Fasting diets have become increasingly popular, with some individuals, including tech bros, opting for just one meal a day. Health influencers suggest that intermittent fasting can aid in weight loss, prolong life, and even combat cancer. However, recent headlines have raised concerns about the potential dangers of these diets, including links to heart disease and death. Can science provide clarity on this conflicting information? We speak to nutrition researchers Dr. Krista Varady and Dr. Courtney Peterson, as well as cancer researcher Professor Valter Longo.
In this episode, we delve into the various aspects of fasting, discussing whether it truly helps burn fat, the amount of weight people typically lose with intermittent fasting, and whether fasting is essentially just another form of calorie restriction. We also explore the potential benefits of fasting in terms of longevity and its effectiveness in combating cancer.
This episode was produced by Kaitlyn Sawrey, Nick DelRose, and Wendy Zukerman, with assistance from Michelle Dang, Rose Rimler, Joel Werner, and Meryl Horn. Editing was done by Blythe Terrell, Caitlin Kenney, and Annie-Rose Strasser, with fact-checking by Eva Dasher and Michelle Dang. Mixing and sound design were handled by Peter Leonard and Bobby Lord, with music by Peter Leonard, Emma Munger, Bumi Hidaka, and Bobby Lord.
Special thanks to the researchers we consulted for this episode, as well as to the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Additionally, we are grateful to Kimmie Regler, Helen Zaltman, Frank Lopez, the Zukerman Family, and Joseph Lavelle Wilson for their support. Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original, available for free on Spotify and other podcast platforms. Don’t forget to follow us and enable notifications for new episodes. Learn more about your ad choices by visiting podcastchoices.com/adchoices.