A lot of us have heard of fasting. It’s an ancient practice that dates back to the 15th century as a way to alleviate symptoms from certain types of illnesses. Over thousands of years fasting has been used by different cultures and through religious practices to maintain not only physical health but mental health as well.

I will often speak to my patients about fasting and I’ll admit that I get a bit of push back. Luckily there are ways to access a lot of the benefits of food abstention without having to actually fast. It’s a practice that’s called fast mimicking and today we will be talking about why it’s so helpful and accessible, plus how to do it and why you should.

Our guest today is Dr. Tonya Pasternak, a Naturopathic Physician who is passionate about finding the root cause of disease. She values taking time to create customized treatment plans for each patient, utilizing a blend of nutrition, botanical medicine, and craniosacral therapy. In addition to treating conditions related to the immune, endocrine, and digestive systems, Dr. Pasternak is really passionate about fasting and fast mimicking diets.

Here on Your Health Toolkit, we often talk about how conventional and naturopathic medicine can play complementary roles in our overall health. We call this “collaborative medicine” and through the work that we do at Collaborative Natural Health Partners, we are able to give people the knowledge and the tools they need to feel great every single day. If you’re interested in learning more, head over to our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for information, articles, and resources to take the guesswork out of your health.

Your Health Toolkit is a podcast presented for general information and educational purposes only. The discussions presented by Dr. Lauren Young and the show’s guests should not be considered medical advice but rather a conversation starter with your doctor. Everyone’s body is unique, and we recommend having a discussion with your personal healthcare team before trying anything discussed on the show.