Fasting is one of the most powerful healing practices in human history—it’s free, requires zero equipment, and your body is literally designed for it. But while it sounds simple, there is a wrong way to do it, especially when it comes to the hormonal "engine switch" that happens in the first 24 hours. In this episode, I walk you through exactly what happens in your body during a 3-day fast, from clearing out "zombie cells" to the 60% drop in aging markers.

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Links:

Insulin drop during fasting: Molecular Metabolism — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7471620/ Glycogen storage: Cleveland Clinic — https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23509-glycogen Ghrelin and meal timing: Diabetes Journal — https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article-abstract/50/8/1714/ Growth hormone 14x study: Frontiers in Endocrinology — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11842881/ Ketones and brain energy: Annals of Medicine — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7877980/ Nobel Prize — Autophagy (Ohsumi): https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2016/press-release/ Insulin resistance prevalence: StatPearls / NCBI — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507839/ Immune stem cell reset: USC Valter Longo Lab — https://stemcell.keck.usc.edu/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/ Muscle loss during fasting: Nutrients — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9503095/ Food addiction data: Michigan Medicine — https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/1-8-americans-over-50-show-signs-food-addiction The Didache (c. 100 AD): Chapter 8

DISCLAIMER

This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Josh Axe and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Axe nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

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What Happens If You Don't Eat for 72 Hours? | Fasting Guide | Dr. Josh Axe