The importance of rest and refeeding after a fast | Dr. Mark Mattson
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Dr. Mattson discusses the importance of alternating between periods of stress and recovery. After exposure to hormetic stressors such as exercise or fasting, periods of rest are necessary to build adaptations to the stress. For example, exercise increases muscle growth. However, this growth only occurs following a period of rest, during which new mitochondria are produced. Switching between challenge and rest is critical for the body to reap the benefits of mild stress such as fasting. In this clip, Dr. Mark Mattson describes the importance of incorporating rest, recovery, and refeeding into one's routine.
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A measure of how sensitive the body's tissues are to the effects of insulin. Insulin sensitivity defines a relationship between insulin production and glucose uptake. Poor insulin sensitivity promotes increased pancreatic insulin production, which can lead to increased risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and heart failure, obesity, osteoporosis, and even cancer.
The process by which new mitochondria are made inside cells. Many factors can activate mitochondrial biogenesis including exercise, cold shock, heat shock, fasting, and ketones. Mitochondrial biogenesis is regulated by the transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha, or PGC-1α.
Restricting the timing of food intake to certain hours of the day (typically within an 8- to 12-hour time window that begins with the first food or non-water drink) without an overt attempt to reduce caloric intake. TRE is a type of intermittent fasting. It may trigger some beneficial health effects, such as reduced fat mass, increased lean muscle mass, reduced inflammation, improved heart function with age, increased mitochondrial volume, ketone body production, improved repair processes, and aerobic endurance improvements. Some of these effects still need to be replicated in human trials.
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