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With chronic diseases affecting 3.5 billion people worldwide and over 70% of US adults struggling with excess weight—the need for effective interventions has never been more urgent.
But what if the solution to our ailments lies not in mainstream treatments, but within the innate intelligence of our bodies?
My guest today is Dr. Alan Goldhamer, a pioneering researcher and the founder and director of TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California, the world’s largest facility specializing in medically supervised water-only fasting. Since 1984, Dr. Goldhamer has overseen the water-only fasting and care of more than 25,000 patients—with some fasts lasting upwards of 40 days.
Through research and clinical experience, he has shown that prolonged water-only fasting—when conducted under proper medical supervision—can yield remarkable results in reversing hypertension, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and even certain types of cancer.
His work details the relationship between fasting, metabolism, inflammation, and cellular processes such as autophagy and apoptosis. This relationship is significant to the body’s penchant for healing, offering a lifeline to conditions discussed in his new book, Can Fasting Save Your Life?
“Healthful living can make the last years of your life the best.”
– DR. ALAN GOLDHAMER
Today, we discuss Dr. Goldhamer’s research on the role of water-only fasting in addressing chronic diseases, improving acute conditions, and promoting optimal health. He explains the capacity of fasting to reduce fat, including visceral fat, and to lower biomarkers of fatty liver, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance. He reviews the relationship between fasting and metabolic adaptation, emphasizing the importance of a whole-food, plant-based diet free from added salt, oil, and sugar (SOS) in maintaining long-term well-being.
Dr. Goldhamer addresses the challenges of translating fasting-based therapeutic findings into widely accepted medical practices and envisions a future where this powerful tool is integrated into the healthcare landscape. Moreover, we explore fasting’s influence on sustained weight management and developing a mindset conducive to lasting change.
For those who prefer a visual experience, the conversation is available on YouTube. As always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Please note: Under no circumstances should anyone undertake a water fast of any length without the medical supervision of a trained professional. Do not attempt this at home without proper guidance and oversight.
I hope Dr. Goldhamer inspires you to think more deeply about the body’s healing ability when given the right conditions. His work is a gift and a shining example of what it means to be a servant to the art and science of living well.
Peace + Plants,
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- Connect with Dr. Goldhamer: Website | Facebook
- Book: Can Fasting Save Your Life?
- Book: The Pleasure Trap
- Clinic: TrueNorth Health Center
- InsideHook: My Masochistic Five-Day Water Fast Was the Ultimate Reset
- BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Is fasting safe? A chart review of adverse events during medically supervised, water-only fasting
- Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal: The Clinical Effectiveness of Rebooting Your Body
- GQ: How the Terrible, Insufferable Six-Day Water Fast Made Me a New Man by Ben Marcus
- YouTube: Healing From Food Addiction by Alan Goldhamer
- Fasting.org: Start Here
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