@MCRobbie I don't purport to have deep knowledge about long-term fasting. I'm glad it's had some experimental value for you so far. I've certainly read anecdotes of people with issues similar to mine reporting improvement on 30-day fasts.
However I have their issues plus many others. The limiting factor for me, most obvious, is protein breakdown and non-synthesis leading to collagen degradation. It's compounded by muscle wasting because muscles reinforce the joints. It's not purely about catabolism either, but synthesis to offset wear and tear and previous damage. I also don't build muscle quickly (but with enough time is possible). This all makes me weary of long fasts by default. Even R-ALA has some risks.
With a 3-5 day fast collagen synthesis and muscle should only be disrupted for a week or bit over, which is an acceptable risk if it brings real benefits in other areas. But a whole month?
The other concerns such as autophagy cessation and gut walls are less alarming, though I can't ignore reports of permanent degradation after 10-14-day fasts.
Now this statement is where I'm alienated: "That's what its there for and the body will only start to breakdown muscle and organ tissue when those fat reserves have been completely exhausted". As far as I know ketones can only feed the brain a certain percentage of its energy requirements, so necessarily there'll be protein breakdown for gluconeogenesis. For one. That's not taking into account the fat-burning limitations some of us have, I think was discussed in your thread, and lack of large muscle reserves to begin with. Again I'm no expert but I'm sure I've heard other experts see it differently.
However I have their issues plus many others. The limiting factor for me, most obvious, is protein breakdown and non-synthesis leading to collagen degradation. It's compounded by muscle wasting because muscles reinforce the joints. It's not purely about catabolism either, but synthesis to offset wear and tear and previous damage. I also don't build muscle quickly (but with enough time is possible). This all makes me weary of long fasts by default. Even R-ALA has some risks.
With a 3-5 day fast collagen synthesis and muscle should only be disrupted for a week or bit over, which is an acceptable risk if it brings real benefits in other areas. But a whole month?
The other concerns such as autophagy cessation and gut walls are less alarming, though I can't ignore reports of permanent degradation after 10-14-day fasts.
Now this statement is where I'm alienated: "That's what its there for and the body will only start to breakdown muscle and organ tissue when those fat reserves have been completely exhausted". As far as I know ketones can only feed the brain a certain percentage of its energy requirements, so necessarily there'll be protein breakdown for gluconeogenesis. For one. That's not taking into account the fat-burning limitations some of us have, I think was discussed in your thread, and lack of large muscle reserves to begin with. Again I'm no expert but I'm sure I've heard other experts see it differently.