The lecture, “Fasting For Survival,” by Dr. Pradip Jamnadas, argues that modern eating habits—frequent meals, processed foods, and high carbohydrates—are fundamentally mismatched with human genetics, which evolved over 2.5 million years for periods of fasting and feasting. He contends that fasting is the most potent intervention to reverse chronic diseases of civilisation, primarily by manipulating the hormone insulin, which he calls “the elephant in the room”.

The Science and Benefits of Fasting

Fasting works by drastically lowering insulin, which unlocks the body’s fat reserves for fuel, shifting metabolism into a state of ketosis. This process activates several crucial mechanisms:

• Insulin Sensitivity and Fat Loss: Low insulin levels allow the body to access and burn stored fat for energy, leading to weight loss and reversing insulin resistance.
• Autophagy (Cellular Housekeeping): This process of cellular recycling, where the body breaks down old, non-functional components to be reutilised, is maximised after 3 days of fasting (starting around 18 hours). Autophagy is a “reset switch” that rejuvenates cells and improves resiliency.
• Growth Hormone: A 2-day fast has been documented to increase growth hormone production by up to 2,000% in men, promoting muscle growth, better skin, and an anti-aging effect.
• Brain Function: The brain can utilise ketones for up to 70% of its energy after a 7-day fast, leading to improved mental clarity and the production of new brain cells via Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).
• Stem Cells: Fasting mobilises stem cells from the bone marrow, with a significant re-feeding reward, acting as an internal transplant to repair damaged organs.
• Cancer and Inflammation: Fasting makes normal cells more resilient to toxins, which is why a 36-hour fast is being studied as an adjunct to chemotherapy. A 7-day water fast is cited as potentially reducing the lifetime risk of cancer by over 70%.

Specific Fasting Protocols

Dr. Jamnadas outlines several types of fasts, recommending patients consult a physician for those involving long durations or if they are on diabetes/blood pressure medication.

Fasting Type	Protocol/Duration	Primary Benefits
Time-Restricted Feeding	Eating within a 6 to 8-hour window (18/6 or 16/8) once or twice a day.	General maintenance, small weight loss, daily ketosis, and low-level autophagy.
Once-a-Week Fast	Extending the fast to 36 hours (skipping one dinner) once per week.	Huge boost in immunity and stem cell mobilization.
Long-Term Water Fast	A 3-day or 7-day water fast.	Maximises autophagy (3 days), drastically improves autoimmune diseases, potentially reduces cancer risk (7 days), and can clear mental fog associated with Alzheimer’s.

Practical Tips

During a fast, the speaker recommends drinking plenty of water with a pinch of Himalayan salt (for electrolytes/magnesium) to counteract low blood pressure and headaches. He also advises easing into a fasting regimen by first cutting down on carbohydrates and processed foods to condition the body