Ep. 25 - The Power of Fasting: What the Science Really Says About When (and Why) We Eat

Is fasting just another wellness trend—or a powerful, evidence-based tool for health and longevity? In this episode of Health Talk: Your Partner in Health, Dr. Caitlin Prickett and Jeffery Runyon explore the science behind fasting and how it affects metabolism, inflammation, brain health, and even cancer therapy. From time-restricted eating to fasting-mimicking diets, we unpack what actually works, who benefits, who should avoid fasting, and which social media fads to skip. Backed by clinical research and real-world insights, this episode offers a practical, physician-guided look at how to use fasting to support optimal health—without extremes. 📚 Studies Cited in This Episode: Time-Restricted Eating & Metabolic Health Cell Metab. 2016;23(6):1042–1051. PMID: 27304586 Early TRE Improves Insulin Sensitivity J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104(4):1275–1286. PMID: 31152178 Fasting and Autophagy Nat Commun. 2020;11(1):4638. PMID: 32231246 Inflammation Reduction with ADF Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015;23(9):1874–1881. PMID: 25251669 Fasting and Heart Health Am Heart J. 2020;227:16–26. PMID: 32526597 Brain Function and BDNF Increases Cell Metab. 2018;27(6):1176–1191. PMID: 29606305 Fasting and Cancer: Chemotherapy Synergy Sci Transl Med. 2012;4(124):124ra27. PMID: 22323820 FMD Slows Tumor Progression Nat Commun. 2020;11:4265. PMID: 31911686 Clinical Trial on FMD and Chemo Side Effects JAMA Oncol. 2023;9(8):1072–1079. PMID: 37370335 Metabolic Rate Increases During Short-Term Fasting Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71(6):1511–1517. PMID: 10799367 IF vs. Calorie Counting for Metabolic Health N Engl J Med. 2020;381(26):2541–2551. PMID: 31881139 Fasting and Lifespan in Mice Nat Aging. 2021;1(1):47–59. PMID: 34580104 Fasting Contraindications Nutrients. 2020;12(4):E1194. PMID: 32235482