live longer, like the Sirtuin. (source)
Why Boosting NAD+ Levels Is Important For Longevity Like Fasting
Skipping meals may boost specific genes used in taming inflammations. It also spurs genes associated with autophagy and extended lifespan. Interestingly, Niacinamide, tied to longevity, is a stepping stone to NAD+—important for life’s span. Known as an essential NAD+ forerunner, Niacinamide stands out and isn’t just a hallmark for NAD+. Subsequently, Niacinamide, another term for Nicotinamide (NAM), brings unique value to the table all on its own.
Related: Does Intermittent Fasting Increase Longevity?
How to Raise Your NAD+ Levels Naturally?
- Physical exercise — NAMPT is naturally increased by activating AMPK, which raises NAD+.
- Fasting or time-restricted eating — Naturally increases NAMPT by activating AMPK, increasing NAD+.
- Circadian rhythm optimization, If you want to increase your NAMPT, it’s best to avoid blue light after sunset and go to bed at sundown. Close the phones before bed, and avoid EMFs in the form of your cell phone, Wi-Fi, and other forms of DNA damaging radiation as much as possible.
More information: The Reasons You Should Work On Your Sleep
What Happens While Dry Fasting State?
During a fast, the liver takes about 10-12 hours to use up all its sugar storage. When the cells are finally done with digestion and the sugar storage is used up, the body starts burning stored fat and produces ketone bodies.
- The liver uses up all its sugar reserves during a fast in approximately 12-14 hours.
- When the cells have finished used and the sugar reserve has been depleted, the body begins to burn stored fat and creates ketone bodies.
- Free hydrogen molecules are released when your body enters a ketosis condition. As previously stated, these hydrogen molecules subsequently connect with the oxygen molecules in the blood, resulting in the formation of water (H2O) internally.
This water is called “metabolic water,” which helps us hydrate. Our body can create a liter of metabolized water every day. ,
This shallow water is the best pure water because it’s out of toxins. Also, this water feeds our strong, healthy cells, and damaged cells, as well as various bacteria, viruses, and parasites, suffer from a lack of water and die.
The Main Benefits of Dry Fasting
Your body fights infection harder during dry fasting. No water means stronger defenses. Bad cells, bugs, viruses, even parasites find tough times without water and give up. Dry fasting sometimes brings fever, it’s one sign your body’s winning the battle. Each body cell becomes a mini power plant, it burns up toxins. If a cell’s too hurt, it’s gone. Rising body heat powers stronger immune responses. Even your body’s liquid has more bits fighting for you like immunoglobulins and other immune cells.
As a result:
- Interferon production (an antibody in response to the virus) rises.
- Antitumour and antiviral signaling and activity for better immune.
- T-lymphocytes proliferate.
- Bactericidal capacity and phagocytic activity of neutrophils increase.
- Cytotoxic effect of lymphocytes increases.
- The growth of microorganisms and their toxicity decreases. Prolonged fast also improves ghrelin and balances blood sugar problems.
Better self-control: Dry fasting improves self-control as well. We learn to say ‘no’ to the body’s most fundamental and overwhelming yearning when we fast. Simply said, if you can master your body’s fundamental drive for food, you can master your body’s want for everything.
Fasting takes you out of your food prison, strengthening you physically and mentally. It empowers you from other people’s judgments about how you should feel and how your body feels. It will help you be your best self and live your best life.
Meditation Lower Inflammation, Improves Longevity And Gut
Meditation Turns Off “Bad” Genes, supports longevity genes such as telomeres and DNA methylation level.
Meditation has altered more than 1,000 genes, reducing the protein complex arsonist NF-KB, which is responsible for autoimmune and inflammatory illnesses, including diabetes and Crohn’s disease,
In a 2017 meta-analysis of 45 trials, several additional studies have examined mindfulness meditation’s neurological benefits. According to a study, Meditation lowered cortisol, C-reactive protein, blood pressure, heart rate, lipids, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. (source)
Low-level cortisol can directly influence and change inflammation biomarkers that are important for rejuvenation, cell health, longevity, and aging.
Dry fasting Causes The Body To Produce More Ketones
Cancer cells need glucose and glutamine to break down ketones. One easy way to fight cancer is by creating therapeutic ketosis in patients. Then, you limit the glucose and glutamine available to them. Seyfried believes that nearly all cancers have one thing in common – difficulty with mitochondria. (source) Sadly, most doctors don’t see it this way.
They often blame chromosomal issues instead. It’s also cool to note that when you can’t use fat for energy (ketones), your body makes a molecule named acetyl-CoA. This happens while fats are broken down. Interestingly, this molecule assists in making the Melatonin hormone in your body.
As some may know, Melatonin helps to protect our cells against harm from the environment. However, without the ability to switch easily between metabolic states, our body might struggle to produce Melatonin from acetyl-CoA. This could cause problems for efficient Mitochondrial function and overall healthy cell function.
How Long To Dry Fast For Autophagy?
A simple definition of autophagy is: “A process by which a cell breaks down and destroys old, damaged, or abnormal proteins and other substances in its cytoplasm.”
