Friday Favorites: Fasting to Treat Depression

Caloric restriction can boost levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is considered to play a critical role in mood disorders.

Check out the follow-up video: How to Boost Brain BDNF Levels for Depression Treatment ( ).

I did a webinar series on fasting. You can find the whole bundle here in a digital download ( ) and here on NutritionFacts ( ).

You may be interested in some of my fasting videos:
• The 3,500-Calorie-per-Pound Rule Is Wrong ( )
• The Reason Weight Loss Plateaus When You Diet ( )
• The New Calories per Pound of Weight Loss Rule? ( )
• The Benefits of Calorie Restriction for Longevity ( )
• Potential Pitfalls of Calorie Restriction ( )
• Benefits of Fasting for Weight Loss Put to the Test ( )
• Is Fasting Beneficial for Weight Loss? ( )
• Is Fasting for Weight Loss Safe? ( )
• Alternate-Day Intermittent Fasting Put to the Test ( )
• Is Alternate-Day Intermittent Fasting Safe? ( )
• Does Intermittent Fasting Increase Human Life Expectancy? ( )
• The 5:2 Diet and the Fasting-Mimicking Diet Put to the Test ( )
• Time-Restricted Eating Put to the Test ( )
• The Benefits of Early Time-Restricted Eating ( )

For all of my videos on fasting, see the topic page ( ).

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Want to get a list of links to all the scientific sources used in this video? Click on Sources Cited at . You’ll also find a transcript and acknowledgements for the video, my blog and speaking tour schedule, and an easy way to search (by translated language even) through our videos spanning more than 2,000 health topics.

Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

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Leroy Johnson
 

  • @williamcooper8559 says:

    Can exercise and B12 up-regulate BDNF?

    • @CessnaPilot99 says:

      Exercise most definitely. They call it Miracle Grow for the brain. I read a book titled SPARK by John Ratey, lots of great evidence of exercise and brain bdnf in there. After reading that book I got highly motivated and started doing lots of aerobic exercise. I’m due for a reread actually

    • @alfonso365 says:

      Yes

  • @CessnaPilot99 says:

    You can’t leave us hanging like that on a Friday favorite. What foods can boost BDNF?

    Edit: Found the video https://youtu.be/TECySdGT_jE?si=wqzf69XCvMMHhBZs

  • @sudd3660 says:

    can fasting be a test for health? the hunger hump might be worse for the people with bad diet.

  • @AndrewPawley11 says:

    I love this channel!

  • @k.h.6991 says:

    If there is a long term effect, I would suspect that there is a microbiome change.

  • @alexaivoire8338 says:

    I love that one study. Hell yeah my mental state would be improved with ten days of bedrest, peace and quiet!

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