ecophilia - fasting, fungi & fractals - The fractal struggles of fasting

My fast is an attempt to respond to the overconsumption. 

Consuming less is a key to transitioning towards the Ecocene. I do that by wearing the same dress every day and by fasting. 

I have been asked by a few people what the fast looks like, so I want to share this in more detail. 

What does the fast look like?

The fast is predominantly based on Valter Longo’s research on longevity. He discovered that when people eat up to 800kcal a day, the body maintains the beneficial mechanisms of fasting, while risks such as deficiencies can be significantly decreased. The various benefits of fasting have been scientifically proven by many. One fascinating thing to me is Longo’s research on mice and cells in petri dishes, showing that stem cells destroyed through autoimmune issues can be recovered. This was true when there were several circles of fasting and re-feeding, meaning that the mice and cells fasted for a few days and were then fed healthy food, followed by a fast and re-feeding again. There have been no experiments with humans yet, as far as I know.

So I am experimenting with it. I follow his protocol by eating up to 800kcal a day, ensuring I get sufficient vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. I track what I eat in detail and weigh all my food. I had done a 60-day water fast before with only a few fresh juices and had some troubles because I ignored getting the essentials. So now, I am a bit nit-picky about this. My food consists of veggies, fruits, legumes, seeds, and sometimes vegan protein shakes, plus high-quality multivitamin and mineral supplements. After doing this prolonged fast of 108 days, I will begin a re-feeding cycle. 

Fasting as a healing practice

Fasting then represents not only a response to the overconsumption but also a possible healing practice that is probiotic. The standard protocol for people with autoimmunity is medication. Often a lot. Often without elevating the symptoms. Never addressing the underlying causes. I think fasting might be one of the tools that address the cause. Note that I don’t think it is THE magic tool. Autoimmunity is complex and results from multiple influences: genetic, environmental, and psychological. It, therefore, often needs a complex healing protocol that a single tool, like fasting, can’t offer.

The fractal struggles of fasting

One might be inclined to ask what difference it makes on a global scale if I, as an individual, engage in these practices. To me, this is where the fractal nature of reality comes in. I find my struggles regarding overconsumption and healing reflect the same struggles on the global level. Globally, we don’t have solutions for how to deal with both. We don’t know how to move towards an acceptable level of consumption without feeling deprived or implementing laws and regulations (such as the carbon cap). And we also don’t know how to heal the epidemic of autoimmunity. I hope to add to finding this solution.

Have a great day,

Jes