Fasting for 36 hours once a week, or 24 hours twice a week on non-consecutive days, or 16 hours three times a week can help your body burn fat better, handle sugar better, and keep your energy-burning rate high.
Scientific Claim
Specific intermittent fasting patterns (one 36-hour fast per week, two non-consecutive 24-hour fasts, or three separate 16-hour fasts) increase norepinephrine, fat oxidation, and glucose tolerance while avoiding metabolic downshift.
Original Statement
“If you do one 36-hour fast per week or two non-consecutive 24-hour fasts or even three separate 16-hour fasts, you get the norepinephrine bump. You increase fat oxidation. You improve glucose tolerance. You avoid this metabolic downshift.”
Context Details
Domain
nutrition
Population
human
Subject
specific intermittent fasting patterns
Action
increase
Target
norepinephrine, fat oxidation, and glucose tolerance while avoiding metabolic downshift
Intervention Details
Evidence from Studies
Supporting Evidence (2)
This study examined time-restricted feeding in humans and found improvements in glucose control with early time-restricted feeding. While it doesn't specifically study 36-hour fasts or three 16-hour fasts, it demonstrates that specific fasting patterns can improve metabolic health markers, supporting the claim that intermittent fasting patterns can increase fat oxidation and improve glucose tolerance.
This study documented metabolic changes during prolonged fasting, including increased catecholamine levels (norepinephrine and epinephrine) during fasting. While it doesn't specifically study the recommended fasting patterns, it demonstrates the physiological basis for why these patterns would increase norepinephrine and fat oxidation while avoiding metabolic downshift when properly spaced.