Water fasting and autophagy — what human data actually shows
Three-day water fasts trigger autophagy — cellular cleanup — so says the internet. A 2019 study of alternate-day fasting in healthy adults measured aging markers.
- Claim
- WATER FAST AUTOPHAGY?
- Catch
- HUMAN DATA
- Verdict
- TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
The study: healthy non-obese adults fasted every other day. Researchers tracked physiological and molecular markers of aging over the study period.
Alternate-day fasting improved some aging markers — but the study was small, short-term, and involved healthy, non-obese adults.
The catch: human data on prolonged water fasting is thin. "Autophagy" is often overclaimed, and multi-day fasts carry risks like electrolyte imbalance and unsafe refeeding.
SOURCES
- Cell Metabolism. 2019. Alternate day fasting improves physiological and molecular markers of aging in healthy, non-obese adults.
For information only, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before attempting prolonged fasting.
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