Fasting Q&A with Dr Jason Fung: Gallstones and Fasting, High Ketones, Persistent High Blood Sugar, and More

Episode #171

In this Fasting Q&A episode, hosted by Coach Lisa Chance, Dr. Jason Fung answers questions from the TFM Community:

1. Imagine that I dress the carbs that I eat by adding acid and fat so that my BG spike is minimized. What happens to all the fat that I added? Don't the carbs send the signal for insulin to go up and, consequently, for all the fat I added go directly into body fat? If so, should I minimize the amount of fat that I dress carbs with and mostly just eat them with acid, like vinegar or lemon juice? [01:55]

2. What eating strategy would you suggest for an insulin-resistant or pre-diabetic person? In other words, do they need to low carb to get out of the pre-diabetic range? [08:32]

3. I am struggling with getting my blood sugars down to a normal range and am stalled in my weight loss. I have lost 150 lbs and gotten off insulin and other oral meds. I feel like my way of eating is on point 95% of the time and I am fasting 24-48 hours or longer 2-3 times a week. On my last extended fast, my blood sugar didn't come down until day 3 and then started going up every day. By day 5, my blood sugar was 189. I broke my fast with whole, low-carb foods and my blood sugar came down to the 140s where it likes to live these days. I'm wondering why, so far into my journey, things would start going wonky. I do have a lot of personal and family stress happening right now. Could that be generating enough cortisol to be negating my diet and fasting or are there other explanations that could be contributing? [16:44]

4. Do you have any evidence (empirical or otherwise) on fasting, autophagy, and reduced carbohydrate intake for people with ADPKD (Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease)? [20:23]

5. Can patients with gallstones fast? Does it increase the risk of gallstones? [24:57]

6. I know seed oils are not recommended but what do you think about cold pressed niger seed oil? Avocado oil is not readily available in my country, and I cannot use butter or animal fat everyday as there are a minimum of 180 religious fasts a year. These fasts prohibit dairy products and meat, so we are basically vegans during these fasts. [30:36]

7. Why do some people (who have never missed a meal in their life and suddenly start a multi-day fast) get very high ketones and have to break their fast? [34:32]

Please note that you need to be a member of the TFM Community to submit questions to the Q&A webinars with Dr. Fung but you can submit questions to our regular Q&A episodes here: https://bit.ly/TFMPodcastQs

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This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before doing any fasting, changing your diet, taking or adjusting any medication or supplements, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. The use of any other products or services purchased by you as a result of this podcast does not create a healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the experts affiliated with this podcast. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.