Dearest All who are embarking on the newest diet fad, where you fast for 48 hours, and then eat as much high fat keto foods as you can, and then fast again,
I am a fan of fasting for certain conditions. I have done a 14 day water fast, and guided clients through short and long fast. I have also done a keto diet on and off for a decade.
I know you want results, and you want them now, and this new diet and fasting seems like it might give them to you. You should know though, that fasting isn’t good for everyone, and this “diet” isn’t good for anyone long term.
Here are some guidelines you might consider if you’re tempted to do this “diet”
1. You shouldn’t fast if you are nutrient deficient. Most people need to spend 3+ months focused on eating a nutrient dense diet, and possibly supplementing with vitamins and minerals before they are nutritionally replete enough to get the max benefits from a fast. Consider cutting back on the sugar and refined foods, and spending a few months eating a pound a day of raw green veggies or 1/2 pound cooked veggies (whatever makes your tummy feel best), along with lots of omega 3 rich fish, before you embark on a fast.
2. You shouldn’t fast or do this “diet” if you are underweight.
3. You shouldn’t fast or do this “diet” if you have a history of disordered eating, or if you’re prone to dogmatically sticking to a restrictive dietary philosophy.
4. You shouldn’t fast or do this “diet” if you are younger than 18, or older than 70.
5. This diet doesn’t supply enough fiber to keep your microbiome happy. Over the long term, the more unhappy your microbiome is, the more unhappy you will be. Fasting can have amazing benefits. Fasting overdone is also called starvation, and can have terrible consequences.
And Finally. The guy who started this “diet”, Cole Robinson, starts all of his videos with fat shaming, which can cause real and serious harm.1
You don’t have to support people like Cole. If you do a little digging you can probably find an Herbalist, Naturopathic Physician, or Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area to talk with about the multitude of diets and natural interventions that might help your health issues.
-Thomas Easley, Functional Herbalist