Conventional wisdom is that cancer cells are constantly being created and being suppressed by the immune system. I probably don’t have cancer now (had a PET scan with radio-active glucose last year with no hot spots). Feels like my usual skipping breakfast could be a benefit.
It definitely could be. A healthy PET scan is EXCELLENT!! This is great. But there are some important nuances worth adding.
Cancer is not one single disease. It is a collection of many biologically distinct diseases. While most cancers rely heavily on glucose for energy, there are rare tumor types that can also utilize ketone bodies as a fuel source. In those cases, a strict “starvation” strategy would not have the intended metabolic effect. That said, this metabolic flexibility appears to be uncommon.
In my own research, I have used intermittent fasting protocols in mice to study its physiological impact, and I have also collaborated on human studies. In metabolically healthy individuals, intermittent fasting can produce meaningful benefits. These include reductions in systemic inflammation, improvements in insulin sensitivity, enhanced cellular stress responses, and activation of pathways associated with longevity and immune resilience.
, the timing of fasting is not universal. The commonly cited 16 hour fasting window is an approximate midpoint derived from population averages. In reality, the transition into a true fasting state varies considerably between individuals. Factors such as baseline metabolic health, body composition, dietary patterns, physical activity levels, and underlying conditions all influence when glycogen stores are depleted and metabolic switching begins.
In our studies, we did not assume a fixed 16 hour threshold. We began metabolic assessments as early as the 10th hour and observed substantial variability between cohorts. Some individuals transitioned earlier, others significantly later. This variability reinforces an important principle: physiology is personal.
What remains consistent is that giving the body a defined window free from constant nutrient intake allows time for digestion, cellular repair, metabolic recalibration, and regenerative processes, especially during sleep. When applied appropriately in healthy individuals, this temporal structure can support overall systemic balance.
I am currently developing a booklet focused specifically on intermittent fasting and brain health in healthy individuals. It will be the second booklet scheduled for release in March 2026, and I will share the free link once it is available.
Also, I have been updating cancer, alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s pre clinical and clinical trials everyday on other platforms. I know it is frowned upon on substack. But if this is something you would like, I can share them with you on a different platform. I can send the links to your email.
However if this is something you would like on substack too, let me know. I am happy to share them on substack too. for example,
Conventional wisdom is that cancer cells are constantly being created and being suppressed by the immune system. I probably don’t have cancer now (had a PET scan with radio-active glucose last year with no hot spots). Feels like my usual skipping breakfast could be a benefit.
Glutamine is another critical cancer fuel.
https://search.brave.com/search?q=dr%20thomas%20siegfried&spellcheck=0&source=alteredQuery
Has published important papers on subject. For glucose reduction ketogenic diet helps. For glutamine there is an anti-parasitic med that helps.
It definitely could be. A healthy PET scan is EXCELLENT!! This is great. But there are some important nuances worth adding.
Cancer is not one single disease. It is a collection of many biologically distinct diseases. While most cancers rely heavily on glucose for energy, there are rare tumor types that can also utilize ketone bodies as a fuel source. In those cases, a strict “starvation” strategy would not have the intended metabolic effect. That said, this metabolic flexibility appears to be uncommon.
In my own research, I have used intermittent fasting protocols in mice to study its physiological impact, and I have also collaborated on human studies. In metabolically healthy individuals, intermittent fasting can produce meaningful benefits. These include reductions in systemic inflammation, improvements in insulin sensitivity, enhanced cellular stress responses, and activation of pathways associated with longevity and immune resilience.
, the timing of fasting is not universal. The commonly cited 16 hour fasting window is an approximate midpoint derived from population averages. In reality, the transition into a true fasting state varies considerably between individuals. Factors such as baseline metabolic health, body composition, dietary patterns, physical activity levels, and underlying conditions all influence when glycogen stores are depleted and metabolic switching begins.
In our studies, we did not assume a fixed 16 hour threshold. We began metabolic assessments as early as the 10th hour and observed substantial variability between cohorts. Some individuals transitioned earlier, others significantly later. This variability reinforces an important principle: physiology is personal.
What remains consistent is that giving the body a defined window free from constant nutrient intake allows time for digestion, cellular repair, metabolic recalibration, and regenerative processes, especially during sleep. When applied appropriately in healthy individuals, this temporal structure can support overall systemic balance.
I am currently developing a booklet focused specifically on intermittent fasting and brain health in healthy individuals. It will be the second booklet scheduled for release in March 2026, and I will share the free link once it is available.
Also, I have been updating cancer, alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s pre clinical and clinical trials everyday on other platforms. I know it is frowned upon on substack. But if this is something you would like, I can share them with you on a different platform. I can send the links to your email.
However if this is something you would like on substack too, let me know. I am happy to share them on substack too. for example,
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GmoJJO3n43U
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EybvfTavEIM
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Il0oLBttpfY