Hi,
A point I regularly see brought up is that the #1 rule is how you shouldn’t mix carbs and fats while breaking the fast. I am a bit confused as to how “strict” this is. Can you e.g have fish (salmon) with potatoes/rice, or it this not optimal (if weight/healthy eating is a goal)? Carbs make cells open up and if you mix it with fats the fat enter the cells?
thanks
>Carbs make cells open up and if you mix it with fats the fat enter the cells?
My understanding is that from a strict biochemical stand point you’re correct. The carbs spike up insulin which switches the body off from burning fat. You actually won’t burn any fat while insulin is high which is one of the benefits of IF, giving the body more time to direct the deficit to where you want it to go.
However the body is a big complex system and the issue has more to do with how we tend to overeat on the combination of carbs and fats. The body wants carbs because they are cheap energy and the fats carry flavor really well, so they taste even better. Hence there always being room for desert or one last donut. But the amount still matters, the body won’t just cram available energy into storage if it needs it. Just because someone ate a donut doesn’t mean all the fat went straight into storage.
It has an awful lot to do with the length of the fast. It also has to do with your experience fasting.
But anything less than a day is not going to be dangerous to break your fast with anything you might typically eat for a meal. Yeah, you might have an upset stomach or some mild digestive issues if you overdo on an empty stomach. But it’s rare.
Now if you’re going to fast for 3+ days that’s different. The body’s digestive system starts to break down. Even stomach acid loses acidity. Fasting isn’t really dangerous, but breaking a long fast can be. And even if not dangerous, it could still be unpleasant.
If you’re looking to do longer fasts, check in over at r/fasting for advice on electrolytes and breaking the fast. For IF, I wouldn’t sweat it. I eat once a day and can literally eat anything and as much as I want and have no issues. If I ever tried to eat more than once a day though, that’s when I’d have issues! I’m scared to do it honestly. (I’ve been very consistent with OMAD for 3½ years).