Fasting: The Fast Track to Burn Sugar for Energy
When Dr. Jason Fung said, "Fasting is the simplest and fastest method to force your body to burn sugar for energy," he touched on a fundamental aspect of our metabolism. This concept, though seemingly simple, plays a pivotal role in our health, weight management, and disease prevention. In this blog post, we'll dive deeper into the mechanics behind this statement.
Understanding the Basics
Our body primarily relies on two main sources of energy: glucose (sugar) and fat. After we eat, the carbohydrates in our food break down into glucose, raising our blood sugar levels. In response, the pancreas releases insulin to help cells absorb this glucose for immediate energy or store it for later use.
The Role of Insulin
Insulin is often referred to as the 'storage hormone'. When it is high, it promotes the storage of glucose in the liver and muscles in the form of glycogen. Excess glucose that cannot be stored as glycogen gets stored as body fat. As long as we keep eating, especially carbohydrate-rich meals, our insulin levels remain elevated, and our body remains in a 'storage mode'.
Fasting: Switching the Energy Source
When we fast, we do not consume any calories, leading to a decline in blood sugar levels. With no new glucose entering the system, insulin levels drop. As a result, the body needs to find an alternative source of energy.
Initially, the body taps into the glycogen reserves in the liver and muscles. Once these are depleted, a more significant shift occurs: the body starts breaking down stored fat for energy, a process known as lipolysis. This leads to the production of ketone bodies, which the body (especially the brain) can use as an alternate energy source.
Why is this Important?
Shifting the body to burn stored fat has several benefits:
Weight Loss: The primary reason many adopt intermittent fasting is for its potential in aiding weight loss. By tapping into fat reserves, you naturally lose weight.
Improved Insulin Sensitivity: Regular periods of fasting can help reduce insulin resistance, a key factor in type 2 diabetes.
Brain Health: Ketone bodies, produced when burning fat for energy, have been shown to have neuroprotective effects, potentially reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
Cellular Autophagy: Fasting can activate a process where cells remove damaged components, contributing to cellular repair and maintenance.
Conclusion
Fasting, in essence, offers the body a 'reset button'. By providing periods where insulin levels are low, it allows the body to shift from sugar burning to fat burning, tapping into our natural energy reserves. However, like any dietary approach, fasting isn't one-size-fits-all. Let's review your baseline lab work, talk about your personalized options given how you are feeling and let's get you optimized! Jason & Rita...aka Dr. De Leon and Dr. Gillespie.
