Fasting Q&A with Dr Jason Fung: New 5-Day Fasting Reset, Bitter Greens, Body Set Weight, Kidney Damage, and More

Fasting Q&A with Dr Jason Fung: New 5-Day Fasting Reset, Bitter Greens, Body Set Weight, Kidney Damage, and More

Author: The Fasting Method August 19, 2025 Duration: 37:33

Episode #219

In this Fasting Q&A episode, hosted by Coach Lisa Chance, Dr. Jason Fung answers questions from the TFM Community:

  1. I realize the relationship between bitters, incretins, and autophagy is more complex than a direct cause-and-effect relationship. The incretin response doesn't directly "promote" autophagy - it primarily regulates blood sugar and satiety. Autophagy is mainly triggered by nutrient scarcity and low insulin levels, not by bitter compounds themselves.  Can you weigh-in on using bitter greens during this reset? [16:07] 
  2. I have had some success lowering weight a couple times using fasting and time restricted eating but the weight creeps back up after a while even with doing TRE. What's nice is that I can get it to go back down again with discipline. I'm wondering what scientific evidence exists that your body set weight can successfully be reset for the long term as mine holds for a while but then wants to creep up and if there's a foolproof method to resetting your body set weight? [19:26]
  3. Your kidney patients who are T2D and close to needing dialysis, but are skinny, I'm assuming they need to fast for about a year to reverse the kidney damage, but how do they do it with so little fat mass? [26:56] 
  4. I know that vitamin D is fat soluble and best taken with a meal. I've also heard that all supplements are better absorbed when taken with a meal. Is this true? What timeframe is considered "with a meal"? Is it before, during or after the meal? Is vitamin D a stimulant and can disrupt sleep so best taken in the morning? [30:32]
  5. How do you rate the risk of new gallstones formation if a patient already has one or more when it comes to fasting protocols? [33:46]

 

Links:

Dr. Fung's YouTube video, 5 Ways to Naturally Boost the Ozempic Effect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le3Ifc7D5Vk&t=2s

Gallstones discussed on TFM Podcast #171

https://www.thefastingmethod.com/fasting-qa-with-dr-jason-fung-gallstones-and-fasting-high-ketones-persistent-high-blood-sugar-and-more/

 

Please note that you need to be a member of the TFM Community to submit questions to the Q&A webinars with Dr. Fung but you can submit questions to our regular Q&A episodes here: https://bit.ly/TFMPodcastQs

 

Transcripts of all episodes are available on the Podcast page at www.thefastingmethod.com

 

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Summary Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:49 Introducing TFM's new 5-Day Fasting Reset

16:07 Bitter greens

19:26 Body set weight

26:56 Reversing kidney disease possible?

30:32 Timing of taking fat-soluble vitamins

30:32 Gallstones

 

Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care by a doctor or other qualified medical professional. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before doing any fasting, changing your diet, taking or adjusting any medication or supplements, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. The use of any other products or services purchased by you as a result of this podcast does not create a healthcare provider-patient relationship between you and any of the experts affiliated with this podcast. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


For anyone navigating the world of intermittent fasting, sorting through the noise can be the hardest part. The Fasting Method Podcast cuts through that confusion with clarity and authority. Co-hosted by recognized experts Megan Ramos and Terri Lance, Ph.D., this podcast is built on a foundation of real science and practical application. The conversations here move beyond simplistic tips to explore the nuanced physiology of fasting, the psychological hurdles, and the sustainable strategies that lead to lasting health changes. You’ll hear detailed explorations of metabolic adaptation, hormone regulation, and the social complexities of changing one's eating patterns, all grounded in the hosts' extensive clinical and research experience. This is a space where listener questions drive the dialogue, making each episode a direct address to the real-world challenges people face. Tune in for a candid, evidence-based resource that treats fasting not as a trend, but as a deeply personal tool for wellness. The discussions on this podcast are designed to empower you with knowledge, demystify the process, and provide a supportive audio companion for your journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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