Autophagy in humans might take anywhere from “two” to “four days” of fasting, depending on the individual’s metabolism, age, or even muscle size. However, Autophagy is an insulin-dependent process that correlates amounts of glucose and insulin. Insulin signaling regulates glycemia and inhibits autophagy.
Compared to intermittent fasting, dry fasting promotes faster autophagy and fat loss. An average of 18 hours of dry fasting can improve autophagy, weight loss, and inflammation biomarkers, protect healthy cell organisms, and utilize excessive glycogen stores far better than intermittent fasting.
Doing exercise and using supplements such as resveratrol and curcumin also support autophagy.
Related: Does Intermittent Fasting Increase Longevity?
The Vagus Nerve.
The vagus nerve has a critical role in the health of our hormones, from testosterone and DHT in males to progesterone and estrogen in females.
In the modern world, people are constantly under pressure. However, we forget that the vagus nerve is the primary nerve responsible for our psychological well-being.
Many people struggle to get a handle on their emotions and understand their actions and their thoughts. They often make poor choices and don’t know why.
Vagus nerve can help serotonin production to stimulate and lower stress levels. Simulation of the vagus nerve has been demonstrated to be highly useful in children and adults with epilepsy, to the point that clinics throughout the globe give electric stimulation of the vagus nerve.
While there are various methods to do that, dry fasting is one of the most natural, inexpensive, and quickest ways.
Additionally, fasting causes levels of satiety-regulating hormones like CCK to drop and levels of hunger-regulating hormones like Neuropeptide Y to rise (cholecystokinin). This activates the vagus nerve as well.,
Other Techniques to Stimulate Dry Fasting
Cold showers, chanting, singing, humming, gargling, yoga, meditation, diaphragmatic breathing, exercise, and Omega-3, zinc, and probiotics are other methods to activate the vagus nerve besides dry fasting.
Why I’m a big fan of the cold?
Cold Exposure triggers AMPK, which leads your mitochondria to grow and improve their efficiency. It’s also a positive adaptation to lower temperatures with many other health benefits, such as reduced inflammation, a stronger immune system, and greater tolerance to pain and brown fat cells.
Everything related to frequency, vibration, and sound is a great technique for stimulation, activation, harmony, and balance since it is a vagal “tone,” too!
Related: Why Gut health is the Cornerstone For Brain Health?
Before Starting, Be Careful
You will stress your thoughts and emotions during a dry fast. For everyone who fasts, the mind most often becomes a restricting factor. So maintaining mental and physical calm is crucial. Have faith in the healing process and the body’s innate wisdom.
Do not directly jump to dry fasting. Know and understand the principles and science behind dry fasting. I would suggest starting with “intermittent fasting” to improve to better adapt before dry fasting.
Can I dry fast daily?
If you eat your dinner well on time (say by 10 pm) and eat breakfast the next day at (10-11 am), you are already dry fasting for 12-13 hours naturally as long as you are comfortable. Dry fasting doesn’t mean it has to be for 18-20 hrs. Yet, you can do it. It can be for 10 to 12 hrs too.
Limit your Caffeine: Dry fasting may be challenging if you consume too much sugar or caffeine, which can cause you to get dehydrated.
And also, caffeine makes you feel more alert because it can increase glutamate activity and block the release of GABA. However, dry fasting alone also increases the activity of the adrenalin, dopamine, and another stimulant, slightly increasing cortisol. We do not need an additional dopamine spike because dry fasting already helping us.
On the other hand, suppressing GABA isn’t always good because GABA can help lower cortisol and anxiety and promote good sleep quality, leading to less craving for sugary foods. So, the more you get deep sleep, the better get easier to maintain dry fasting without increasing stress levels. (Don’t forget stress slows your metabolism.) Limiting your caffeine intake is crucial for dry fasting or any other fasting.
Note: I’m a big fan of caffeine and Turkish Tirebolu TEA if you consume a moderately. Since they can alter the composition of the gut microbiome by inhibiting the development of bad bacteria while encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria, thanks to polyphenol properties.
Optimize Your Magnesium intake: Minerals, especially magnesium, is important for electrolytes during fasting states. During the dry fast, your body will convert sugar to energy, which leads to a requirement for more magnesium levels in the body. Also, magnesium will help lower cortisol levels and improve ATP production, which helps eliminate toxins.
Not All Magnesium is the Same: The Best Form Of Magnesium
A recent research indicates that magnesium acetyl taurate can effectively boost brain magnesium levels better than other forms of magnesium. This compound finds its way to the brain easier than others like magnesium malate or magnesium glycinate.
The result? A stronger presence in brain tissue, as seen in the study. This is significant because? The study also found that this type of magnesium was associated with lessened anxiety symptoms in animal tests.
You can combine it with B6 and magnesium. The B6 vitamin promotes Mg absorption and cellular uptake and aids in crossing the blood-brain barrier.
Don’t Forget your Goal: These fasting periods aim not to lose weight but to allow the body to lose weight by detoxifying. When we cleanse, we reduce inflammation and restore digestive system equilibrium. There is no quick fix for losing weight.
No matter how long the fast has been going, the best approach to break it is with healthy, simple-to-digest meals. However, good quality and digestible protein-rich foods are great in that regard.
Slowly chewing food improves digestion. The longer we chew, the more time digestive enzymes have to function on food, making stomach digestion simpler.