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Alternate day fasting - reducing cancer risk

Humans evolved to search and forage for food. This activity occupied most of our time and we seldom found food in single large quantities. In the modern world food is easily available so for people on a western diet periods of serious food shortage are very rare. The easy availability of food contributes to all the most common types of disease prevalent in the West.

In poor countries people die of starvation. In rich countries they die of over eating.

Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1)

Research has shown that a chemical in the body called Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) is a key factor linking food intake with health and longevity. When we eat a western style diet high in protein and calories our levels of IGF1 are increased. This is not a good thing because higher levels of IGF1 drive cells to grow and divide but restricts the body’s ability to repair damaged cells. Lowering the IGF1 levels in the body can reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer.

Alternate Day Fasting (ADF)

Fasting causes the IGF1 levels in the body to reduce. Long term fasting is hard to do, requires a lot of will power and can be dangerous. However, using alternate day fasting (ADF) is easier. In ADF the calorie intake every other day is restricted to approximately 500 calories (fasting days). On non fasting days you eat what you want but it is advisable to still try to eat healthily and avoid excessive protein. Evidence has shown that people tend not to over eat on the non fasting days and the result is a reduction in weight and IGF1 levels. There is also evidence that fasting helps lower the risk of age related diseases of the brain.

Amore gentle version of the ADF diet is to adjust the ratio to 5/2. Five days eating normally each week and two days fasting.