Fasting is one of those things that Western doctors don’t usually recommend, but turns out it has massive benefits.

And we’re not just talking about weight loss here, people. There’s a whole lot more going on.

When it comes to fasting, there are two main approaches: intermittent fasting and prolonged fasting.

Both of these methods have been shown to have some pretty amazing effects on the body. If you haven’t already, I recommend reading our blog post “Why does ketosis feel so good?”

In this article, we’ll focus on the specific effects of intermittent or prolonged fasting.

Intermittent fasting is all about restricting the hours during which you eat. So instead of grazing all day long, you might opt for just one or two meals a day. And outside of those eating windows? Nada. Zilch. Zero calorie intake allowed.

One popular approach to intermittent fasting is the 16:8 method. This means fasting for 16 hours and then eating during an 8-hour window. But if you’re feeling like a real badass, you could try the 20:4 method, which involves a 20-hour fasting window and just a 4-hour eating window. That takes some serious discipline, but the benefits can be even greater.

Giving your gut a break can be one of the best things you can do for your health. It can help reduce inflammation, increase stem cells, enhance your immune system, and more.

Plus, it can give you a much-needed break from those IBS symptoms (if you’re one of the unlucky ones).

Intermittent fasting can also increase your human growth hormone, which is great for building muscle and maintaining it. Regular exercise can up your human growth hormone by 700%, but intermittent fasting can increase it by up to 2,000%. That’s like a superpower, people.

It can also increase testosterone in men by up to 180%. So if you’re looking to beef up, this might be a good option. Plus, fasting can reduce hunger cravings and speed up your metabolism. And who doesn’t want that?

Now, let’s talk about prolonged fasting. This is when you go without any caloric intake for a day or more. And while it might sound a little intense, doing this occasionally (like once a month or every other month) can be one of the best things you can do for your health.

When you fast for around 12 hours, your body can enter ketosis, which has a ton of benefits. After about 18 hours, your body enters a deeper state of ketosis, and at 24 hours, your body can start recycling old cells and breaking down misfolded proteins. This process, called autophagy, is amazing for system regeneration.  If you haven’t already, I recommend reading our blog post “Why does ketosis feel so good?” In this article, we’ll focus on the specific effects of intermittent or prolonged fasting.

At the 48-hour mark, your human growth hormone levels may have increased by up to five times. And by 60 hours, your insulin levels can drop to their lowest point, which means your body becomes more sensitive to it. That’s the opposite of what happens in diabetes and pre-diabetes, where insulin resistance is a big problem.

And at the 72-hour mark, your body can start breaking down old cells and generating replacements in new areas, including your immune cells. It’s like a bodily reset button.

Now, we’re not saying that you should go out and try all of this without talking to your doctor first. But if you do decide to give fasting a try, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by all the benefits it can offer. And if you really want to take things up a notch, check out our #1 biohacking tool: drinkable fermented ketones. They can help with everything from fat loss to energy to sleep to digestion. Basically, they’re like a little shot of superhero serum.