Try a mini fast

Extending the time you go without food turns on SIRT1, a gene that lowers blood sugar, says Dr. Gottfried. And it’s surprisingly easy to do: She suggests fasting for 12 to 18 hours once or twice a week—closing the kitchen at 7 PM and not eating again until 7 AM or later. Bonus: These mini fasts can boost energy, says Dr. Gottfried. “Intermittent fasting helps repair the glucose/insulin relationship, so you feel more sharp.”