What’s This Intermittent Fasting Dr. Fung?

If you’re reading this, you’re probably aware of the famous physician, writer, and researcher Dr. Jason Fung. Have you heard the term intermittent fasting Dr. Fung? If not, I am sharing a bit more about him because I will be referencing him and his work frequently in future articles.

You’ll know more about him as well as his renowned intermittent fasting tips by the time you finish reading this article. You would have heard about various doctors and their concept of intermittent fasting. But, Dr. Fung’s intermittent fasting methods have paved the way.

Today’s article will combine and present everything you want to know about Dr. Fung’s intermittent fasting. So what’s the delay for? Let’s get started.

Get To Know More About Dr. Fung

Before we get into the details, you should know about the person whose work you’re going to study so that you rest assured that the concerned person is not just a quack. Dr. Jason Fung is a doctor, writer of ten nutrition books, and a detail-driven science researcher.

He’s not just any doctor but a Canadian nephrologist, a kidney specialist to describe in easy words. He’s the celebrity of the diet world with millions of followers. Dr. Fung has treated hundreds of patients successfully with his “intermittent fasting by Dr. Fung” approach. We will be sharing this approach in detail later in this article.

What’s Intermittent Fasting In The Eyes Of Dr. Fung?

Dr. Fung is highly in favor of fasting as he says that it isn’t something introduced recently. Fasting has been a general practice since the early ages of humanity, so there must be some benefits of fasting, right?

You sleep; you’re in fasting mode. When you wake up, you have breakfast to “break” your “fast.” Dr. Fung believes that intermittent fasting is not something unusual, but in fact, it has been a part of our lives for quite a long time.

Is Fasting The Same As Starvation?

Well, this is a myth just as I described in an earlier article from my own POV. Fasting doesn’t equate to starvation at all. Dr. Fung believes that fasting is instinctively present in humans and is the most potent dietary intervention ever. Starvation is something involuntary; it’s not in your control.

No one wants to starve, right? Intermittent fasting, on the other hand, is totally about control. No one is forcing you to fast. You do it for your own sake, for your health and well-being. And hence intermittent fasting is not the same as starvation, says Dr. Fung.

What Are The Pros Of Intermittent Fasting According To Dr. Fung?

There must be something special about intermittent fasting that a kidney specialist converted into a diet guru. Dr. Fung recommends a period of 7-21 days of intermittent fasting for morbidly obese patients. Following are a few benefits of intermittent dieting that urged him to shift to it. Have a look!

• It helps shed extra pounds, i.e., assists in weight loss.
• Its results are fast and long-lasting.
• Intermittent Fasting helps manage diabetes and PCOS.
• It helps lower your blood glucose level to normal.
• Intermittent Fasting reduces the chances of some cancers as well as helps improve sleep.
• It assists in improving your overall health.
• Additionally, it helps to protect the body against many diseases.
• Finally, it is easier to follow than many other diets.

What Kinds of Diets Dr. Fung Recommends For Diabetic Patients?

Dr. Fung recommends the following diets for diabetic patients. The same diets can be given to weight loss patients, says Fung.

• Intermittent fasting
• Ketogenic diet
• Low-carb diet

While almost all dietitians and nutritionists equally appreciate intermittent fasting, the latter two are notorious in the diet world, especially for patients with some health conditions. So a conflict of interest lies between Fung and the rest of the diet world as for this issue.

Intermittent Fasting Dr. Fung and Diabetes

Dr. Fung’s dietary approaches for diabetic patients are quite the talk of the town. This is perhaps due to the fact that his ideas contradict the American Diabetes Association. Fung is quite outspoken about his modern beliefs in the diet world, which he claims are backed up by science.

Fung says that the root cause of diabetes is insulin resistance and that most doctors neglect this root cause while treating the patients. The diet Fung recommends to his patients is designed to reduce the glycemic load by intermittent fasting or through a low-carb diet.

