Fasting Tonic™ 2024

Harness the transformative power of fasting and caloric restric1tion, powerful longevity lifestyle hacks celebrated for their whole-body health benefits. These practices, involving reduced caloric intake without sacrificing essential nutrients, extend beyond mere weight loss (1). They positively modify cholesterol levels, lowering LDL and boosting HDL to reduce heart disease risk, support glucose balance, elevate ketone levels, and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress (2, 3). Remarkably, prolonged caloric restriction, as demonstrated by a major Columbia University study, can even slow down the aging process (4). At the core of these benefits is 'hormesis', nature's secret to longevity. This natural response, triggered by dietary stressors like fasting, activates protective cellular mechanisms, including stress responses and autophagy (5, 6). Autophagy, in particular, is critical for longevity, removing damaged cells to promote cellular renewal (7).

"Intermittent fasting definitely and massively increases autophagy. And thanks to our caveman history, it thrived. In times of little food, lysosomes would race around the body looking for damaged cells, pre-diseased cells, and cells which weren't doing much. It would chop them apart – into their smallest parts – and either burn them for energy, or use them to repair other areas. Simply, it would perform miracles without any outside help." – Robert Skinner, author of 'The IF diet'.

Fasting and caloric restriction can make you hungry and cranky. But Fasting Tonic™ is here to help quench your hunger naturally, without caffeine, chemicals, or other stimulants. Our formula is engineered around powerful glucomannan micro-beadlets, a natural, soluble dietary fiber derived from the konjac plant root, known for its impressive ability to promote satiety. It expands in your stomach, absorbing up to 50 times its weight in water, creating a sensation of fullness without adding calories or nutritional value, thus maintaining the integrity of your fast (10, 11).

Over time, this could contribute to weight loss or weight management, associated with reduced risk of many chronic diseases and potentially longer life expectancy. Glucomannan can also slow the absorption of sugar in the gut, which can help to control blood sugar levels, and it lowers total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, and to a lesser extent, raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (12). Improved lipid profiles can contribute to better cardiovascular health, a factor essential for longevity (13, 14).

During fasting, essential electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium can be significantly depleted (partially through excretion, but also through a lack of food intake), leading to symptoms like headaches, muscle cramps, fatigue, and even blood pressure irregularities (15, 16). Fasting Tonic™ is meticulously formulated to counter these deficiencies by replenishing these vital nutrients, ensuring a more comfortable fasting experience without common side effects.

Our comprehensive blend includes Aquamin™ mineralized seaweed (17, 18) a rich source of crucial trace minerals, as well as sodium, potassium chloride, and magnesium citrate - essential electrolytes. Sodium and potassium are essential for maintaining fluid balance, nerve and heart function, and muscle contractions (19). Magnesium and calcium play pivotal roles in energy production, nerve function, muscle contraction, as well as supporting heart and bone health (20).

Magnesium, especially, is vital during fasting as its deficiency is common and can be exacerbated by fasting. As an essential mineral, magnesium aids in enzymatic reactions, energy production, membrane function, regulation of calcium and potassium, and supports cardiac and brain function. Most people are at risk of subclinical magnesium deficiency even when not fasting, and this risk increases during a fast. The kidneys may excrete magnesium at a rate up to 4-5 times higher than normal during prolonged fasting - this loss can be significant, with average magnesium losses per day in some studies ranging from 83 mg to 203 mg. Fasting Tonic™ delivers an optimal amount of these electrolytes, particularly magnesium, to support your body’s needs during fasting, helping you fast safely and effectively while nourishing your body at a cellular level for a healthier fasting experience (21).

Fasting, though healthful, can sometimes lead your body to use muscle as a fuel source. Additionally, from age 30, we start to lose 1-2% of muscle mass each year, which can increase injury risk and impact metabolic health (22). The impact of fasting on muscle mass can be complex. While short-term fasting might not significantly affect muscle mass, prolonged periods without adequate nutrition can lead to muscle breakdown as the body seeks alternative energy sources (23). Fasting Tonic™ is expertly designed to protect your muscles and maintain strength during these practice.

Fasting Tonic™ is engineered with creatine, a naturally occurring compound that replenishes muscle fuel and enhances muscle mass, even during fasting (24, 25). Creatine assists in ATP regeneration, crucial for maintaining muscle function without breaking your fast, and helps increase muscle cells' water content, a process known as cell volumization, offering an anabolic (muscle-building) effect that helps retain muscle mass further during times of stress.

