logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2021
56m 41s

What’s Up with Water Fasting? – Dr. Alan...

Dave Asprey
About this episode

In this episode of Bulletproof Radio, I’m joined by Dr. Alan Goldhamer, one of the world’s leading experts on medically supervised, water-only fasting. He’s supervised the fasting and care of more than 20,000 patients at TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California, since he founded it in 1984.

His mission is to expand evidence-based knowledge of how medically supervised, water-only fasting and diet impact human health; train clinicians in the use of these interventions; and share findings with researchers and the public.

“We know using this protocol, this process can be done safely,” he says. “We’ve actually published a fasting safety studythe first fasting safety study that's been published in a peer-reviewed journalthat involved tracking all the patients for five years, and all of the symptoms, and classifying them according to the CTCAE criteria, the adverse events criteria on hundreds of patients.”

A few things you may not know about water fasting:

  • Your Body Self-Cleans: “The body does a really good job of regulating and recycling and restoring electrolyte balance during water-only fasting,” Dr. Goldhamer says. “And as soon as you start supplementing, then it puts increased load on other nutrients, it gets complicated, and there's no good long term safety criteria using supplemented fasting.”


  • Your Gut Heals: “What we see clinically is that these patients with microbial imbalances tend to improve dramatically,” Dr. Goldhamer says. “We do really well in treating conditions ranging from ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, to the dysbiosis and chronic constipation, and more.”


  • Your Inflammation Decreases: “There's a powerful anti-inflammatory effect to fasting,” Dr. Goldhamer says. “All the acute phase reactive proteins, high sensitivity CRP, fibrinogen, pepsinogen, whatever you want to measure, tends to consistent and predictably go down during fasting. So the gut leakage appears to be able to heal.”


Our discussion covers research behind water fasting, what health conditions it may benefit and what happens during a water fast. We also get into a lot more information about health.

“There's a lot in common between whether it's intermittent fasting changes, water fasting changes, exercise, and all of these attempts to reduce dietary excess,” Dr. Goldhamer says. “All of them are essentially trying to reduce inflammation, get rid of gut leakage, and give the body a chance to heal itself from the consequences of a highly processed food diet, whether it's processed animal foods or processed plant-based foods.”

Enjoy! And get more resources at https://blog.daveasprey.com/category/podcasts/

WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS. CHECK THEM OUT!

Functional Soda: https://drinkolipop.com./DAVE, get 20% off PLUS free shipping on the best-selling Variety Pack

SEO Skillshttps://www.stephanspencer.com, use code DAVE for a special discount

High-Performance Leadershiphttps://www.humanpotentialinstitute.com/coach-training/

DAVE ASPREY’S NEW BOOK LAUNCHES JANUARY 19, 2021!

Pre-order “Fast This Way: Burn Fat, Heal Inflammation, and Become the High-Performing Human You Were Meant to Be” and you’ll receive special product offers and enroll in Dave Asprey’s first ever Fasting Challenge: https://fastthisway.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Today
Digital Twins: The End of Human Drug Testing for Biohackers : 1342
AI is transforming medicine at a speed never seen before. In this episode, you’ll discover how digital twins and artificial intelligence will revolutionize drug discovery, eliminate human trials, and personalize your biology for longevity and high performance. Host Dave Asprey br ... Show More
50m 25s
Oct 7
The Hidden Key to Pain-Free Joints (Longevity Tips) : 1341
Most people think about heart disease and metabolism when they talk about longevity, but too few talk about joint health. In this episode, you’ll discover how to biohack your joints to prevent pain, reverse damage, and move like you’re decades younger. Host Dave Asprey reveals ho ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 5
Remote Work Is Making You FATTER (Do THIS to Stop It) : 1340
Remote work might feel like freedom, but your biology disagrees. In this video, I break down how your work-from-home setup is hijacking your hormones: crushing testosterone, spiking cortisol, and wrecking insulin sensitivity. I’ll show you exactly how posture, light, movement, an ... Show More
14m 5s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
Could fasting extend your lifespan? | Dr. Valter Longo and Prof. Tim Spector
How old are you? A better question might be: how old do you feel? While your birthday says one thing, your biological age—the health of your cells—might tell a very different story. And here’s the best part: unlike your chronological age, your biological age can go down. But how? ... Show More
58m 2s
Sep 1
Water Fasting Scientist: Surprising Link Between Fasting & Cancer! Fasting Completely Resets Your Gut Microbiome!
Is fasting more powerful than any diet pill?! Dr Alan Goldhamer reveals how this simple practice burns belly fat, boosts energy, clears brain fog…and may even cure depression! Dr. Alan Goldhamer is one of the world’s top experts on fasting, and the Founder and Director of TrueNor ... Show More
1h 22m
Oct 2024
Fasting for Health: What Do We Know? (SNP34)
Fasting has gained immense popularity as a dietary approach, but what does the scientific evidence say about its health benefits? Studies have explored how fasting might influence metabolic markers, energy expenditure, and even aging. However, while fasting shows promise in some ... Show More
21m 4s
Aug 28
Essentials: Effects of Fasting & Time Restricted Eating on Fat Loss & Health
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, I explore intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating, highlighting the positive benefits for weight loss, metabolism, organ health, circadian rhythms and cellular repair. I explain a practical framework for designing a time-restricted ... Show More
44m 11s
May 2025
What Happens if You Don't Eat For 72 Hours?
Dr. Mindy delves into the science of fasting and explores the incredible benefits your body experiences during a 72-hour fast. In this episode, you will learn about the two metabolisms, the sugar burner and fat burner systems, and how your body transitions between them. Discover ... Show More
20m 22s
May 2025
STOP Eating for 3 Days?! (72 Hours)
What happens to your body during a 3-day fast? In this video, we’ll cover the fasting health benefits of both intermittent fasting and extended fasting for 72 hours or longer. I’ll also share some expert fasting tips for even more fasting benefits. 0:00 Introduction: Not eating f ... Show More
6m 54s
Aug 14
What Happens If You Don’t Eat For 5 Days?
On day 1 of fasting, glycogen is eliminated from the body. Your insulin drops on your first day of fasting, allowing you to tap into your fat reserve. Electrolytes, trace minerals, and B vitamins can be very beneficial during prolonged fasting, especially if you haven’t built up ... Show More
15m 48s
Jun 2021
How You Can Heal Yourself with Water Fasting - with Scott Stoll | Mastering Diabetes EP 121
Welcome to the Mastering Audio Experience! Today we have a very special guest, Dr. Scott Stoll. He is a wealth of knowledge on a wide range of topics, but today we are focusing on fasting. If you’re not familiar with extended water fasts, you’re in for a treat today. Check out th ... Show More
49m 57s
Sep 2024
Dr. Mindy Pelz on Embracing Womanhood & Reconnecting With Your Body | Ep 48
Food fasting has become a popular trend in the health and wellness world, with many people turning to fasting as a way to improve their overall health and well-being. One of the leading voices in the fasting movement is Dr. Mindy Pelz, a Best-selling Author and Keynote Speaker wh ... Show More
57m 32s
Feb 2020
Megan Ramos, Strategies For Intermittent Fasting, How to Break a Weight Loss Plateau, Should Women Fast Differently Than Men? - KKP 103
Today, I am lucky to have here with me, the CEO and co-founder of the Fasting Method Program, clinical educator, and researcher, Megan Ramos. Megan’s major role in the The Fasting Method is to facilitate the patient’s education on the Fasting Method dietary principles and counsel ... Show More
59m 34s