What is Fasting?
When discussing eating habits, it is important to stick to the science. In this post, we will observe the effects of fasting on human health from an evolutionary standpoint. The evidence present regarding this topic clearly shows how the act of withholding of food is completely essential to maximize not only fat loss, but longevity itself.
Insulin, Energy, and Evolution
From our discussion on human evolution, we know that evolution of large fat stores is what allows our brains to maintain energy during times of famine. After learning this, we discussed the role of insulin in signalling to the body whether fat should be stored or broken down. These two points highlight how our bodies use the energy that they collect in order to stay alive.
However, this system was not designed to function in a state of energy abundance. In fact, the system was designed for optimal survival in environments prone to famine. What this means is that our bodies are used to famine and bursts of eating, not the lifelong all-you-can-eat buffet that was created by the era of human food production. This makes sense, since humans spent the vast majority of their evolutionary history in prolonged famine conditions.
Homeostasis vs. Resistance
In order for homeostasis to function, it is important that our bodies do not grow resistant to signals. This is accomplished by sending signals in short bursts instead of over a long period of time. In the case of insulin, the constant intake of food results in the body growing a resistance to the hormone, making it less effective. Just like all other hormones, insulin is designed to be released in short bursts for it to accomplish its job. The only way for these bursts to occur is for food to come in in similar short bursts. This is obviously not what happens in the current culture of snacking and many meals a day.