The perfect treatment for diabetes and weight loss

May 10 2015 by in About membership, Diabetes, Intermittent fasting, Low carb & high fat, Weight loss

Do doctors treat type 2 diabetes completely wrong today – in a way that actually makes the disease worse? Many people would correctly say yes. There’s a better way.

What is the perfect treatment for type 2 diabetes – and for weight loss? Many people would say a strict LCHF diet – I would have said that myself, at one time. But that may just be a good start.

Many readers have told me about the Canadian nephrologist Dr. Jason Fung and his exciting work. But it was only recently that I got to meet him and record this interview.

Dr. Fung

Dr. Fung treats people with severe type 2 diabetes, and to them LCHF may not be effective enough – even if it’s a good starting point. Dr. Fung has found something significantly more effective. And as a side effect it’s also likely to be the world’s most effective method for weight loss, whether you have diabetes or not.

In this 12 minute interview – that you can see above – he goes through all the basics.

Observe: This treatment is extremely effective. If you have diabetes and take blood sugar lowering medication (especially insulin injections) you may need to reduce the doses a lot to avoid potentially dangerous hypoglycemia. You may instantly become too healthy for your medication.

More knowledge

There is a 32 minute second part to the interview, where Dr. Fung goes through many more practical tips and answers common questions. This second part is on the membership pages (free one month trial):

The Perfect Treatment for Diabetes and Weight Loss – full interview

Here are a few of the things Dr. Fung mentions in the full interview:

Different lengths of fasting that work well (including very extreme options)
Why people usually find it much easier to fast then they believe
Possible side effects and how to handle them
Additional health benefits of fasting
Medicines that can be problematic when fasting
What reactions he gets from the doctors and dietitians he works with
Do you still need to eat breakfast?
And much more

All this and much more you can learn in the second 32 minute part, on the membership site.

Membership

Membership also gives you immediate access to video courses, more interviews and movies about health and weight loss, among other things.

If you choose to stay a member for more than one month you’ll support the Diet Doctor website and our long-term mission of revolutionizing the health of humankind. You’ll join over 40 000 members that are powering our rapid growth.

The Perfect Treatment for Diabetes and Weight Loss – full interview

Top Dr. Fung videos about intermittent fasting

Diet Doctor Podcast #64 with Jason Fung
1:07:58
Dr. Jason Fung is well known for pioneering the use of fasting as a medical intervention to aid weight loss and treat diabetes. In his new book, The Cancer Code, Dr. Fung applies that same approach to cancer.
MEMBERS ONLY
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Part 7 of Dr. Jason Fung's diabetes course
05:01
Dr. Fung gives us a comprehensive review of what causes fatty liver disease, how it affects insulin resistance and, what we can do to reduce fatty liver.
The 7 benefits of fasting
07:33
Dr. Fung's fasting course part 4: About the 7 big benefits of fasting intermittently.
MEMBERS ONLY
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What to do instead of counting calories
16:02
Why is counting calories useless? And what should you do instead to lose weight?
MEMBERS ONLY
Insulin toxicity — Dr. Jason Fung's diabetes course
09:03
Dr. Fung looks at the evidence on what high levels of insulin can do to one’s health and what can be done to lower insulin naturally.
The top 5 tips to make fasting easier
05:19
Dr. Fung's fasting course part 8: Dr. Fung's top tips for fasting
MEMBERS ONLY
Breakfast! Is it really that important?
07:08
Dr. Fung's fasting course part 6: Is it really that important to eat breakfast?
How to fast - the different options
06:47
Dr. Fung's fasting course part 3: Dr. Fung explains the different popular fasting options and makes it easy for you to choose the one that fits you best.
Therapeutic fasting
46:09
What if there was a more effective treatment alternative for obesity and type 2 diabetes, that is both simple and free?

