Wow! I just said ‘fasting’ and everyone quickly got up and ran out of the room! Why? because the last thing that we want to do is an act of austerity that has the potential to make us feel sad/depleted/on the losing end! In our imaginations at least!

But! the act of fasting is an ancient art and well-respected for it’s ability to revive and restimulate the entire body and it’s energy systems. We discover over time, especially when we fit fasting into our calendars, that we become lighter, happier, more agile. less likely to procrastinate and waste time, better able to have healthy relationships with significant others and so on. So, how can that be?

Fasting engages powerful biological mechanisms that influence metabolism, cellular repair, and overall health.
Fasting stimulates autophagy, a natural process where cells remove damaged proteins and dysfunctional organelles. This helps prevent cellular aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and even cancer by maintaining internal cellular balance and repair mechanisms.
Ketones and autophagy contribute to neuroprotection. Studies show fasting can enhance cognitive function, memory, and focus. It may increase BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) — a protein vital for learning, mood regulation, and neuron growth.
In short: fasting is a controlled form of biological stress that trains the body to become more resilient, efficient, and self-repairing.

If an animal gets sick, you watch! it will fast! It is in that sense a hard-wired bodily response to a change in biological state. The interesting thing is that in the Vedic culture, folk used to and still do, fast on the 11th day after the New Moon and on the 11th day after the Full Moon. Twice a month. With whole populations fasting, food is spared and the people grow strong.

I fasted quite a few times as a youngster and then later on, I decided to follow the 11th day method mentioned above. The only problem was that I was quite toxic due to years of a certain lifestyle and so the fasting caused crazy headaches etc. Years later, I actually enjoy my fast days and come out of it feeling lighter and more cognitive. If you feel to take it on, just go into it gradually, one step at a time and with that bi-monthly rhythm, you will soon have found a way to stay young, fit & healthy for a whole lifetime!