Fasting is the deliberate, voluntary abstinence from all or some food, and sometimes drink, for a specific period, prompting a physiological shift from glucose utilization to fat-derived ketone body metabolism. This metabolic state, known as ketosis, triggers various cellular stress-response pathways that confer protective and restorative effects. Clinically, structured fasting protocols are utilized to improve insulin sensitivity, promote cellular autophagy, and modulate inflammatory markers.
Origin
The practice of fasting is ancient, rooted in religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions worldwide, but its application in modern health is based on scientific observation. The physiological term for the metabolic state induced by fasting, ketosis, is derived from the Greek kētos, meaning ‘a large fish’ or ‘whale,’ which was later applied to organic compounds containing a carbonyl group.
Mechanism
The core mechanism is the hormonal cascade initiated by the drop in blood glucose, leading to a profound decrease in insulin secretion and a corresponding increase in glucagon and growth hormone. This hormonal shift mobilizes stored triglycerides from adipose tissue, which the liver converts into ketone bodies for use as an alternative fuel source by the brain and muscle. This metabolic switch activates key longevity pathways, such as AMPK and sirtuins, which enhance cellular repair and stress resistance.
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