High Blood Sugar and Vascular Health
High-sugar foods and drinks are one of the main causes of weight gain. Moreover, they may also harm your blood vessels.Vascular health is closely related to the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels, a process mainly regulated by nitric oxide produced within the blood vessels.
Fasting and Autophagy
Since vascular health is closely related to these compounds, how can the body maintain the health of the endothelium? The answer lies in the body’s self-cleaning function—autophagy.The study stated that the autophagic process in body cells is crucial for maintaining the function of cell mitochondria. When autophagy is activated, cells can eliminate dysfunctional mitochondria, thereby maintaining the total amount of nitric oxide in endothelial cells and improving the health of endothelial cells in blood vessels.
Lei Zhao, who holds a doctorate in biomedical science and is the lead author of the study, stated in an interview with The Epoch Times, that endothelial dysfunction is closely related to diabetic vasculopathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy. Additionally, hyperglycemia, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein are the main culprits behind endothelial dysfunction in diabetes.
Autophagy is a multi-step cellular process in the body that eliminates damaged proteins, organelles, and oxidized lipids, while transcription factor EB (TFEB) is the main regulatory factor of autophagy.
Expert Suggests Eating Less for Dinner
Dr. Jingduan Yang, chief executive officer of the Northern Medical Center in New York, shared in The Epoch Times that he prefers to eat between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., and either skips dinner or has a light meal. He noted that skipping breakfast and eating more at dinner may affect the quality of sleep and digestion at night.While fasting focuses on the timing of meals rather than calorie intake, Dr. Yang pointed out that if not eating for 16 hours leads to a compensatory mentality during meals and results in overeating, it can negate the effects of fasting.
Dr. Yang suggests that during fasting, it is beneficial to eat more plant-based and organic foods, avoid excessive sugar and fat intake, and drink plenty of water. It is also advisable to engage in moderate exercise during the eating window, as this can yield better results.
Although there is considerable research supporting the health benefits of fasting, patients, children, and the elderly should consult with a health care professional before starting the practice.
