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Intermittent fasting makes fruit flies live longer—will it work for people? (Overnight for 20 hours extended lives by 13-18%)
Medical XPress / Columbia University Irving Medical Center Nature ^ | Sept. 29, 2021 | Matt Ulgherait et al

Posted on 09/29/2021 1:05:13 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

Intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding in general limit food, but not overall caloric intake, to specific hours of the day. (In contrast, dietary restriction, which also has been shown to increase longevity, reduces caloric intake.)

"Because intermittent fasting restricts the timing of eating, it's been hypothesized that natural biological clocks play a role," says Mimi Shirasu-Hiza, Ph.D.

The researchers put their flies on one of four different schedules: 24-hour unrestricted access to food, 12-hour daytime access to food, 24-hour fasting following by 24-hour unrestricted feeding, or what the researchers called intermittent time-restricted fasting or iTRF (20 hours of fasting followed by a recovery day of unlimited feeding).

Among the four eating schedules, only iTRF significantly extended the lifespan—18% for females and 13% for males.

And the timing of the 20-hour fast was critical: Lifespan increased only for flies that fasted at night and broke their fast around lunchtime. The lifespans of flies that instead fasted all day, eating only at night, did not change.

For the researchers, the role of time was a big clue to how fasting is linked to longevity. They found that a cell-cleaning process kicks in after fasting, but only when fasting occurs during the night. Scientists call the cell-cleaning process autophagy (Greek for self-eating), and the process is known to slow aging by cleaning up and recycling damaged components of the cell.

"We found that the life-extending benefits of iTRF require a functional circadian rhythm and autophagy components," Shirasu-Hiza says. "When either of those processes were disrupted, the diet had no effect on the animals' longevity."

iTRF not only increased the flies' lifespan, the eating regimen also improved the flies' "healthspan," increasing muscle and neuron function, reducing age-related protein aggregation, and delaying the onset of aging markers in muscles and intestinal tissues.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: autophagy; dsj03; fasting; intermittentfasting; lowcarbdiet
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For those of us wondering the best approach to intermittent fasting, it would appear we can add a number of functional years to our lives with the 20 hour, overnight fasting approach. It may be possible to do something similar with less than 20, but getting closer to only 12 hours means you may lose the “life extension” benefit to fasting.
1 posted on 09/29/2021 1:05:13 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: ConservativeMind

Somalians must live forever.....................


2 posted on 09/29/2021 1:07:12 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: ConservativeMind

I always base my personal health concerns on what is good for fruit flies.


3 posted on 09/29/2021 1:08:10 PM PDT by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
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To: ConservativeMind

Oh look what modern science is finding out!


4 posted on 09/29/2021 1:08:31 PM PDT by Jyotishi (Seeking the truth, a fact at a time.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Fruit flies....

So test it on Buttigieg and his “husband” before normal people.

Like they used to say “this lotion caused cancer in laboratory animals in tests.” So? Be sure not to let the laboratory animals buy the stuff.


5 posted on 09/29/2021 1:10:17 PM PDT by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
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To: ConservativeMind

I fast between bites...


6 posted on 09/29/2021 1:13:27 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: ConservativeMind

The Okinawans are some of the longest living and built into their culture is not overeating. There’s a whole bunch of research showing calorie reduction extends lifespans. The magic point seems go be about 14 hours without food where repair and rebuild processes kick in. So eat an early dinner and then don’t eat again till lunch.


7 posted on 09/29/2021 1:14:50 PM PDT by BiglyCommentary
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To: ConservativeMind
Very interesting study. My only question is what do or how do they define 'Night.' I ask as someone who intermittently fasts daily but usually I eat my main and sometimes only meal at 'dinner time.' This could mean at 6 PM, 9PM, 5 PM. Depends on my schedule that day.

So given the benefits of fasting benefit of longevity at night. I'd love more clarity on that definition from their study. I found it interesting they do not clarify and define exactly what they mean by night. As we all make assumptions about what 'night' means. Is it the hours between 10PM and 5PM for instance. Is it 5PM yo 5AM the next morning? Would love clarity here.

8 posted on 09/29/2021 1:15:28 PM PDT by GOP Poet (Super cool you can change your tag line EVERYTIME you post!! :D. (Small things make me happy))
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To: ConservativeMind

Fasting is the principle of the sabbath. Regular downtime is good. Even the Creator rested on the 7th day.


9 posted on 09/29/2021 1:16:51 PM PDT by BiglyCommentary
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To: ConservativeMind

I thought fruit flies only lived for about a day.


10 posted on 09/29/2021 1:20:08 PM PDT by Wissa (The Gods of the Copybook Headings shall return.)
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To: GOP Poet

14/15 hour spread is the key. Not as important when that period starts. Seems to be healthiestvwhen your clocked is tuned into the natural day and night. When the first birds start chirping wake up. A few hours after sun down go to sleep.


11 posted on 09/29/2021 1:20:36 PM PDT by BiglyCommentary
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To: Wissa

But its a really long day with fasting. Lol I wish they’d practice this when I have bananas sitting around.


12 posted on 09/29/2021 1:23:22 PM PDT by BiglyCommentary
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To: ConservativeMind

For everybody who wants to extend the life of their fruitflies...

But seriously, I’ve doing this for well over a year, maybe closer to two, and now it just comes naturally.

I generally fast until about 3 or 4PM, then have another light meal at about 6 PM. I drink lots of water throughout the day.

I’ve lost about 50 lbs without really trying, my uric acid levels are down along with the joint and muscle aches.

Feeling fine. I would recommend giving it a try.


13 posted on 09/29/2021 1:24:06 PM PDT by seowulf (Civilization begins with order, grows with liberty, and dies with chaos...Will Durant)
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To: Yo-Yo

Lol!


14 posted on 09/29/2021 1:26:29 PM PDT by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: ConservativeMind

I will fast about twice a year for a full week. Nothing but water. The first two days are tough but after I really start to feel good. I find it very refreshing and mentally resetting. It’s amazing how the mind clears up when it thinks the body is starving.


15 posted on 09/29/2021 1:27:34 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: ConservativeMind

I currently do 15 to 16 overnight fasting except on the days I have to take an ibuprofen to get my foot to move. Twelve hours is the most I can do then.


16 posted on 09/29/2021 1:40:34 PM PDT by Tennessee Conservative (My goal in life is to be the person my dog's think I am)
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To: Red Badger

And they’re super intelligent…


17 posted on 09/29/2021 1:41:29 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: Seruzawa

I’m using Asperger’s Syndrome high school dropouts from Sweden myself.


18 posted on 09/29/2021 1:42:42 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: seowulf

My husband and I were fasting too (and on a mostly ketone diet) until a few weeks ago when we went on vacation. Now we’re constantly hungry and feel tired.


19 posted on 09/29/2021 1:45:20 PM PDT by neefer (Because you can't starve us out and you can't make us run.)
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To: ConservativeMind
“Time flies like an arrow,
Fruit flies like a banana.”

G.Marx

20 posted on 09/29/2021 1:45:50 PM PDT by HandyDandy
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