'Fake fasting' could be answer to losing weight and reducing chronic illness risk

Researchers have found that by 'fake fasting', you can get the same health benefits as abstaining from food, but without the hunger. Known as the fasting mimicking diet (FMD), findings from a study have suggested it could help reduce your risk of developing some chronic illnesses - like Alzheimer's disease - and aid weight loss.

Published by the University of Southern California in Nature Communications, researchers found cycles of a diet that mimics fasting helped to reduce signs of immune system aging. It also showed a reduction in insulin resistance and liver fat in humans, resulting in a lower biological age.

Other research has shown 'fake fasting' periods were associated with the promotion of stem cell regeneration, lessening of chemotherapy side effects and reduction of the signs of dementia in animals. Not only this, it has also been found to lower the risk factors for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other age-related diseases in humans.

What is a fasting mimicking diet?

FMD is a nutritional approach designed to provide the benefits of fasting without requiring complete abstinence from food. Those typically follow their normal diet for almost all of the month, only following FMD for five days.

FMD restricts protein and carbohydrates to lower levels than what's found in a standard diet, which helps to stimulate some of the cellular and metabolic responses associated with fasting. However, it includes a higher proportion of calories from unsaturated fats, known to support heart health and reduce inflammation. These fats include olive oil, nuts and nut butters.

According to the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, FMD is a "five-day diet high in unsaturated fats and low in overall calories, protein, and carbohydrates and is designed to mimic the effects of a water-only fast while still providing necessary nutrients and making it much easier for people to complete the fast."

The total calorie intake is reduced to about 40-50 per cent of an individual's typical daily calorie needs. But this can be adjusted based on the individual's size, age and activity level.

USC Leonard Davis School Professor Valter Longo first came up with the idea and was a senior author on the new study. He explained: "This study shows for the first time evidence for biological age reduction from two different clinical trials, accompanied by evidence of rejuvenation of metabolic and immune function."