Researchers at the University of California, Irvine found evidence that fasting affects circadian clocks in the liver and skeletal muscle, causing them to rewire their metabolism, which can ultimately lead to improved health and protection against aging-associated diseases. The study was published recently in Cell Reports.
Scientists at the Salk Institute found that mice lacking the biological clocks thought to be necessary for a healthy metabolism could still be protected against obesity and metabolic diseases by having their daily access to food restricted to a 10-hour window.
In the first evidence of a natural intervention triggering stem cell-based regeneration of an organ or system, an exciting study, published in Cell Stem Cell determined that periods of fasting for two to four days not only protect against immune system damage — a major side effect of chemotherapy — but also induce immune system regeneration, shifting stem cells from an inactive state to a state of self-renewal.