Scientists Versus the Rest of US

What is the difference between scientists and the rest of us? Scientists have perennial skepticism about reality, and only give their credence to what can be proven with verifiable tests. The ultimate goal is the discovery of what is true — and true beyond any doubt. They are reality seekers.

Compare that to the rest of us relative to “reality”. The rest of us tend to believe what we want to believe — whatever supports our inclinations, biases, predispositions. We tend to believe facts that support our preferences even if those facts are in all probability flat out wrong. Conversely, we tend to deny facts that in any way contradict our preferences even if those facts are in all probability correct.

So how do these two orientations differ? Scientists seek truth; the rest of us seek self-justification.

48-Hour-Fast Strategy

How To Eat

Begin the biggest meal of the day the same way. First, eat what I call a walnut blast. 10 half shell walnuts. The fat in walnuts will make the rest of the meal more digestible, i.e., more available to the body. Plus, walnuts are the only nut with high levels of omega-3 fats. And eating such a high-fat, satiating food will dampen your appetite so that you will end up eating fewer calories. Also, eating such a high-fat food first will mean that the insulin spike from the carbohydrates in the whole meal that follows will be reduced.

Second, 5 minutes later, eat 2 stocks of broccoli. Chew the broccoli very well so that sulforaphane is formed in the mouth. The broccoli has anti-cancer properties, among other benefits. And the fat from the walnuts will make nutrition from the broccoli much more available.

Do this every day without fail.

48-Hour-Fast Strategy

48-Hour-Fast Strategy

This is my 48-hour-fast strategy to boost autophagy. The day before you don’t eat anything have a very low amount of both carbohydrates and proteins (no more than 10 grams for each). Then comes the day without food. The following day, do the same thing with carbohydrates and proteins — no more than 10 grams each.

The average male needs 56 grams of protein for basic metabolic functions. Over the course of the above 3 days, you’ve have supplied only 20 grams of protein when the body has required 168 grams. So the body will have had to scavenge for 148 grams of protein — that’s what boosts autophagy.

That you have only digested 20 grams of carbohydrates means that you will stay in ketosis. Exiting ketosis would halt autophagy — the opposite of what you want to have happen.

Use cronometer.com to come up with what you can eat to reduce carbohydrates and proteins to this extent. As an “almost vegan”, I use avocado, walnuts, pecans, brazil nut, and olives.

Caveat: On that third day, given the fact that you have eaten so little carbohydrates and so your glycogen stores are now running very low, you will feel fatigue in your arms and legs. You won’t get to restore the glycogen until the fourth day, but that meal is something to really look forward to.

What this strategy does for you are multiple things. First, on the very first day, given the fact that you have had only 10 grams of carbohydrates and protein, you will get into ketosis and autophagy sooner on that very first day — not just the second, food-less day — and second, given the fact that you do the same thing on the third day, just 10 grams of carbohydrates and protein, there will be continued ketosis and autophagy into the fourth day.

New Fruit for Me

5-Day Fast

Completed my first 72 hour fast today. Hunger wasn’t the issue. It was fatigue. Felt fatigue in both my legs and arms. But I do Joel Fuhrman GBOMBS diet with high carbs from complex carbs and whole foods with lots of vegetables and fruit — 200 to 300 grams of carbs a day. So when glycogen/glucose go through the floor, I feel it. My goal is to be able to do two 5-day fasts per year, for the autophagy benefits. Getting there with these baby steps.

Keto or Not Keto?

Hardening of the Arteries

Now they think that the blood cholesterol is not harmful unless it is affected by inflammation. What appears to happen is oxidative stress produces free radical overflow that can change the blood cholesterol from this elongated shape into a shorter and stickier shape, and it is this altered cholesterol that sticks to the artery wall.

LDL cholesterol is a necessary compound for the body. Among other things, it is in all your skin cells, and it is the compound that is turned into Vitamin D with sun exposure. But, nevertheless, I would argue that having excessive blood cholesterol sets the stage for hardening of the arteries from plague (the smaller, stickier LDL) buildup to happen should there be inflammation.

Health — No Accident