#285 Why Intermittent Fasting Works with Dr Jason Fung

<p><em>Trigger warning: this podcast discusses fasting and its advice may not be suitable for anyone with an eating disorder. If you have an existing health condition or are taking medication, always consult your healthcare practitioner before going for prolonged periods without eating.</em></p><br><p>When was the last time you had something to eat? Was the food consumed at a mealtime, or just because? My guest today has a simple but powerful message that I believe could revolutionize your health. Dr Jason Fung is one of the world's foremost experts on intermittent fasting. He practices in Canada as a kidney specialist and in 2012, he co-founded America's first intermittent fasting clinic. He's published multiple international bestselling books and he runs a global online coaching program called Intensive Dietary Management. Dr Fung also works tirelessly to communicate simple messages with the public on his YouTube channel.</p><br><p>We begin this conversation by discussing how many unscheduled opportunities to eat there are in modern life. These days, it is normal to eat at your desk, in meetings, on public transport or even on the sofa at home. Yet, just a few decades ago, such habits would have seemed very out of place. Jason explains that the idea that it’s good to graze all day is unscientific and damaging – our bodies can only draw on our fat stores for energy when we’re not in a fed state. Our default should be <em>not</em> eating, with two or three meals planned in short windows over 24 hours. Instead, schools, workplaces and places of leisure are designed around opportunities to snack and for many of us, it's causing a host of problems.</p><br><p>Jason goes on to talk about why he believes that calorie counting isn’t the answer when it comes to getting your weight and health in check and why some foods are more fattening than others, even if they're equal in calories. Jason's approach is to encourage all of us to switch to what he calls ‘the right foods’ – whole, unprocessed foods, low in sugar and refin