Accidental fast break

I'm having trouble finding this answer. Scenario: I was working in a customers home for 2 months, who has a bowl of Hershey kisses sitting out. I would regularly grab a few. I started a 72 hour fast. At about 36 hours in, I walked past and grabbed one, absent minded. It was as I swallowed it I remembered I am fasting. My question is If autophagy takes 24-48 hrs to kick in. Assuming one was already in that state, and they accidentally broke the fast. Does the clock fully reset? Or do you go back into autophagy more quickly because it was such a small dose. If quicker, what does that timespan look like?

Answer

For a start the data on autophagy isn’t clear and autophagy also isn’t digital ie on or off. Some data show it can take 4 days for autophagy markers to peak. We also see markers associated with anti-autophagy peak on day 3 in one study.

Either way, your one sweet will have no effect on your overall fast, although I’d recommend a better quality of chocolate if you do it again 😉

I always recommend 5 day fasts, either a proper fast (only water) or a FMD of c. 500 calories per day, for those who can’t manage not eating at all for whatever reason. Check out Longo’s work, ideally the primary research articles, but he has simpler articles and videos for the non-scientifically trained.