I am in 12th grade and decided to write about whether fasting is a dangerous diet trend or a medical remedy for my research paper. I started researching the literature and found a few good sources, but most of it is absolute nonsense. If you know of any good websists, studies but especially books on fasting, I would be delighted if you could share them with me. My native language is German, but the sources can also be in English or French. Thanks a lot in advance!
(P.S.: I know that there are some sources listed in the wiki, I just wanted to ask if anyone knows other sources or can tell from experience which book is worth reading.)
Check out Dr. Rhonda Patrick, as well. She does a few episodes on her podcast on the topic and beings excellent guests on to discuss. Here’s one page from her site on fasting to start with. Found My Fitness Site
I would look at books by Michael Mosley, an English journalist who trained as a doctor. Some years ago, he did a story for the BBC on fasting. He’s since written books on the subject.
Some years ago, I watched a video on people who were fasting under medical supervision in Europe and Russia. I can’t remember the name.
You should distinguish between long-term, uninterrupted fasting and Intermittent Fasting (IF), and even IF is practiced in different ways. It’s a big topic for a high school paper. After getting an overview you should narrow your topic.
Fasting is a very old practice performed by humans. Perhaps there are unhealthy modern adaptations, but voluntary and involuntary fasting have been part of the human reality (and really all animals’ reality since forever). Generally animals do not have a guaranteed food source and so bodies have adapted around that fact. Possibly, fasting has benefits because the body “assumes” it will have periods of fasting and thus has adapted to using those moments “wisely” and promoting certain body states then (my own theory). Personally, im a fan of fasting, either intermittently in a day or several days at a time (personally have never done more than 4 days though). Good luck with your paper!
Fasting papers (looked for fasting + autophagy):
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04739852
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5718973/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3106288/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163718301478
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7474734/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4899145/
Fasting articles:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-fasting-facts-myths
https://news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/
https://www.webmd.com/diet/psychological-benefits-of-fasting
Caloric restriction and effects on longevity:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abg7292
Caloric restriction on longevity articles:
https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2020/can-calorie-restriction-extend-your-lifespan/
https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/calorie-restriction-and-fasting-diets-what-do-we-know
https://archive.org/search.php?query=fasting&and[]=mediatype%3A%22texts%22
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lots of historical references here
Maybe you’ll find something helpful in one of these:
Is fasting safe? A chart review of adverse events during medically supervised, water-only fasting