Challenging Oneself Intermittently to Improve Health

Abstract

h Humans and their predecessors evolved in environments where they were challenged intermittently with: 1) food scarcity; 2) the need for aerobic fitness to catch/kill prey and avoid or repel attackers; and 3) exposure to biological toxins present in foodstuffs. Accordingly, cells and organ systems acquired and retained molecular signaling and metabolic pathways through which the environmental challenges enhanced the functionality and resilience of the cells and organisms. Within the past 60 years there has been a precipitous diminution of such challenges in modern societies because of the development of technologies that provide a continuous supply of energy-dense processed foods and that largely eliminate the need for physical exertion. As a consequence of the modern 'couch potato' lifestyle, signaling pathways that mediate beneficial effects of environmental challenges on health and disease resistance are disengaged, thereby rendering people vulnerable to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. Reversal of the epidemic of diseases caused by unchallenging lifestyles will require a society-wide effort to re-introduce intermittent fasting, exercise and consumption of plants containing hormetic phytochemicals into daily and weekly routines.

Intermittent calorie restriction largely counteracts the adverse health effects of a moderate‐fat diet in aging C57BL/6J mice

“…In line with previous publications [26, 27, 28, 29, 69] it can be hypothesized that the health‐ and life‐span extending effects are not necessarily derived from the energy reduction only, but that intermittent exposure to challenges might have an additional health‐promoting effect. Apart from exposure to alternating energy availability in this study the gastrointestinal tract as well as metabolic organs like the liver, were challenged to handle variations in carbohydrate and fat content.…”

“…Importantly, increasing evidence points out that the beneficial health effects of (intermittent) CR are not solely caused by reduced body weight 24, 25. Timing and limitation of meal frequency affect the circadian rhythm and might induce a repetitive challenge that most likely will contribute to the health promoting effects 26, 27, 28, 29. We recently reported that an intermittent energy restriction (INT) diet maintains metabolic health and reverses the adverse effects of the moderate‐fat (MF) diet, when provided for 10 months to 9‐week‐old male C57BL/6J mice 30.…”

Effects of Intermittent Fasting, Caloric Restriction, and Ramadan Intermittent Fasting on Cognitive Performance at Rest and During Exercise in Adults

“…CR has been demonstrated to prolong lifespan, preventing many age-associated diseases, and it improves the general health of overweight humans [30]. Mattson and Wan [31] also revealed that CR has an important role in regulating both cardiovascular and brain functions.…”

Nutritional strategies to optimise cognitive function in the aging brain

“…It has been argued that laboratory diet and conditions allow rodents to become obese (Mattson, 2014), thus accounting for the apparent metabolic benefits of CR. Genetic factors may have an impact on the outcomes of CR.…”