Top videos about type 2 diabetes

My low-carb story with Marc Gossange
03:01
After living somewhat of a high-carb life and then living in France for a few years enjoying croissants and freshly baked baguettes, Marc was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Living low carb with Chris Hannaway
08:19
What does living low carb look like? Chris Hannaway shares his success story, takes us for a spin in the gym and orders food at the local pub.
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How to help patients reverse type 2 diabetes
27:43
How exactly do you as a doctor help patients reverse their type 2 diabetes?
Living low carb with Yvonne Lane
05:51
Yvonne used to see all those pictures of people who'd lost so much weight, but sometimes didn't really believe they were real.
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What's it like being a low-carb doctor on TV?
17:40
What’s it like working with patients and giving controversial low-carb advice in front of a TV audience?
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96 comments

51
Scott
August 29 2015
Thanks for your site, Doctor. For me, I have to watch out as I have been overweight all of my life and have a history of diabetes on my mother's side. At 53 years old now, I am finally feeling some symptoms. Time to get checked again. (Insert frowning face here...)
I have started following this way of living, and after only 2 weeks feel great! Don't know if I've lost weight yet, because I've developed a fear of the scale! But clothes are already much looser, and I feel lighter. Energy lasts and lasts, and I only eat when I'm actually hungry.
I have been collecting information from your writings and lectures on YouTube for some time now. But for me, a really REALLY important thing is inspiration, and seeing the success stories are priceless. I hope I can be one of those stories some day and post it here; but for now they help me simply DO IT. Cheers again!

Reply: #52
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Reply to comment #51 by Scott
Bjarte Bakke Team Diet Doctor
August 31 2015
Scott,

From your message I get the strong feeling that it's only a matter of time before you send us your success story to andreas@dietdoctor.com! Looking forward to it :)
53
Marcus Valdes
September 3 2015
My response to George is that I currently spend in excess of $300 per month (US) on: 1. Novolog, 2. Lantus, 3. Glucose test strips, 4. Lancets, 5. Dexcom meter and sensors.

It makes $9/month seem like a joke. I've been essentially LCHF for about 6 weeks now and I'm just about off of the meds entirely. I figure it will be a few more months before I'm comfortable stopping the glucose monitoring, but I'm well on the way.
54
Biddy
October 11 2015
I've been doing low carb but it hasn't reduced my blood pressure. On meds but would like to come off them. Lost over a stone. Any advice tips anyone.
55
Veronica
October 22 2015
Dr. Eenfeldt,

I was on this website before there was a monthly membership fee, but I was happy for you. I signed up right away! There is a lot of work and commitment from you that you were giving to people. I saw the same with my pastors who have given their lives to the ministry for 10 years and have yet to take a salary. $9 a month is a blessing and an investment into our own health. Thank you, Dr.!
56
Fidel Reyes
October 28 2015
I understand that it cost money to produce and maintain this site and its content, however there are lots of people that this message will not get to, if it becomes so expensive that they can not afford another bill in their life, even if I understand this information is life saving., So what I'm trying to say is please make as much relevant information as you can for free as I see you try to do, just don't forget that the vast majority of people need to be convince they are being misled...

Fidel Reyes

Reply: #57
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Reply to comment #56 by Fidel Reyes
Bjarte Bakke Team Diet Doctor
October 29 2015
Fidel, I see your point. We are trying to end the obesity and diabetes epidemic and the more material that is free, the more people we will reach. But, we also need a trustworthy source of income to create all the things people need. This balance is a difficult one and we're open for ideas about how to do it better.
58
Dirk
October 31 2015
Started LCHF-diet on June 1st 2015. After 3 months I already lost 12kg and stopped injecting fast insulin (Apidra) from day 1. Now it seems that the weight loss is not that straight forward anymore because the last 2 months I only lost 2 kg. My dietitian explained that this could be related to the slow insulin (Lantus) I still am using. She asked me to lower it to 14 units a day (I was on 27 units before I started LCHF).
My question: is my weight loss really linked to the amount of slow insulin I take or is this another myth that needs to be checked?
PS: keep up the good work for which the humble reward you receive is well deserved.

