HBOT Conversations Ep 2.3 | Dr. Jay Stevens “Learn The Right Fast”

In a recent episode of the HBOT News Network, Dr. James "Jay" Stevens, M.D., the Medical Director of Extivita-RTP, a local HBOT clinic in Raleigh, NC, discusses the Longevity Challenge scheduled for January 8-20, 2023. Dr. Stevens provides valuable insights into the different types of fasting and the potential benefits of combining fasting with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).

Types of Fasting:

1. Water Fasting: Water fasting is the most extreme form of fasting and involves abstaining from all caloric intake. During a water fast, participants rely solely on water for sustenance. While it is a rigorous approach, combining water fasting with HBOT is the primary focus of the Longevity Challenge.
2. Intermittent Fasting: Dr. Stevens highlights two types of intermittent fasting: time-restricted feeding and the fasting mimicking diet (FMD).
   1. Time-restricted feeding:** This approach involves limiting the hours during which you consume food, typically within a set window of the day (e.g., 12 pm to 7 pm). It aims to induce cellular changes associated with repair, inflammation reduction, and genetic stimulation.
   2. Fasting mimicking diet (FMD): FMD takes intermittent fasting further by allowing limited caloric intake (approximately 700 to 800 calories per day). This diet provides essential principles for feeding the body fewer calories while still promoting cellular repair, reducing inflammation, and improving cardiovascular health.

Fasting + Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT):

Dr. Stevens delves into the profound benefits of combining fasting with HBOT, emphasizing the following key points:

1. Ketosis: Fasting induces ketosis, an anti-inflammatory state that promotes cellular repair and turns on certain genetic aspects. While some individuals may experience flu-like symptoms (keto flu) during the initial detox phase of ketosis, this phase is followed by remarkable improvements in mental clarity and reduced anxiety.
2. Energy Production: Glucose is necessary for energy production in mitochondria, the cellular organelles responsible for generating energy. However, in ketosis, where glucose levels are low, HBOT supplies the required glucose under pressure, enabling efficient energy production. Ketones, derived from fat, provide six times more energy to the brain and neurons than glucose, resulting in improved mental clarity and reduced brain fog.
3. Cell Cycle and Autophagy: Understanding the cell cycle is essential, as cells have the capability to recognize their position in this cycle. Fasting and lifestyle changes help move cells away from senescence, a state where cells secrete harmful inflammatory cytokines. Instead, they induce autophagy, a process akin to "spring cleaning" for cells, where old cellular components are recycled, leading to cellular rejuvenation.
4. Immunosenescence: Prolonged water fasting, such as in the Longevity Challenge, assists in reversing misfolded proteins, contributing to improved immune system function. Immunosenescence, or aging of the immune system, is a critical factor in determining lifespan, making the optimization of immune function crucial as individuals age.

Taking Minerals During Water Fasting:

Dr. Stevens underscores the importance of mineral intake during water fasting, as deficiencies in magnesium and potassium are common. To maintain cellular integrity during an extreme calorie-restricted state, participants should include electrolytes or minerals in their fasting regimen. The Longevity Challenge package includes these essential minerals mixed with water for all participants.

The Longevity Challenge offers participants a transformative experience, allowing them to realize that they don't need food in the same way they once thought. It's an opportunity to reset one's perspective on