I went to the UDDDD website and to me, it sounds really shady. I'm by no means an expert, but Molecular & Cellular Biology was my major and if I can tell you one thing that I learned, it's that you cannot pin down one gene and explain one entire process. Metabolism is such a complex thing, it involves far more than just one gene. Just because one gene gets "turned on," (SIRT-1) doesn't mean that you will magically get thinner. What about the other genes that help promote fat storage when you're eating fewer than enough calories? The people that make general claims like this generally have little knowledge about genetics, and the ones who really do know anything, would never come up with a whole diet revolving around one gene - or any one element of your body, for that matter.
Why this diet probably works for some people is that average amount of calories balances out over the week. Let's say you need 1500 calories a day to lose weight. If you eat 500 calories one day, you can eat 2500 calories the next day and you'll have averaged 1500 on both days. The claims about living longer? I really doubt that! I think the occasional day of fasting can be really healthy for you, but I think if you can find a pattern of eating that works for you - shooting for a weekly goal of calorie intake as opposed to a daily goal, for example, and definitely including more exercise - you will have greater success. And, you most likely won't get to the holidays and feel like you need to reward yourself! Regular healthy eating shouldn't feel like something that needs to be rewarded, it should just feel natural and the way you feel should be reward in and of itself. =)
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