Reply: #59
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Reply to comment #58 by Dirk
Bjarte Bakke Team Diet Doctor
November 4 2015
Dirk, have you added fasting to your LCHF yet? If not, it's a fantastic way to lose weight: http://www.dietdoctor.com/lose-weight-using-intermittent-fasting
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Donna
November 4 2015
I have been following a LCHF diet for nearly a year and have gone from around 9st 4 up to 11st 10 and rising... my Doctor at the diabetes clinic constantly tells me I MUST also eat carbs and I will end my life quicker if I continue following this diet :( I do exercise and I walk everywhere as I don't drive but I am now left feeling very down sad and am running out of clothes to fit me now, why is there hardly any help for Type 1 Insulin dependent diabetics, we are just forgotten and told "its just they way it is, its hard to lose weight as a diabetic on insulin" Through a diabetes forum I have been told that you CANNOT eat boundless amounts of protein as an insulin using diabetic as it causes a reaction called Gluconeogenesis which means you must take insulin for protein too, but the ratios are very sketchy and I cannot get any help with this. Some say 1 unit of insulin for every 9 grams of protein and others say take insulin for protein over 20g!!! I just want to be healthy and lose weight, I cannot afford to pay the monthly fee (not sure how much it is in UK) and certainly not if it is of no use to Type 1 Diabetics on insulin :( Plus how does an insulin using Diabetic fast without endangering their life?

Replies: #63, #88
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bill
November 4 2015
Donna:

Read Marty's site, here:

https://optimisingnutrition.wordpress.com/about/

His wife is has T1D. Your questions will get answered.

Dietdoctor.com should put up a link to that site. Bjarte?

Reply: #62
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Reply to comment #61 by bill
Bjarte Bakke Team Diet Doctor
November 5 2015
Good suggestion Bill, thanks.
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Reply to comment #60 by Donna
Bjarte Bakke Team Diet Doctor
November 5 2015
Donna,

Can you tell us more about what you eat, how often, what medications you take, and so forth? Then we can try to understand what's causing your issues. You may also want to ask Dr. Andreas himself on the membership site. You can try it for free for 30-days and if you can't afford to stay a member, just cancel before the 30 days and pay nothing: http://dietdoctor.com/ask-diet-doctor

Bjarte - Team Diet Doctor

Reply: #65
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Donna
November 5 2015
Hi Bill, thanks I will read up on Marty's site. Bjarte, I use Lantus (insulin glargine) which is my background insulin and anything I eat containing sugar or carbs I take Humalog (1 unit insulin to 1 unit carb ratio)

When exercising my blood sugars usually drop during the night or next day, I have just this week started reducing my background insulin slowly as I do take hypo (low blood sugar) during the night and think I am taking too much. I used to take 15 units Lantus morning and 15 units Lantus evening, my diabetic clinic had me on 22 of each at one point and I've strived very hard to get down to this dose. I eat lots of eggs, bacon, only use butter or coconut oil, I eat nuts and lots of spinach in fact I can buy a bag of baby spinach and eat it like you would eat crisps! I eat lots of tuna (tinned) as fresh is too expensive here. Fish in general in UK is only available in supermarkets and it is expensive priced and not the best quality. I adore cheese of any sort, I will eat celery sticks and carrot sticks also chopped up bell peppers. My partner is on/off the LCHF diet and has just started to follow it fully again this past month or so, he lost lots of weight (which was upsetting for me as all I did was gain more!) We eat steak (usually a Saturday night treat) with celeriac (difficult to get) or sweet potato "fries" and plenty salad. My doctor says I am taking in too many calories, I have also just had a hole in my heart which has been there since being born closed and my Cardiac Dr agrees that there is no harm in the diet I'm following and is delighted that I refuse to use margarine and am using coconut oil and full-fat milk. I go through days where I could happily eat nothing then next day could eat the house! I admit I am feeling very down, fat and frumpy (I am 45 been T1 since age 6) and feel the will slipping away to keep battling and that scares me! Thanks for the replies, nice to know someone listens... Mr Dr's mostly dont!

Reply: #67
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Reply to comment #63 by Bjarte Bakke
bill
November 5 2015
Bjarte:

Thanks for putting Marty's site in your links.
I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

Reply: #66
66
Reply to comment #65 by bill
Bjarte Bakke Team Diet Doctor
November 6 2015
The thanks goes to you for the good recommendation Bill.

