Of all the lifestyle interventions that could help us live longer and better, fasting has been hailed by some as the holy grail of health. It comes in many - and somewhat confusing - forms.  From time restricted eating to intermittent fasting and longer term food deprivation, fasting has a long and fascinating history.  Steve Hendricks is a freelance journalist and the author of The Oldest Cure in the World, Adventures in the Art and Science of Fasting.  The book attempts to put into perspective what we know about fasting, how realistic a "cure" it is for some conditions and whether it is a practical option to fight disease and live longer.   In this interview we cover:Discovering fasting through an exploration of caloric restriction and ways to live longerTo what extent could fasting be considered a cure for certain diseases? Repair mechanisms and how fasting can fix problems in cellsHow fasting can be considered an adventure in art as well as scienceEntering a "contemplative state" through fasting and the physiological reasons for itWhat does self-experimentation involve?Weight loss and fastingWhat it means to go into a ketogenic stateDealing with depression and idiopathic hypersomnia Fasting and cancerAre some people better able than others to cope with fasting?What is a fasting mimicking diet? Why people are motivated to fast and stick with the regimeFasting and mindset and how it changes our attitude towards foodTime restricted eating and what happens when we stick to a narrower eating window during the dayThe science behind the old adage, 'eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper'DISCOUNTS▸ Recharge Health is offering LLAMA listeners a $30.00 discount on the purchase of FlexBeam, for red light therapy, which may help your body heal and promote  the health of skin and muscle tissue .  FlexBeam red light therapyRecharge Health is offering LLAMA listeners an $80.00 discount on the purchase of FlexBeam, the wearable red light therapy device which targets key parts of the body to improve sleep, treat injuries and sooth aches and pains associated with aging.  Use code LLAMA at checkout DoNotAgeDoNotAge.org is offering listeners to LLAMA a 10% discount on its range of products – NAD boosters, Sirtuin activators, senolytics and more.  Any health queries can be answered by emailing the team at hello@donotage.orgUse the code LLAMA at checkout. - Time-line Mitopure (a highly pure form of Urolithin A) boosts the health of our mitochondria – the battery packs of our cells – and improves muscle strength. Time-line is offering LLAMA listeners a 10% discount on its range of products – Mitopure powders, softgels & skin creams.  Use the code LLAMA at checkout-Support the showThe Live Long and Master Aging (LLAMA) podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice. If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.