Fasting: The Healing Power of Not Eating

In this deeply personal solo episode, Darin Olien unpacks one of the most ancient and powerful healing practices known to humanity: fasting. From the perspective of cutting-edge science, Ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine, Darin breaks down how abstaining from food—done correctly—can reset your biology, boost longevity, and unlock your body’s natural healing intelligence. Drawing on the work of pioneers like Paul Bragg and modern fasting experts like Dr. Valter Longo, Darin shares his own experiences with water-only fasting and explains how it’s helping him prepare for stem cell treatments. But this isn’t just about calories—it’s about sovereignty. Whether you’re new to fasting or already practice intermittent or prolonged fasts, this episode will expand your understanding and help you align your fasting approach with your unique body type and season of life. Breakdown What you’ll Learn 00:00 – Why fasting is powerful and why this isn’t medical advice 01:15 – Fasting meets Western science, Ayurveda, and Chinese medicine 02:00 – Darin’s personal fasting journey and stem cell preparation 03:20 – The legacy of Paul Bragg and the ancient roots of fasting 05:00 – “You are what you eat, breathe, drink, think, say, and do” 06:00 – Fasting as a return to ancestral healing 07:30 – How fasting affects digestive fire in Ayurveda 09:00 – Chinese medicine’s take on fasting and chi balance 10:45 – What is intermittent fasting? Scientific and spiritual benefits 12:15 – Body type considerations: kapha, pitta, vata & circadian rhythms 14:00 – Alternate-day fasting: who it works for and who it doesn’t 15:20 – Seasonal fasting and syncing with nature 16:30 – 36-hour fasts, 5:2 protocols, and fasting mimicking diets 17:30 – Ketosis, autophagy, stem cell activation & longevity boosts 18:40 – Women and fasting: why it must be tailored to your cycle 19:45 – Fasting as a spiritual reset, not a punishment 21:00 – Sometimes doing nothing is the most powerful healing LINKS Find more from Darin: Website: https://darinolien.com/ Instagram: @Darinolien Book: darinolien.com/fatal-conveniences-book/ Down to Earth: darinolien.com/down-to-earth/ SPONSORS Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off Our Place: Toxic-free, durable cookware that supports healthy cooking. Use code DARIN for 10% off at fromourplace.com. I hope you enjoyed this episode of The Darin Olien Show! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here’s how: Subscribe, rate or listen on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher Follow my Instagram to keep updated on the podcast, weekly deep dives and other projects that I’m supporting (and the occasional Chaga appreciation post) Sign up for my Weekly Email to keep up with what I’m tuned into. For feedback or suggestions, email my team at [email protected] Find the list of brands & products that get the big tick of approval from me here. Comment below to join the discussion!