[sjcsjc]

I agree. I've been water-only fasting five consecutive days every two weeks for over a year now (largely but not entirely as a result of Longo's work).

I assume that telling people they need medical guidance before doing so is a means of avoiding liability should someone do something stupid.

The only plausible risk I've seen mentioned, by Longo himself, is in women where the risk of gallstones might be increased. To quote him "Water-only fasting should only be done in a specialized clinic. Also, certain types of very low calorie diets, and particularly those with high protein content, can increase the incidence of gallstones in women at risk." [0]

The idea that water-only fasting should only be done "in a specialized clinic" seems daft to me, but in a litigious society I can understand why he says that.

Other researchers worth following in this area are Mark Mattson and Luigi Fontana.

[0] https://news.usc.edu/82959/diet-that-mimics-fasting-appears-...

[officelineback]

What are your results like? What did you hope to accomplish when you started, and what actually happened? Can you name some of the biggest benefits and some of the biggest pitfalls?

[sjcsjc]

I'm just trying not to die quite as soon as I otherwise might. I was and am fit an healthy (to the best of my knowledge).

In terms of results, my heart rate and BP have decreased (they weren't elevated previously). My weight remained the same as ever (around 10st, 65kg), which was my plan.

I've been fasting in other configurations for about 4.5 years now. I have a suspicion that I've been ill less (in the sense of colds etc) than pre-fasting, and that I recover more quickly, but I wouldn't take that as any kind of evidence. As soon as I can find some kind of cheap aging biomarker test, I'll start recording it regularly.

[Raphmedia]

Do you take supplements? I'm worried that fasting might cause my body to use all its micronutrients and me ending up with health issues because of it.

[Pete_D]

I am not a doctor. May I refer you to the following paper?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6859052 "Vigorous supplementation of a hypocaloric diet prevents cardiac arrhythmias and mineral depletion."

I wrote a comment a few months ago on fasting supplementation you may find interesting. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12455415

Also seconding the recommendations to talk to a doctor before you do anything. I know that usually goes without saying, but it deserves emphasis given the article is about diabetes. As the current top comment points out, fasting can be very dangerous for diabetics.

[sjcsjc]

Oddly enough I an a doctor of sorts - qualified in medicine 25 years ago, but left immediately to do other things. Thanks for the link. I'm pretty sure I'm not hypocaloric. I make sure I eat enough during the 9 out of 14 days on which I eat, and I haven't lost weight. And yes, none of my comments refer to diabetes.

[oftenwrong]

Based on the parent's fasting regimen, and assuming they fast Monday to Friday, that would mean 9 days of normal eating between fasts. If you eat a normal healthy diet during those 9 days, you will be fine. Malnutrition takes more than 5 days to develop.

[sjcsjc]

Sorry forgot to mention that. No, I don't

[w23j]

Can you point to any instructions on how to do water only fasts? It has been surprisingly difficult to google. Most articles talk about intermittent fasting or some variation of fasting, where people drink a lot of juice!

In particular I would like to know is it really necessary to use laxatives? Or other supplements? Or do you just stop eating and then start slowly again 5 days later.

I have just done a 3 day water fast to give it a try. With mixed results.

[sjcsjc]

Hmm. Not really. I say water, btw, but I also drink black tea and occasional diet cokes. The point is no calories, or virtually none.

I would suggest starting gradually. Initially I think I did 48hr fasts. After a couple of years I upped to three days. Following Longo's stuff last year I moved to five.

No supplements. Definitely no laxatives ;-)

I don't start eating again particularly slowly. But I don't binge either.

The most amazing thing to me is that I don't get hungry. I haven't eaten since Sunday night, and I feel fine.

[jalopy]

I just searched "longo fasting" and this was the first result for me: "Fasting Mimicking Diet". https://prolonfmd.com/fasting-mimicking-diet/

It's a sales pitch so obviously needs caution here, but I'm curious - what do you know about a "fasting mimicking diet"? Is it at all effective?

[sjcsjc]

Yeah that irritates me somewhat. His research is great but I have my suspicions about the diet he's flogging. In my view the best way to mimic fasting is by not eating anything.

[edit] btw I suggest using google scholar rather than google. intermittent fasting, periodic fasting, prolonged fasting, calorie restriction. Lots of interesting stuff in there.

[w23j]

Ok, got it! Thanks a lot, this is really helpful! :)

[harrisreynolds]

This piece by Upton Sinclair is interesting: http://apache2.pum.edu.pl/~fasting/upton.pdf

He (obviously) was an author, not a nutritionist or medial professional. But he was a "fasting practitioner" and has an interesting perspective on this topic.

[hanklazard]

Do you have diabetes?

[sjcsjc]

No. I hope nothing I've said indicates that. And fwiw I concur with the suggestions in many other comments that diabetics should take medical advice before doing anything as drastic as I'm doing.