We listened to a dietitian talk about food. She wanted to show a video from YouTube but had difficulty. It is this one
How Did We Get Here? - Evolutionary MasterChefs
made by the University of New South Wales in Australia. That video is much related to this TED talk
http://www.ted.com/talks/suzana_herculano_houzel_what_is_so_special_about_the_human_brain
Both emphasize the evolutionary implications of cooking, which enables humans to get high amounts of calories needed for an energy consuming brain without grazing for nine hours a day.
While looking at these on my computer, I was prompted to look at this TED talk, also on YouTube. The prompt said How Fasting is Good for our Brains by Mark Mattson of Johns Hopkins University:
Why fasting bolsters brain power: Mark Mattson at TEDxJohnsHopkinsUniversity
I had never heard of any connection between brain health and fasting. I was intrigued. I watched it and got more intrigued. Lynn is interested in brain health and we are both interested in weight loss. I was interested to learn that fasting can be good for my attitude and for my liver.
I fasted a little when I joined the Boy Scouts' Order of the Arrow when I was about 14. I had to skip some food when I wrestled in high school but I never had the need as a college wrestler. We have gotten interested in The Fast Diet by Dr. Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer. There are quite a few books available on the subject of 5:2.
We have a friend who lost quite a bit of weight using the idea of 5:2, five days of eating normally and 2 of only 500 calories for a woman and 600 for a man. I see that the book has many positive comments and 59% of 1643 commenters gave it 5 stars.
We could certainly use some weight loss but I am as interested in my mood, the challenge, the general health benefits. I am surprised to learn there are some specific benefits for the brain and the liver.
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