Bjarte - Team Diet Doctor
67
Reply to comment #64 by Donna
Bjarte Bakke Team Diet Doctor
November 6 2015
Donna,

Thanks for sharing. I recommend you ask Dr. Andreas og Dr. Jason Fung for their views on how your weight issues (see the link in my previous comment to you). I don't feel capable answering such questions when medications are involved.

Bjarte - Team Diet Doctor
68
Peter Brown
January 2 2016
I am wondering, having watched the videos, what are skinny diabetes people supposed to do? I don't have any weight to lose. I am 183 cm tall and 70 kg. I am also a vegetarian. I eat lots and lots of vegetables. I have also been diagnosed with high triglycerides and high LDL cholesterol but not high overall cholesterol. I take spirulina for extra protein and eat eggs, tofu and dairy products. I also take fish oil. I exercise 5 times a week. I am 53 years old. When I ate fish and meat my blood glucose and cholesterol readings were the same as they are now. I don't eat a lot of carbohydrates (none from white flour) and those I do eat are all from whole grains or legumes.

Reply: #69
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Reply to comment #68 by Peter Brown
Apicius
January 2 2016
My guess is that your diabetes is a result of your body producing glucose from the protein you eat, as well as getting excess glucose from carbohydrates in the foods you eat. If your fat content in the food is low, then you are eating a high protein or high carb diet. Either one is insulinogenic and results in blood sugar elevation. The high protein diet route converts protein into sugar via a process called gluconeogenesis. Also, the whole grains and legumes in your diet are giving you a huge jolt of carbs...which then is the large amount of glucose introduced into your blood. Try eating a diet where fat is more that 70% of your total calories and get your carbs down to no more than 25 grams per day (which means no more whole grains and pulses). And of course, eat REAL FOOD...eliminate as much processed food, and especially the pills, powders, bars, etc. I don't understand why you are taking fish oil pills, but then eating spirulina capsules for extra protein. Eat the fish instead! Eat REAL food as much as possible.
70
Hazel
January 20 2016
To George Morgan:

The worker is worth his pay.
The information as this website is lifesaving for many, even if perhaps not for you.
If not lifesaving for you, why denigrate Dr. E or the site?
If you need the info but can't afford or don't want to pay, some of the info is available elsewhere to get you started.

Being insulting and cantankerous doesn't get you anywhere.
Have a nice day!
71
John
March 27 2016
Has there been anyone that have been cured with this program.
72
Jennifer
June 28 2016
I am type 2 diabetic and have followed LCHF very strictly for the past 10 weeks.Since eating this way l have lost a few pound but my blood sugar consistently rises to unacceptable levels.l find this very upsetting and l am at a loss what to do next.Please could you give me some advice.
Thank you
73
Christine Fitzgerald
September 4 2016
I accept what Dr Fung is saying totally; he is an expert. But I am curious to know; is the incidence of diabetes lower in people who fast as a way of life? I am guessing it must be.
74
Judy
September 6 2016
I have a sweet tooth and love carbs. I also love juice, like orange juice and grape juice and indulge at times . I like bread. I do drink water. I have a sedentary job, so do not exercise alot. I need to lose weight but it is hard. Diabetic 2. Taking max metformin and glipizide and injecting 50 units nph. Still blood sugar is high. It is hard for me not to indulge and stick to a diet. My days off i look forward to eating out with my kids. Do u get cheat days on this diet?
75
Reply to comment #12 by drew bridge
nat gamache
September 15 2016
for me too... I have always eaten a snack at bedtime so to stop would cause havoc on my body but I changed what I ate b4 bed. I now have a little protein with fat, cream or cheese. So I can go from let's say 11pm to 11am on the fasting and that's it. I am growling and start to have hypo/hyperglycemia? Low blood sugar symptoms and takes me a while to bounce back as I am not eating any sugar or carbs and when I have bounced back, I am dog tired. Only sleep can rid of the rest of the feelings. During the day I can not fast as I get the same low blood sugar symptoms. :( been on LCHF will be 5wks tomorrow :(
76
James
December 14 2016
It's funny. I actually found this out on my own. I was diagnosed with diabetes at 15. At twenty-five, nearly ten years later, I realized I needed a change. I changed my diet, I started lifting weights 5 days a week, and I've felt great ever since, and my sugars are under control without the aid of insulin.
77
James B
January 21 2017
I would like to start by saying thank you. The free information contained within this website is priceless.

