I am confused by the idea that consuming anything with calories will start the circadian clock and cut short the intermittent fasting time.
What happens to a person’s circadian rhythm during a multi-day water fast? If his rhythm remains unaltered (because he still gets up at the same time, is active during the day, and retires at the same time at night) then can we also assume that his circadian rhythm is likewise unaltered during a period of fast mimicking? Dr. Longo’s fast mimicking calls for a daily intake of at least 700 kcal. If the body thinks it is fasting, even with this level of nutritional intake, why would the circadian rhythm clock be affected any differently than in a water fast? And even if it does start a circadian rhythm clock, why would it affect the benefits accruing to the body as a result of the fast?
And this brings us to daily intermittent fasting. If a person has an actual eating window of, say, 9 hours but the window does not start until four hours after he arises for the day, how can drinking coffee, even with fat, or tea, or hot water with lemon juice, etc., break the fast when these things are not cognizable by the body during fast mimicking? And why would the intake of these few calories cause the start of a circadian clock effectively nullifying the benefits of the intermittent fast? In other words, if a few calories do not break a long fast, why would they break a short fast?
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I am confused by the idea that consuming anything with calories will start the circadian clock and cut short the intermittent fasting time.
What happens to a person’s circadian rhythm during a multi-day water fast? If his rhythm remains unaltered (because he still gets up at the same time, is active during the day, and retires at the same time at night) then can we also assume that his circadian rhythm is likewise unaltered during a period of fast mimicking? Dr. Longo’s fast mimicking calls for a daily intake of at least 700 kcal. If the body thinks it is fasting, even with this level of nutritional intake, why would the circadian rhythm clock be affected any differently than in a water fast? And even if it does start a circadian rhythm clock, why would it affect the benefits accruing to the body as a result of the fast?
And this brings us to daily intermittent fasting. If a person has an actual eating window of, say, 9 hours but the window does not start until four hours after he arises for the day, how can drinking coffee, even with fat, or tea, or hot water with lemon juice, etc., break the fast when these things are not cognizable by the body during fast mimicking? And why would the intake of these few calories cause the start of a circadian clock effectively nullifying the benefits of the intermittent fast? In other words, if a few calories do not break a long fast, why would they break a short fast?
This is confusing.