I'm Kamei, the owner of Gokujo Mold-Free Coffee.

The key to successful 16-hour intermittent fasting (autophagy) is to avoid raising insulin levels and to suppress inflammation in the body. It's important to be careful, as even with fasting, a single drink can sometimes undo all your efforts.

1. The best choice is "clean black coffee"

Black coffee is an ideal partner for drinks during fasting. A 2014 study (Pietrocola et al.) suggested that polyphenols in coffee promote cellular autophagy.

Caffeine boosts metabolism and aids fat breakdown, further enhancing the weight loss effects of fasting. It accelerates cellular "cleaning" and makes it easier for the body to convert fat into energy.

"Caffeine intake (both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee) has been shown to induce autophagy in important organs such as the liver, muscle, and heart" (Source: Pietrocola et al., 2014, Autophagy)

2. Can "mold toxins" ruin the benefits of fasting?

The most important thing to be aware of here is mold toxins (mycotoxins), which I've discussed before.

Dave Asprey, author of 'The Bulletproof Diet,' warns that mold toxins can cause inflammation in the body and disrupt hormone balance. If you drink impure coffee on an empty stomach, your body will be busy detoxifying, and the energy that should be used for "cellular repair" during fasting will not be available.

Furthermore, impurities in poor quality coffee can stress the brain and induce a false sense of hunger. Precisely because it's something you put into your body during the delicate state of fasting, choosing "mold-free coffee" that has been inspected by a third-party organization is essential.

3. "What to consume" and "what to avoid" during fasting

Basically, water, sparkling water, and mold-free black coffee are the staples during fasting. Water is essential for metabolism, so consume lukewarm water frequently, avoiding anything too cold. Green tea and black tea also have antioxidant properties and are good options, but be careful of stomach irritation on an empty stomach.

On the other hand, even if it's "calorie-free," avoid drinks with artificial sweeteners. This is because the brain may mistakenly perceive "sugar has arrived," stimulating insulin and risking stopping autophagy.

Also, as Asprey recommends, there is a method of adding a small amount of MCT oil to coffee and mixing it thoroughly. This can be seen as a simplified version of "Bulletproof Coffee," but since it can deliver energy to the brain without stimulating insulin, it's possible to dramatically enhance morning performance while suppressing hunger.

Fasting is the art of "what not to put in"

16-hour fasting is a time to clean out unnecessary things accumulated in the body. There's no need to intentionally introduce "new garbage" like pesticides or mold toxins during that time.

Support your cells' regeneration process gently and powerfully with a cup free of all impurities.

Sources & References

• Pietrocola, F., et al. (2014). "Coffee induces autophagy in vivo." Autophagy.

• Dave Asprey, 'The Bulletproof Diet', Diamond, Inc.

• Vandenberghe, C., et al. (2017). "Caffeine intake increases plasma ketones." Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.