What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It does not specify *which* foods you should eat, but rather *when* you should eat them. Common fasting ratios split the 24-hour day into fasting windows (e.g., 16 hours of fasting followed by an 8-hour eating window).
Biological Changes During Fasting
Insulin Drop
When fasting, insulin levels in the blood drop significantly. This state of low insulin allows fat cells to release their stored glucose, initiating active fat burning.
Autophagy Active
Triggered after glycogen stores deplete, autophagy is a cellular housekeeping process where cells digest and remove old, dysfunctional proteins and organelles.
Cellular Repair
Fasting triggers gene expressions related to longevity and stress resistance, helping the body protect itself from inflammation and oxidative damage.