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KetoFast: Rejuvenate Your Health with a Step-by-Step Guide to Timing Your Ketogenic Meals Kindle Edition
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We all know that food is medicine--yet going without food is one of the single best things you can do for your health. Short, doable fasts, when strategically timed, are an incredibly powerful metabolic intervention, dovetailing perfectly with a ketogenic diet to activate your body's fat-burning mode. This in turn can ward off insulin resistance, reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, optimize brain function, prevent neurological problems, support weight loss, and more.
In this in-depth yet accessible guide, Dr. Joseph Mercola explores the profound health benefits that result when ketogenic living and well-planned fasting are combined. Topics include:
- How our food is making us sick and what we can do about it
- The physiology and mechanisms of fasting, including stem cell activation
- How the cyclical ketogenic diet--with fasting included--differs from the conventional keto diet
- How fasting works and how safe it is for you
- How regular one-day fasts support fat burning and detoxification while minimizing hunger and side effects
- How to monitor your progress with lab tests
- And much more
"This will be an exciting journey for you," Dr. Mercola writes. "I am beyond excited for you to implement what I consider to be one of the most powerful physical strategies to help you not only recover your health, but also improve it to levels you likely never believed were possible."
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHay House LLC
- Publication dateApril 30, 2019
- File size4878 KB
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
— Jason Fung, M.D. , author of The Complete Guide to Fasting and The Obesity Code
“As the science underlying ketosis and fasting progresses, you can always trust Dr. Joseph Mercola to be on the cutting edge! Follow this enjoyable read to do keto and fasting the right way, and avoid the common pitfalls, many of which will shock you.”
— Steven R. Gundry, M.D., New York Times best-selling author of The Plant Paradox Series; Medical Director, The International Heart and Lung Institute
“Dr. Mercola has done it again. Tapping into the latest research on fasting and ketogenic diets, he has crafted an easy-to-understand, efficient, and highly effective program that can deliver life-changing results.”
— Mark Sisson, author of the New York Times bestseller Keto Reset Diet and founder of Primal Kitchen foods
“KetoFast provides a well-researched, practical approach to safely produce the metabolic flexibility needed to improve health and free a person from obesity, diabetes, and other disorders of metabolism.”
— Michael T. Murray, N.D., co-author of The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine
“It’s sobering to think that the simple timing and composition of our food could, if broadly adopted, change the course of millions of lives. KetoFast is a practical guide to reclaiming your metabolic health.”
— Travis Christofferson, author of Tripping Over the Truth: How the Metabolic Theory of Cancer Is Overturning One of Medicine’s Most Entrenched Paradigms
“KetoFast provides a carefully considered program of fasting and feeding that, based on recent research, should optimize your metabolic health. Presented in terms any layperson can follow, this book can help you navigate the complex interconnected concepts of fasting, time-restricted feeding, circadian cycles, and ketogenic diets.”
— Aaron Davidson, creator of Cronometer, an accurate and free online tool to track nutrients and provide detailed analysis of what you’re eating
“With the introduction of intermittent fasting and the current medical research proving its efficacy, a whole new spectrum of healing is now available. Dr. Mercola has long been a leader in educating the public about the benefits of intermittent fasting, and his new book, KetoFast, has provided an important link into the art of ‘scientific fasting’ and how to fast safely in a toxic world. Highly recommended.”
— Jim Ehmke, clinical nutritionist
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B07K3VFWRJ
- Publisher : Hay House LLC (April 30, 2019)
- Publication date : April 30, 2019
- Language : English
- File size : 4878 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 205 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #536,906 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #119 in Ketogenic Diet (Kindle Store)
- #368 in Ketogenic Diet (Books)
- #1,050 in Weight Maintenance Diets
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Dr. Mercola is a board certified family physician that has treated 25,000 patients from around the world. He encourages and educates people about safe and inexpensive nutritional, lifestyle and exercise options to radically reduce their risk of dying prematurely from dangerous drugs and surgeries. He is also the founder of Mercola.com which has been the most visited natural health site on the internet for the last ten years with over 15 million unique visitors every month.
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It only takes a few hours to read the book since the material is covered in 150 pages. Although relatively short, Dr. Mercola by no means forgets to delve into the details. In fact, about 40% of the book deals with the cyclical ketogenic diet and the partial fasting programs found in Chapters 7 and 8, respectively.
