Can anybody point me to any studies that show how/when autophagy accelerates meaningfully when fasting while the baseline diet is ketogenic? (Starting the fast already in ketosis)
Everyone says 24 hours, but is there scientific basis?
I am eating a ketogenic diet currently. I would like to add some longer fasting for health reasons, but I would like to know how long I should shoot for.
I’m currently 16/8 most days. My level autophagy is almost certainly elevated vs what it was pre-keto, but I’d like to start to increase it.
Thinking maybe starting with a 36 hour water fast. Shouldn’t be difficult as I don’t have much appetite. Basically skipping one day of food to start. End at dinner time, break the fast for breakfast 36 hours later.
The other thing I was wondering is if autophagy increase/accelerates EARLIER on a ketofast than on a standard water fast — I believe on a standard fast glucose needs to be depleted and ketosis entered before accelerating autophagy.
Thanks!
Answer
Ive heard anywhere between 16 and 24hrs, and i think the variation is that waste elimination is a factor. Cleaning out the pipes, if you will.
Honestly, youre going to notice so much of a boost if you started with a keto diet first that youre probably not going to care. Give it a few days to a week and evaluate.
As for small multiday fasts, with the combination of keto and intermittent fasting, i regularly dont feel like eating in the usual windows and turn it into a 48 or 72hr fast. You have those options, but do what feels comfortable. Sustainability is the goal- dont push beyond limits you dont feel comfortable pushing.