Additionally, Fasting Tonic™ features calcium β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (Ca-HMB), derived from the amino acid leucine, which is known to reduce muscle breakdown and support muscle maintenance during fasting (64). It can also aid in recovery and performance. Fasting may reduce physical performance due to lower energy availability, but Ca-HMB can mitigate this by speeding up recovery after intense exercise (26-29). Vitamin D3 is essential for maximizing the effectiveness of myHMB®, making the combination of Ca-HMB and Vitamin D a potent resource for achieving optimal muscle health and functionality (30). The synergistic combination of creatine and myHMB® is a powerful duo to help embrace fasting confidently, knowing your muscle health is supported and your body is ready for peak performance. This combination can be particularly effective for those looking to safely combine fasting with a workout regimen.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is a cornerstone of longevity. Fasting Tonic™ is formulated with ingredients that support weight management efforts as part of your fasting regimen. Glucomannan, a dietary fiber, plays a pivotal role by promoting a feeling of fullness. This can lead to a natural reduction in calorie intake and assist in weight loss (10, 11, 31). As glucomannan expands in the stomach, it reduces the urge to overeat, making it easier to manage portion sizes and reduce overall caloric consumption. Additionally, the inclusion of essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium helps in maintaining electrolyte balance. This is important during fasting as changes in eating patterns can disrupt the body's natural electrolyte levels, potentially affecting hydration and metabolism, which are critical factors in healthy weight management (16, 19, 32). Creatine and Ca-HMB also contribute to this goal. While primarily known for enhancing muscle strength and performance, these compounds have been shown to support a leaner body composition by promoting muscle mass (33), and reducing body fat (64), during times of fasting. Higher muscle mass can lead to an increased metabolic rate, which helps in burning more calories, even at rest. This makes it easier to achieve and maintain a healthy weight over the long term. Together, these ingredients in Fasting Tonic™ offer a synergistic approach to weight management.

Transitioning from fasting to eating can often lead to intense cravings and overeating, causing rapid blood glucose spikes that can undo the benefits of fasting. Fasting Tonic™ eases this transition by featuring a unique fibrous jelly that moderates hunger and slows food absorption in the digestive track, ensuring a gradual increase in blood glucose and preventing insulin spikes which are detrimental to healthy longevity (11, 34). The addition of creatine monohydrate in our formula supports sustained muscle energy production, further protecting against post-fast crashes (33, 35). With Fasting Tonic™, transitioning from fasting to eating becomes a smooth, stress-free process.

The gut microbiome is a vibrant community of microorganisms in your gut. Over time, this balance can be thrown off, leading to gut dysbiosis—a major contributor to aging. Intermittent Fasting has been shown to revamp your gut microbiome, boosting its diversity and promoting the reorganization of microbes. Fasting Tonic™ amplifies these benefits. Infused with glucomannan-based micro-beadlets, a potent prebiotic that nourishes your gut's microorganisms validated by human trials (36). These prebiotics are like a gourmet feast for essential microrganisms. Firstly, they boost the growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi, crucial for digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function, and even mood regulation (37-39). Then, these beneficial bacteria turn glucomannan into essential elements for healthy digestion, such as sodium butyrate, which helps in repairing and strengthening the gut lining. By preventing leaky gut syndrome (where gut microbiota may leak into the bloodstream causing inflammation that accelerates aging), glucomannan plays a vital role in maintaining gut integrity, helping to reduce inflammation, and thereby enhancing overall well-being during fasting. But that is not all. AquaminTM mineralized seaweed contributes to gut health by protecting probiotic bacteria from the acidic conditions in the stomach. Rich in calcium, it has demonstrated effects similar to prebiotics on gut microbiota, leading to notable shifts in the production of lactate and short-chain fatty acids (40).

Hydration is key during fasting, as about 20% of our daily fluid intake typically comes from food, which further offers essential nutrients to help our bodies hold onto water. Without these nutrients, the water we consume can simply pass through our bodies, potentially leading to dehydration (41). That is where Fasting Tonic™ steps in with a multi-prong approach to keep your body, organs, and cells hydrated.

Firstly, Fasting Tonic™ is a deliciously designed water-based drink that gives you your baseline boost for hydration. Next, the creatine in our tonic helps muscle cells hold onto water, thereby improving your body's overall hydration (42). Beyond this, our tonic includes vital electrolytes—sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride and magnesium—that regulate your body's fluid balance. Sodium prompts your body to retain water, while potassium works in concert with sodium to manage cellular water levels. Together, they keep your body hydrated, stave off muscle cramps, and ensure the proper functioning of nerves and muscles (15, 43-45). With Fasting Tonic™, you can maintain peak hydration levels even while fasting—fueling your overall health.

Fasting Tonic™ offers the flexibility to support both intermittent fasting and calorie restriction lifestyles. For those practicing intermittent fasting, it can be consumed during your fasting windows, aiding in hunger management without breaking your fast. Its glucomannan content helps in creating a feeling of fullness, while essential nutrients and electrolytes maintain your body’s balance. If calorie restriction is more your style, Fasting Tonic™ works throughout the day, even alongside meals. It helps achieve satiety, assisting you in managing portion sizes and reducing overall calorie intake. This flexibility allows you to experiment and personalize your approach to longevity, tailoring it to suit your unique lifestyle and goals. Whether you’re an intermittent faster or prefer calorie restriction, Fasting Tonic™ adapts to your needs, supporting your journey towards a healthier, longer life.