Let me share a review before you make any commitment. First, I hope to put together a brief summary from each chapter including key excerpts highlighted while taking notes. Then, I will share some personal thoughts and recommendations at the end.
SUMMARY
[Introduction] After a brief correlation between insulin resistance and major chronic diseases, Dr. Mercola affirms that becoming metabolically flexible—that is, being adapted to burning fat for fuel—is key for resolving most of these health challenges. Following that, he touches on the importance of cycling in and out of ketosis to achieve optimal health. At the end we learn the benefits of partial fasting—coined as KetoFast—as well as the differences between this approach and extended water fasting.
[Chapter 1] Before jumping into fasting, Dr. Mercola shares the main food-related causes that have contributed to chronic diseases. One by one, each cause is properly addressed in the book: [1] overconsumption of industrially processed foods; [2] crops grown with synthetic fertilizers; [3] food additives used to extend shelf life and enhance flavor; [4] excess iron consumption that can build up to toxic levels; [5] neglecting the importance of our microbiome health; [6] inflammation caused by a diet high in sugars; and [7] disruption of our natural circadian rhythm.
[Chapter 2] Here is a primer on the history of fasting. As Dr. Mercola says, “the history of fasting shows that humans have been fasting not just because we sometimes didn’t have a choice but because periodically going without foods provides a wide variety of other benefits, whether they are spiritual, political, religious, or therapeutic.” He walks us through religious fasting, explaining the traditions and uses. Next, some examples of how fasting was successfully used as a form of nonviolent resistance. Last, we take a look at the history of therapeutic fasting.
[Chapter 3] This chapter was my favorite: the mechanisms of fasting. Dr. Mercola says that fasting is an important health-promoting strategy because, in essence, “it’s a positive stressor to your body.” We explore in detail: [1] how it reduces insulin resistance; [2] how it triggers autophagy; [3] how it can naturally activate our stem cells; [4] how it can be used as one of the most potent ways to remove toxins from our bodies; [5] how it can help us live in alignment with our natural circadian rhythms; [6] how it trains our bodies to burn fat for weight loss; and [7] how it improves both our brain and heart functions.
[Chapter 4] Now he shares an overview of the many different ways to fast. We first learn that although water fasting is a powerful metabolic strategy, “there is indeed a dark side to water fasting that makes it far less than ideal fasting strategy for the bulk of the population.” The downside, he continues, “when the weight you lose is in the form of fat, it will typically release the toxins that have been stored in your fat into your bloodstream, exposing you to a flood of toxins.” Among the different intermittent fasting protocols, partial fasting seems to be the one that delivers the best possible mixture of fasting benefits and compliance. When partial fasting, the body mobilizes the toxins from the fat cells and, by eating a limited number of nutrient-dense foods that support detoxification, it helps the body to effectively eliminate these toxins.
[Chapter 5] Dr. Mercola addresses common side effects of fasting, as well as some absolute and relative contraindications for fasting. Insomnia, fatigue, skin irritations, mucous discharge, and visual disturbances are common side effects and are generally short-lived—they are the result of toxins being liberated from fat cells. Concerning contraindications, he affirms, “if you are underweight, malnourished, pregnant, or breastfeeding, you should not undergo any kind of fasting treatment.”
[Chapter 6] To reiterate the dark side of fasting if not done properly, Dr. Mercola delves into the details of what he had previously introduced in Chapter 4. We learn that fat-soluble toxins are widespread throughout the environment and, because they tend to be resistant to degradation, chemical toxin levels in humans have skyrocketed. It is something that, according to him, our “ancestors before the 19th century never faced when they were required to fast, because the environment simply wasn’t contaminated to the extent that it is today.” He then shifts gears toward detoxification, explaining the 4 stages, from the moment the toxin enters the cell in its fat-soluble state until the moment it leaves the cell and moves along the path to be excreted through our sweat, urine, or stool. We also learn strategies to maximize toxin elimination when partial fasting. In addition to drinking plenty of pure water and eating cruciferous vegetables, taking fiber and other binders will help sweep the toxins out. Sauna therapy is explained in great detail since it encourages passive sweating, “which is more likely to contain toxins than sweat that’s released when exercising.”
