The Real Reason Fasting Works
The Real Reason Fasting Works: It’s All About Insulin
My personal 72-hour fasting confession taught me I was a food addict. But as a founder, I had to understand the "why." Why did my body stop craving sugar and start demanding vegetables and fruit?
The scientific reason comes down to one hormone that controls everything: Insulin.
I’m not the doctor here—I’m the curious guy who digs for the truth. One expert whose work I relentlessly follow is Dr. Pradip Jamnadas, a highly respected interventional cardiologist. His explanation of metabolic health and the mechanism of fasting is the purest, most eye-opening truth I've found.
The Hidden Enemy: Chronic High Insulin
Dr. Jamnadas explains that the biggest health epidemic we face is not high blood sugar, but chronically elevated insulin. This happens because the typical American diet is constant—we eat carbs, sugar, and snacks from morning until night. 🙋♂️ That was me.
Here’s the breakdown of why this is so destructive:
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Insulin Resistance: Constant intake of glucose forces the pancreas to pump out insulin. Over time, the body becomes "immune" to it, requiring even more insulin to do the job.
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Visceral Fat Accumulation: High insulin forces the body to convert excess glucose into new, destructive fat, which accumulates around your internal organs. This is visceral fat, and it's highly inflammatory—the absolute worst kind. Or as he calls it TOFY - Thin Outside Fat Inside.
Fasting: The Only Way to Empty the Bank
The moment you stop eating, your insulin levels drop. As Dr. Jamnadas explains, your body needs a break from that constant stimulation. When you fast, a totally different physiology takes place:
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The First 12 Hours: Your body burns the quick-access glucose stored in your muscles and liver.
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After 12 Hours: Your body switches from burning glucose to burning fat. And the first fat it pulls from the reserves is the dangerous visceral fat.
Fasting, or time-restricted eating, isn't about calorie restriction—it’s about resetting your hormones to make your stored fat available as fuel. It's about recovering your metabolic health.
The Intermittent Fasting Trap (And How to Win It)
The science is clear: fasting through methods like OMAD (One Meal a Day) or 20:4 eating can be a game-changer. But it introduces a monumental problem:
The Nutrient Density Challenge:
If you are only eating for a small window (say, four hours), how the hell do you get all the nutrients your body needs to thrive? This is the point where people fail. They eat one massive, processed meal and miss all the essential greens, fruit, and vegetables.
This is why Switchback Foods exists.
Our smoothies aren’t a hack for skipping a meal; they are the ultimate tool for maximizing your eating window with nutrient density. When you have a small window to nourish your body, you can't afford to waste a single calorie on "candy bars in disguise."
Our smoothies are the simplest, most honest way to guarantee you’re flooding your body with the fruit and vegetables it now craves, ensuring your hard work with fasting is fueling your body, not frustrating your metabolism.
If you are going to take back control of your health, you need to be strategic. Don't let your short eating window become a nutritional black hole.
Reach out if you want to talk more! It changed my health and I am sure it can help you in your health goals. As always, I am here to support you!
Disclaimer: As always, consult your physician before making any significant changes to your diet or lifestyle, especially with fasting or if you are taking medication.