I was diagnosed as Type 2 in April 2016 at 43 years old. I did not consider myself overweight at all being 5'7" and 70kg.

I decided to take the free Diet Doctor 2 week challenge, which, has resulted in a total lifestyle change (now I follow a combination of LCHF/KETO/PALEO diet, in combination with strength/weight training 3 hours per week. By September 2016, a letter from my endocrinologist confirmed the diabetes in remission! This has changed my life. I have become healthy, energetic, sharp and my physique has improved to the point of being , what one would call "ripped". Not bad for a mid-40s dad of two!
78
EveB
May 29 2017
Medication and stress can increase blood glucose levels. I quit my job and saw 20% decrease in average blood glucose. We removed my uterus and I was able to take the cancer-preventing hormones, which reduced my average blood glucose by almost 30%. I still struggle to maintain levels where I want, but those two items certainly were identifiable causes of increases. I can tell when my stress level goes up by my blood glucose trends.
79
Bryan S
June 3 2017
This is a plan with extensive information just within the web site itself! I appreciate the work and effort put forward for this site. As a active 46 year old with the metabolism of a slug in a coma, I will be educating myself with your site and your site alone to become healthier. My wife will as well, we wanted something that didn't strip us of our social lives. This seems to suit us well. So even if Georgee doesn't value you, we do! Thank You and look forward
80
Fatimah
July 4 2017
Hi there,
I would like to ask about lossing weight , i am diabtic and my A1C is 17.4 i have to make it down and i am not able to cut the carb because i always feel hungerry and i could not get the benifit from eating my regular meal, i still have a problem with cut the carb and i need it becasue i am having so much Ketonis in my body , i need help to loss some weight and i ma really over weight and i feel very frustrating for ganging alot of weight in every week , i tried all kind of supplement for loss weight and it did not help at all :( i need the best solution to helop me to make the A1C below 7% or at least 6.5% , do you have any solution for me please ? i ma kind of getting kindney failer if i did not help my self unfortunatley :( please i need solution for type one diabetes with using insulin injection. Thank you
81
shazi
July 24 2017
hi.is it true that if we dont consume lot of vegetables we can have a fatty liver due to lot of natural fats consumption?dont like veges.bit worried as i am diabetic.do reply.thanks
82
Babs
July 24 2017
I have been Keto for going on 2 yrs. On insulin, glymeperide,, and metformin. I have done the IF now for a good 6 months. So asked the doc if I could try the stopping the insulin. I'm very strict about the diet, and at the end of 2 weeks my sugars went up to 190..One: where is the sugar coming from and Two and why is it going up instead of down. I am very frustrated at this point
83
Babs
July 24 2017
and I'm gaining weight not losing since on the diet.
84
cheryl
October 30 2017
You have mentioned T2DM and insulin resistance which is of course an issue. However, you neglect to mention the issue of reduced insulin secretion found in some with T2DM. Not every person fits into that "box" of too much insulin. I think your explanation may be overly simplistic for some.
85
James
November 24 2017
Why aren't you responding to questions from people int he past two years? You should hire a community engagement person, otherwise people will question if you care or are just selling something. (I know you care but you need to understand how online communities work and the expectations people have in a forum)
86
Peter Biörck Team Diet Doctor
November 24 2017
James,

I am sorry, but we simply don’t yet have the resources to respond to questions in the comments or via email.

