Hello Johnny,
Researching for you today was quite an interesting challenge. Perhaps
unsurprisingly, the most readily accessible sources of information
about fasting are those available in conjunction with various
religious teachings. Finding medical information about fasting proved
a bit less straightforward than I initially thought.
Historically, fasting has been used for religious purposes to achieve
a state of spiritual reflection and/or enlightenment. Islam’s holy
month of Ramadan, for example, calls for fasting between sunrise and
sunset throughout the ninth month, to learn control over one’s urges
and and open oneself fully to the guidance of Allah. Christians, too,
often fast as part of a “spiritual cleansing” regimen intended to
remind them of Christ’s fasting in the desert and bring them closer to
God, or as an act of penitence. (In the Catholic tradition, fasting
is defined not as abstaining from food entirely for a given period,
but consuming only a single meal in a 24 hour period.) Jews similarly
fast as part of their faith, in remembrance, mourning or reflection.
Ancient naturopathic healing methods, such as the Indian art of
ayurvedic, believe fasts of certain duration and under certain
circumstances to promote mental well-being, spiritual enlightenment,
and even treatment of certain diseases.
However, even those who adhere to these beliefs have strictly
prescribed fasts (only for certain occasions, and for a set time), and
acknowledge the dangers of fasting, particularly for certain people:
-- Those who are physically too thin or emaciated
-- Those prone to anorexia or bulimia
-- Persons prone to other behavioral disorders (ADHD,
obsessive-compulsive)
-- Those who suffer weakness or anemia
-- Those suffering tumors, bleeding ulcers, cancer, blood diseases, or
who have heart disease
-- Those suffering chronic problems with kidneys, liver, lungs, heart,
or other important organs
-- Those who take insulin for diabetes, or suffer any other blood
sugar problem such as hyperglycemia
-- Women who are pregnant or nursing
-- Children
According to an index maintained by Hendrick Health System of Abilene,
Texas - which, while promoting fasting, acknowledges that it is not
appropriate for everyone - fasting can have unpleasant side effects:
“Those fasting may experience side effects of fatigue, malaise, aches
and pains, emotional duress, acne, headaches, allergies, swelling,
vomiting, bad breath, and symptoms of colds and flu.”
Fasting
http://www.ehendrick.org/healthy/000531.htm
Are there real health benefits to fasting?
Though some researchers theorize that there might be some benefit to
limited, periodic fasting, evidence for this is inconclusive at best.
In April of this year, the results of a study conducted by the
National Institute of Aging Gerontology Research Center in Baltimore
were released, indicating the possibility that benefits of periodic
fasting * might * include longer life span, increased insulin
sensitivity and stress resistance.
The study, conducted with mice, observed the effects of fasting every
other day, while being allowed to consume as much as one wanted on the
non-fasting days. Essentially, total calories consumed in a week did
not change. This group was compared to a group of mice whose diets
had been cut by 40%, and it was found that the mice who fasted every
other day enjoyed similar benefits to those of the dieting mice.
Plans are currently underway to repeat the study with human subjects:
“Mattson said a study is in the planning stages to compare the health
of a group of people fed the normal three meals a day with a similar
group, eating the same diet and amount of food, but consuming it
within four hours and then fasting for 20 hours before eating again.
"Overeating is a big problem now in this country, it's particularly
troublesome that a lot of children are overweight. It's still unclear
the best way to somehow get people to eat less .... One possibility is
skipping a meal a day," Mattson said. "Our study suggests that
skipping meals is not bad for you."
Study: Fasting improves health as much as cutting calories
USA Today - Posted 4/28/2003 5:22 PM
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-04-28-fasting_x.htm
“[…]the researchers said they discovered the level of health benefits
experienced by the meal-skipping mice met or exceeded those of their
continuously deprived brethren.
For instance, of all the mice studied, the feast-and-famine mice had
the lowest blood sugar and insulin levels. This suggests meal skipping
improves the ability to control blood sugar and thus could protect
against diabetes, Mattson said.
Also, the mice on all three diets were given a toxin called kainate
that damages nerve cells in the hippocampus, a brain center key to
learning and memory. Alzheimer's disease kills these cells in humans.
