Fasting is a popular dietary approach that limits food intake for specific periods. Traditionally, this meant complete abstention from food, but modern research offers more sustainable methods to reap the benefits of fasting. One such method is "fasting mimicking" developed by Prof. Valter Longo. This innovative approach allows you to enjoy the advantages of fasting while still consuming food.
Dr. Valter Longo identified cellular radars, called Nutrient Sensing Pathways, that detect nutrition. SMARTFAST has designed revolutionary fasting programs based on this evidence that nourish the body without triggering the food-sensing pathways and provide prolonged fasting benefits.
What is ‘Fasting Mimicking’?
Fasting-mimicking imitates fasting using a finitely balanced, low-calorie, plant-based diet. This fasting method is designed to trick your body into thinking it’s fasting. This approach provides essential nutrients plus the benefits of fasting - without the risks. Typically, it involves fasting in 3 to 7-day cycles of restricted eating, followed by periods of healthy eating.
How Mimicking Fasting Supports Weight Loss
Amongst the many desirable benefits of fasting, a large proportion of people who incorporate fasting into their lifestyle do so to either lose weight or support the systems of the body, which will make weight loss and management easier to attain.
We can be near-sighted or far-sighted when considering fasting mimicking for weight loss.
How Fasting Mimicking Works
Short Term
Implementing a fasting program is always met with caloric restriction and even total abstinence from food, and the usual result when calories out is more than calories in will generally be weight loss. Initially, weight loss may be water loss, and once ketosis is achieved and maintained, fat loss will be offered.
A short fast (either a 3-day or 6-day cycle) will generally show up on the scales.
This is always motivating when weight loss is one of the goals of fasting.
Long Term
This is where the more established metabolic benefits of fasting will show up.
Fasting Mimicking has been shown to promote ketosis, support better blood glucose management, and improve insulin sensitivity. It has also been proven to target stubborn and unhealthy “visceral fat” or belly fat.
To make fasting mimicking a part of your lifestyle, we suggest implementing it in cycles. Initially, fasting for 3 - 6 days a month for 3 months, followed by repeated fasts every 3-4 months.
This has been shown to offer significant weight loss (more than 5% of body weight) and improve metabolic health, which positively impacts fat burning efficiency, metabolic rate, lean muscle mass, and also reduces stubborn central fat that takes up space around the internal organs and can contribute to cardiometabolic disruption.
In short, when implemented in cycles, fasting-mimicking programs such as SMARTFAST offer healing and rejuvenation to the systems that help make losing weight easier and maintaining lost weight more achievable.
The Benefits of Fasting Mimicking Include:
- Metabolic Switching: During fasting, your body shifts from using glucose to burning stored fat for energy. This switch, known as ketosis, targets visceral fat around your organs like the liver and heart, supporting long-term health and weight management. When does ketosis start when fasting? Ketosis starts after fasting (caloric restriction) for 24 hours. The longer you remain in ketosis, the more you’ll uncover its benefits.
- Cellular Optimisation: Fasting activates autophagy, a natural process that cleans and recycles damaged cells. This boosts cellular function and metabolism, improving body composition and metabolic health.
- Improved Insulin Sensitivity: Regular fasting cycles enhance insulin sensitivity, which is crucial for weight management. This means better blood sugar control and efficient energy use, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight.
- Controlled Caloric Intake: Mimicking fasting helps reduce calorie intake without triggering starvation responses, preserving muscle tissue. It avoids the pitfalls of severe calorie restriction, like metabolic slowdown and weight rebound.
Why Choose Fasting Mimicking over Traditional Fasting?
Fasting-mimicking is effective for weight management due to its sustainability.
It allows regular eating windows and provides essential nutrients that prevent the “starvation response” that often triggers weight regain. Fasting-mimicking offers the metabolic benefits of traditional fasting without extreme restriction and will preserve precious muscle tissue, a key to maintaining a healthy metabolism.
Cycling a fasting-mimicking eating pattern every few months can enhance weight loss and metabolic health, improve “autophagy” - the body’s cellular housekeeping system - and promote a feeling of vitality and clarity at the same time.
Achieving Balance
The key to success lies in balance. SMARTFAST kits are tailored to create lasting changes in body composition by promoting metabolic health, cellular regeneration, and sustainable eating patterns. It avoids the common dieting pitfalls of muscle loss and slowed metabolism. Unlike complete fasting, which can be challenging and potentially harmful, mimicking fasting offers a structured, science-based approach. Completing a 3 or 6-day fast once a month for three months, followed by healthy eating habits and movement, is a balanced approach that delivers weight management and metabolic benefits with added safety, convenience, and sustainability.
Maintain these benefits by continuing to cycle SMARTFAST3 or SMARTFAST6 every 3-4 months ongoing.