We do respond to questions about the membership, but for other questions, it would be great if you could help each other in the comment section.
87
richard jones
April 1 2018
I suspect that some doctors in NZ are scaring patients by telling them that they have type 1 diabetes.Can someone pls tell me qre there tests that can categorically say it's type 1 or type2.
88
Reply to comment #60 by Donna
Angel
May 14 2018
Hi Donna, I feel your pain and weight loss is not the same as fat loss. Go LOW Carb with limited carbs at lunch only. Breakfast should be high protein like a protein shake after your 40-60 minutes of fasted HIRT exercises. Make sure to build muscle while losing fat. Dinner should be light. For example, salad with a piece of protein. Snack on your favorite fruits and take it easy on the nuts. Remember, the solution to optimum health is 75% proper nutrition. On a NO-Carb diet you will have issues with an exercise program unless you can find some sort of balance. Ideally for obese dieters at 30%+ Body Fat, I recommend a low carb diet but, to loose or naintain the last 10 lbs requires a balanced diet like the Mediterranean style. With any diet, I am concerned with Body Fat Percentages lost, Body Weight Loss does not consider the negative impacts of most restrictive diets and the 60-80% Muscle Loss.
89
Angel
May 14 2018
Hi Donna, I feel your pain and weight loss is not the same as fat loss. Go LOW Carb with limited carbs at lunch only. Breakfast should be high protein like a protein shake after your 40-60 minutes of fasted HIRT exercises. Make sure to build muscle while losing fat. Dinner should be light. For example, salad with a piece of protein. Snack on your favorite fruits and take it easy on the nuts. Remember, the solution to optimum health is 75% proper nutrition. On a NO-Carb diet you will have issues with an exercise program unless you can find some sort of balance. Ideally for obese dieters at 30%+ Body Fat, I recommend a low carb diet but, to loose or maintain the last 10 lbs requires a balanced diet like the Mediterranean style. With any diet, I am concerned with Body Fat Percentages lost, Body Weight Loss does not consider the negative impacts of most restrictive diets and the 60-80% Muscle Loss.
90
Ron R
July 18 2018
So I have read the consuming fiber is important in controlling T2D. And in many respected medical journals consumption of beans/legumes is highly recommended. But they are high in carbs and I easily exceed 120 carbs of beans a day. So what's the answer? I could easily eat 20 ounces of beans in a day (and I actually enjoy making my own chilis and soups).

Thanks in advance for any well-sourced answers (well, even just for answering).
91
Grace
August 6 2018
I chew and spit food as a way to curb my cravings. I've asked my family doctor if this was okay and he gave me the go ahead. I wonder what it does if it was in conjunction with IF and I'm also curious of other experts opinion in the matter.
92
Helen Rodrigues
September 15 2018
Love love love Dr Fung. Good for you for sending this message through YouTube and various media. I’ve been telling people for years about fasting. People think I’m crazy. I’ve never been over weight. Have tons of energy and live a healthy life. Food is the gateway to better health and sometimes no food is too. Love it. Keep up the great work.
93
Charles Chabria
November 3 2018
I'm living proof that what Dr. Fung says here is true. I started Keto and intermittent fasting on May 22nd, 2018. Since then, I've completely reversed my Type 2 Diabetes and I've lost 65lbs. HbA1c was reduced to normal levels within just one month of being strict and changing the way I ate. It's possible, you have to really want it and be willing to put in the effort.
94
Aaron
May 24 2019
It does not cost anything to use many of the features of this site. I have been a member for a few years now and love it. I visit everyday. Thanks!
1 comment removed
96
Terri
August 9 2021
Hello! I have been listening to Dr. Fung for some time now and have done keto and IF off and on for several years. This time I am doing an extended 10 day water fast and I had some questions. I just found this sight and was wondering if anyone can tell me how to best address adding electrolytes during longer term fasting so that it would not stop atophogy? I apologize if this is not the correct forum to ask this question. Thanks.

Reply: #97
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Reply to comment #96 by Terri
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
August 9 2021

Hello! I have been listening to Dr. Fung for some time now and have done keto and IF off and on for several years. This time I am doing an extended 10 day water fast and I had some questions. I just found this sight and was wondering if anyone can tell me how to best address adding electrolytes during longer term fasting so that it would not stop atophogy? I apologize if this is not the correct forum to ask this question. Thanks.

Here is our general guide to electrolytes. If you choose something without carbs, fat or protein it should not affect autophagy. Please note, that should you have other questions, Dr Fung does recommend medical supervision during longer fasts.

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