Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
    Featured Articles
    • Bulletins
      Why Eat More Fruit?
    • Diets & Weight Loss
      Intermittent Fasting (IF)
    • Recipes
      Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad
    • Healthy Living
      Fruit, Herb, & Vegetable Infused Waters: Good Or Bad?
    • Bulletins
      Fruit & Vegetables: Increase Your Intake
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
5 Reasons To Consider Fasting
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Health Tips

5 Reasons To Consider Fasting

Should You Fast? 5 Reasons to Consider It
1 min

Intermittent fasting (IF) refers to repeatedly going without solid food for longer periods than is typical on a daily breakfast-lunch-dinner schedule. Variations are endless. Some proponents skip breakfast, others dinner. Others fast all day every other day, every third day, once per week, or once per month. Fasting periods accelerate the clearing out of waste left by dead and damaged cells, a process known as autophagy. A failure of autophagy to keep up with accumulated cellular debris is believed by many scientists to be one of the major causes of the chronic diseases associated with aging.

Positive effects of IF suggested by animal and human studies include:

  1. Decreased cardiovascular disease risk.
  2. Decreased cancer risk.
  3. Lower diabetes risk (at least in animals, data on humans were less clear).
  4. Improved cognitive function.
  5. Protection against some effects of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Dr. Weil does not recommend IF for teens, nor pregnant or lactating women. Some health conditions – such as severe gastrointestinal reflux disease, or GERD – may be easier to manage when food intake is more regular and in small amounts. But getting hungry now and then is clearly a healthy thing to do as long as overall caloric intake stays high enough over the course of several weeks to maintain a healthy weight.

If you decide to give some form of fasting try, be sure to drink water, herbal tea, or other fluids to stay hydrated during the process. Also, pay close attention to how you feel. If you are struggling, recognize it and break the fast with a light meal or decrease your fasting window. You can always try to gradually extend it as time goes.

Today’s Health Topics

Editor's Pick

  • Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Headaches

Health Focus

  • CBD, Cannabidiol For Seniors?

Ask Dr. Weil's Q&A

  • Sweet Drinks And Women’s Health?
sponsor
Dr. Weil On Healthy Aging
Begin The Anti-Inflammatory Diet Today!
Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Healthy Aging Plan can help us all age with grace and delay the onset of age-related concerns such as heart disease, Alzheimer's, and many forms of cancer. By developing sound lifestyle practices, you can experience optimal health and well-being. Begin a 14-day free trial of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for access to shopping guides, eating tips, recipes, interactive tools, videos and more!
Advertisement
Related Weil Products

Dr. Weil On Healthy Aging - Your Online Guide To The Anti-Inflammatory Diet!

Everything you need to get started eating a healthful, satisfying diet is here - including eating and shopping guides, over 300 recipes, and an exclusive version of Dr. Weil's Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid! Start your 14-day free trial now - and start eating anti-inflammatory today!
Get Started
Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

5 Simple Ways To Tastier Grilling
Health Tips

Impress Your Guests: 5 Simple Ways To Tastier Grilling

3 Simple Ways To Help Prevent Blindness
Health Tips

3 Simple Ways To Help Prevent Blindness

Want To Lower Your Blood Pressure
Health Tips

Want To Lower Your Blood Pressure? Try The Corpse Pose

be happy live longer
Health Tips

4 Secrets To Living A Longer Life

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
5 Simple Ways To Tastier Grilling
Health Tips

Impress Your Guests: 5 Simple Ways To Tastier Grilling

3 Simple Ways To Help Prevent Blindness
Health Tips

3 Simple Ways To Help Prevent Blindness

Daily Tips
5 Simple Ways To Tastier Grilling
Health Tips

Impress Your Guests: 5 Simple Ways To Tastier Grilling

3 Simple Ways To Help Prevent Blindness
Health Tips

3 Simple Ways To Help Prevent Blindness

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright 2022 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com