[Chapter 7] Whereas earlier Dr. Mercola focused on the many circumstances of fasting, now he explains the cyclical ketogenic diet program, walking us through the details. Following a healthy approach, this chapter is indeed a primer on the ketogenic diet. What sets this chapter apart from most of the ketogenic books, is that he addresses the potential downsides of long-term ketosis, including clear strategies to counterbalance these drawbacks by adding cyclical ketosis once metabolic flexibility has been achieved.
[Chapter 8] Once “you know all the reasons to restore your metabolic flexibility and begin engaging in regular partial fasting, all you need are the specifics on exactly how to do so.” Dr. Mercola shares a step-by-step implementation plan, beginning with strategies to minimize toxic exposure, passing through a comprehensive 5-step KetoFast protocol, and concluding with several details such as foods and supplements to support detoxification as well as a simple way to calculate our personal KetoFast calorie target and breakdown. Since the content and the program are clearly explained, there are virtually no margins for guesswork.
[Chapter 9] The last chapter is composed of 8 health-screening tests “to see quantitative evidence that your hard work is paying off.” Dr. Mercola recommends us to have these tests taken as we embark on our KetoFast plan, and again at least 3 months in. Each one of the following lab tests is explained in great detail: [1] vitamin D; [2] RBC magnesium; [3] omega-3 index; [4] fasting insulin; [5] serum ferritin; [6] high sensitivity c-reactive protein; [7] homocysteine; and [8] LDL particle number.
PERSONAL THOUGHTS
By now uncountable benefits of fasting have been demonstrated in clinical and experimental research studies. There are different protocols available depending on personal preference, health condition, and compliance. Having said that, implementing them isn’t easy at first, especially these days that we have been physically, emotionally, and socially attached to compulsive eating. It takes some discipline. That is why being adapted to burning fat for fuel is one of the premises to navigate through fasting without hunger pangs.
Although I have just finished reading the book, I have been experimenting with partial fasting during these last 2 months. Dr. Mercola discussed it openly with guests in his latest podcast episodes. Now Chapter 8 offers all the details I didn’t have access earlier.
The KetoFast program is in alignment with the one Dr. Gundry recommends in his latest book, The Longevity Paradox. To be more precise, Dr. Gundry focuses on 3 strategies to be cycled each month: fast-mimicking diet for 5 consecutive days a month, brain-wash days, and optimal calorie restriction days. If we put into practice the brain-wash day followed by the optimal calorie restriction day, one after another, then both Dr. Mercola and Dr. Gundry's programs offer virtually the same outcome. They are indeed my favorite experts concerning eating habits. I have actually enjoyed the food choices Dr. Gundry recommends for almost 2 years now, based on The Plant Paradox book. In terms of timing, I have followed Dr. Mercola’s suggestions, such as daily intermittent fasting and weekly feast-famine cycling, presented in his previous book, Fat For Fuel. With regard to extended water fasting, well it has been a dilemma for a variety of reasons. I have only recently done a 3-day water fasting for the first time, following Dr. Villoldo’s protocol. It focuses on spirituality through a vision quest in nature. Although challenging, I experienced a deep appreciation for life.
As a final digression, independently of the eating habits we choose, creating a positive and joyful relationship with the food we eat is important in the long term. In addition to food, embracing other strategies that promote our overall well-being deserve equal importance in our daily lives.
Take care,
Haical
As with any good scientific writer, he documents everything with footnotes and other resources for further study. The book also has a helpful index.
Dr. Mercola does spend some time on Saunas and he somewhat makes his case for the near-infrared, but not the far-infrared types of heating. As an electrical engineer, I'm not quite buying into the differentiation and his dislike of EMF fields. But from a safety standpoint, why have anything electric in the sauna for heating it??? He doesn't mention the steam or Finnish sauna options.
Minor cover damage seems to have occurred during mailing, but not a problem.
The bad: the book itself is a hot mess. Very poorly edited. Writing is confusing and careless - for instance it implies there's a difference between IF and time-restricted eating but then uses the terms interchangeably. It's an annoying chore to read.
It's worth reading, I guess, but it could have been much better.
The information is very well researched and solid. I've been fasting for decades and am also a follower of the ketogenic diet. I feel that this book contains many missing links that have the potential for individuals to create a health plan that is easy to follow and implement on a long term basis. What I also liked about this book is that although it may be a big leap for some, it has smaller steps to make initial adjustments first, so that even a beginner could get on board.
I've read all of Mercola's books. For me this is the most well written, accessible and strongest to date.