The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting by Jason Fung, MD with Jimmy Moore

For most Americans, fasting conjures up images of deprivation and the devout. From Jesus to Gandhi, fasting has been used to draw one closer to God or to make a social statement. It’s serious business because humans like to eat, drink, and be merry. Skipping meals? Not so much.

So a diet book that actually recommends fasting as a means of wellness is a bit jarring to some. After all, we are constantly being told by various health experts that eating regular meals–especially breakfast–is essential to a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight. Some even go so far as to say we should be eating every couple hours, claiming this keeps the metabolism humming and burning away calories. Dr. Jason Fung, however, would disagree and argues in his book that fasting is actually the key to effective and sustainable weight loss.

Though you might be tempted to think, Well duh. If you don’t eat, you’re going to lose weight! Fung makes the case in his book that the weight loss benefits of fasting do not simply boil down to mere caloric restriction (that is, by eating fewer calories than you need, you’ll burn fat and lose weight). Rather, he argues that the effect of fasting on the body actually triggers a series of hormonal and metabolic changes that enhance a person’s ability to tap into fat stores and lose weight more readily.

But that’s not all! In The Complete Guide to Fasting, the authors make numerous claims regarding the many benefits of fasting, including:

• how and why fasting is good for your health
• how fasting helps you lose weight without slowing down your metabolism
• why fasting can improve type 2 diabetes
• why fasting is good for your heart and slows the ageing process
• how fasting can take your workouts to the next level, allowing you to burn fat while building muscle
• how fasting can boost your energy levels and mental clarity
• and perhaps most importantly, how a person can enjoy all the benefits of fasting without feeling hungry!

Naturally, fasting is not for everyone and the authors include a chapter addressing this important topic. In particular, they advise that children, pregnant or nursing women, and anyone who is severely malnourished or has a history of anorexia nervosa should not attempt a fasting regimen. They also discuss particular medical conditions that might preclude a person from fasting. Though the authors firmly believe that most people can reap the benefits of a fasting regimen, fasting is not appropriate for every individual.

Interested in learning more? Stay tuned for all of June as we take a closer look at these claims as well as my own experiences following this intermittent fasting plan!