The Relationship Between Insulin and Weight 

In his book The Obesity Code, Dr. Fung says that he can make everyone gain weight; in other words, he says that he can make you fat. When asked how? He says that he can do so by prescribing insulin. As someone who deals with diabetic patients, Fung states that he has noticed the relationship between insulin and weight gain.

To support his claim, he further stated that no matter what foods you eat or how much physical activity you do, you’ll surely gain weight if you’re on insulin. Reverse this phenomenon, i.e., reduce insulin, and you’ll lose weight. And intermittent fasting by Dr. Fung is an excellent way to reduce insulin levels in the body.

Intermittent fasting quickly drops the body’s insulin level, which is a hormone that aids the body to utilize sugar for energy. When the body is not given insulin for prolonged periods, it starts using glycogen (stored glucose/sugars) as body fuel. After glycogen depletion, the body now moves towards fats to provide energy for body functions, thus ultimately reducing weight. 

What Does Dr. Fung Say About Exercise In Intermittent Fasting?

Unlike most physicians and nutritionists, Dr. Fung is not very fond of exercise in intermittent fasting. He says that the battle of weight loss is 95% about diet and only 5% about exercise.

Dr. Fung also says that exercise is quite overrated for weight loss. The neurologist agrees to the potential health benefits of exercise. But, he thinks that exercise for health and exercise for weight loss are two different topics.

What Tips Does Dr. Fung Recommend For Intermittent Fasting?

Here are a few tips Dr. Fung recommends to his patients to keep in mind while intermittent fasting. We hope these tips will assist you throughout your journey of weight loss.

• Mind Game

Dr. Fung thinks that it is all in your mind. For instance, you keep thinking of food, so you feel hungry. To avoid cravings, keep your mind busy with something else. Don’t let your brain think of food every time.

• Your Goal

Dr. Fung says that the type of intermittent fasting depends on your goal. The better results you want, the more you restrict yourself from eating, i.e., prolong the fast. But make sure you don’t end up consuming your health, so never go overboard.

• Water And Liquid Diets

Although Fung believes that best results are obtained from a water diet only, he isn’t against a few other liquid foods like tea, coffee, broth, etc. Both black coffee and tea suppress appetite.

Black coffee is best but adding a little cream to satisfy your taste buds is okay in his eyes if it gets you to skip meals.  The same goes for broth. The protein content of any meat broth helps prevent the self-eating up of cells, i.e., autophagy.

Fung’s Books About Fasting And Nutrition

Dr. Fung is the author of ten books that revolve primarily around nutrition, longevity, and health. These publications are no less than a treasure of knowledge and include:

• The Obesity Code
• The Obesity Code Cookbook
• The Diabetes Code
• The Diabetes Code Cookbook
• The Cancer Code
• Life in the Fasting Lane 
• The PCOS Plan
• The Complete Guide To Fasting
• The Longevity Solution

Shop his masterpieces of nutrition on Amazon here. You’ll get a good idea of Dr. Fung’s intermittent fasting by reading these books.  I have also listed the ones I have in my personal library here.

Is There A Way I Can Learn Intermittent Fasting by Dr. Fung Directly From Him?

Yes, you can. You can read the books mentioned above to get an idea of intermittent fasting by Dr. Fung. Or you can also read his blog posts or see his videos about intermittent fasting on his Youtube channel. You can follow him on Instagram as well, where he keeps sharing his tips and updates occasionally.

If that isn’t enough and you want to spend some extra bucks, you can join his online coaching as well to know more about the concepts of intermittent fasting by Dr. Fung. Happy learning!

Conclusion

To sum up today’s discussion, we can conclude that suggestions of intermittent fasting by Dr. Fung are quite good and healthy approach. No wonder he’s among the top-rated diet gurus in the diet world. Just follow the things mentioned above, and you’ll definitely notice some good changes in your body.

If you’re still not convinced, search it up on Google or YouTube as “intermittent fasting Dr. Fung,” and you’ll get loads of details. Do your own research and go with what suits your body best. Don’t forget to be kind to your body!