I used to think of fasting as simply no food—just water. But society uses “fasting” more broadly: abstaining from things like social media to break dependence. In health circles, you’ll hear about “butter fasts,” where you eat only butter to rediscover true satiety. Why? Many of us (especially in the US) grew up on carb-heavy, processed Standard American Diets (SAD) for generations.
In my family, all great-grandparents immigrated in the 1800s. My grandparents and parents ate SAD; thanks to epigenetic effects (nutrigenomics), some of us inherited challenges like harder time maintaining ideal weight and addiction tendencies. Raised by a Depression-era mom, I was taught to clean my plate. A sugar bowl at the table was standard, and I added extra to already-sweetened breakfast cereal. Breakfast was sugary cereal with Hi-C—no time for bacon and eggs. We just didn’t know better.
Now I’m experimenting with a sardine fast: eating only sardines (and water) for set periods. I’ve done two 48-hour ones and love the results—I realize I often eat from boredom or habit, not true hunger. People doing longer ones report impressive outcomes, and I’m a bit envious.
Bonus: I’ve actually grown to enjoy sardines! I top them with Cholula, spicy mustard, or kimchi. Right now I eat about two cans a day, but that might limit benefits like better glucose control and higher ketones. My next goal: eat at least one can plain—no condiments—to push true satiety further.
What unconventional “fast” have you tried?