Me again.At my blood results appt.it was recommended to fast 3x a week in the morning by not eating breakfast.
Though I have read a variety of hours to do this for improving something..blood sugar maybe..16 hours seems a lot..and what happened to “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? Just wondering for your input.
My fasting blood sugar was 100..up from 92-3 years ago.I am so careful and don’t know why.Thanks!
Intermittent fasting can be highly beneficial for many people, but those with thyroid conditions or hypoglycemia should not do a more extensive (16-hour) fast. Your digestive tract needs a minimum of 12 hours of fasting per day (overnight), just like your brain needs 7-8 hours of sleep, as that time frame is required to “clean house” from all the metabolic ‘debris’ accumulated in a given day. Most people can work up to a longer fast without difficulty, but start with 12 hours, and add one hour at a time. You always want the fast to be healing, not harmful, so if you feel unwell with fasting (lightheaded, headache, nauseous, foggy-brained) you have pushed it too far. Like so many things you have to find the right balance for your body.
Fasting blood glucose can increase for a variety of reasons, the number one reason being dietary intake of high sugar foods and refined flours, but it can also be due to inadequate proteins and healthy fats, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, low activity level, environmental toxins, and stress. If you feel like you have these areas dialed in, consider taking a supplement like BrainMD’s Craving Control, which contains several nutrients that help moderate blood sugar including alpha-lipoic-acid and chromium picolinate.
Best! -Zoe
Thanks for the quick reply! I was thinking of slowly adding one hour at a time today,and you confirmed it! It makes more sense.I appreciate your complete explanation of fasting. I have decreased sugar/white stuff considerably over the past 3 years and that has almost eliminated cravings.I do take Dr.Amen’s Brain/Body pills.Would the Craving Control overlap with some of the ingredients or is it ok to take both? I am not a big meat eater but do a lot of seeds/nuts.I think the protein part may contribute as you say.I never have liked meat that much,even as a child.Thanks again!
Coach
Glad it was helpful! Craving Control (CC) does have some overlap with Neurovite Plus which is in the Brain and Body Power (BBP) packets but in CC the amounts of ALA and Chromium are much higher. How long have you been taking the BBP packets? If you have just started taking it you might give it a few months and have your blood glucose retested. If it’s been a while, I would consider taking half the amount of CC recommended and retest your blood glucose in 3-4 months.
And in addition to nuts and seeds, other vegetarian protein sources you might consider are hemp, quinoa, lentils, mycoprotein, and plant-based protein powders.
Best!
Zoe
What is mycoprotein? Yes, I do take the BBP but just one packet a day due to cost considerations.Would I still take half the CC? The Functional Medicine MD did recommend ALA a while ago.I have read about/took Chromium too but was sporadic about it and then got distracted/overwhelmed about taking it.That is why I like BBP.It is all in one place and no bottles. I love it when things match up!
Mycoprotein is a fungal protein source, like mushrooms. Look for non-sugar, non-wheat containing versions in the freezer of some health food stores. It’s processed somewhat for sure, but offers another option for a vegetarian source of protein.
And I would take the full CC dose if you are only taking 1/2 the BBP, but check with your physician about what s/he thinks is best for you given your whole health history. Best!
To a previous post: you might read the Fasting book by Jason Fung, or check out his website. He’s a preeminent authority on fasting. Breakfast is NOT the most important meal. Our digestive system needs a break, but we just keep feeding. 16 hours is a minimal fast. People go for days. I went for 5 days last year and never in my life have I felt better in both body and brain. My brain cleared up tremendously – I need to get back to it..It’s worth seeing the research on it. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is also talking about all the research, in a speech I heard him give recently.