Feast-and-famine mice were the most kainate-resistant of all those
studied.
"The available evidence from our studies suggests meal-skipping is
beneficial because when the body is forced to go without food for
extended time periods, this imposes a mild stress on cells. The cells
respond to this mild energetic stress by improving their ability to
cope with more severe stress and to resist disease," Mattson said.
[…]
“Assuming regular meal skipping also boosts health in humans is "a
very big assumption at this point," said gerontologist George Martin,
at the University of Washington in Seattle.
He suggested understanding what molecular activity is responsible for
these benefits could lead to drugs that achieve the same effects.
"This is a long way off, however, in my opinion, and might never
happen," he added.
Mattson and colleagues are looking for the specific changes that occur
in the organs and cells of the feast-and-famine mice. In addition,
they plan human studies comparing the health of people who eat three
meals a day and others who stuff the same menu down over two or three
hours daily.”
Feasting plus fasting can boost health
http://www4.xpresssites.com/buffalo/buffalo/hw/story.jsp?_RND=944373501
Bear in mind, this is all a big maybe. The study was conducted on
mice, not humans. Currently, there is no firm, conclusive data
pointing to health benefits obtained by periodic fasting.
According to Ellen Coleman, a Registered Dietician writing for Health
Care Reality Check, fasting does * not * provide any health benefits,
and may in fact cause problems. She discusses what happens to your
body when you fast:
“After the first day of fasting, liver glycogen is depleted. Since the
body tries to maintain serum glucose within a normal range, protein
stores from muscle (and eventually even from organs such as the heart
and kidneys), are broken down to supply amino acids which can be
converted to glucose. After a week-long fast, the loss of muscle
tissue may comprise as much as one-third of the total weight loss.
[…]
Fasting is also ineffective as a weight loss method because it
decreases the body's metabolic rate. Since fewer calories are
required, less weight is lost.
[…]
The large initial weight loss (3 to 5 lb) associated with fasting is
due to the water loss associated with muscle and liver glycogen
(carbohydrate) depletion. When the individual resumes eating, glycogen
and water stores are replenished and body weight is regained.
Electrolyte losses also result from this fasting-induced diuresis. The
only things that are "cleansed" from the body are the minerals needed
for muscle contractions, nerve transmissions, regulation of body
fluids, and other physiological functions. Even though the body can
rely on its fat, protein, and carbohydrate stores for energy for a
period of time, the body needs the vitamins and minerals supplied by
food to metabolize these fuel stores and to carry on all the necessary
physiological functions.”
HCRC FAQ Sheet – Fasting
Health Care Reality Check
By Ellen Coleman, RD, MA, MPH
http://www.hcrc.org/faqs/fasting.html
Similarly, William T. Jarvis, Ph.D, writing for the National Council
Against Health Fraud, explains that fasting for any length of time
(unless under strict medical supervision) may have deleterious effects
on the body:
“Contrary to the teachings of proponents, fasting doesn't "cleanse" or
"rest" the liver. If anything, fasting overworks the liver by
saturating it with toxins produced by fasting itself.
[…]
Physical Effects of Fasting
Except for the brain, which consumes more calories than any other
organ and has a constant need for glucose whether one is asleep or
awake, one's metabolic rate varies with physical activity and by day
and nightime effects. The body's ongoing need for nutrition is met by
stores in the cells and liver, circulating blood, and gastrointestinal
contents. Fasting causes blood sugar to drop. This leads to a
breakdown (catabolism) of muscle and other protein tissue for energy.
During fasting, catabolism is a kind of "self-cannibalism" the
by-products of which (ammonia and urea) lead to acidosis that produces
weakness, fatigue, irritability, depression, depressed libido, and a
sick feeling. Fasting does not cleanse the system, but loads it with
metabolic toxins while decreasing its ability to destroy and excrete
these. Fasting leads to rapid loss of water, sodium, and potassium.
This decreases blood volume which produces postural hypotension (low
blood pressure when standing up), and fainting. Severe potassium
depletion can cause a fatal heart rhythm disturbance. The body cannot
differentiate between voluntary fasting and starvation and deaths have
occurred even with medically supervised fasts and near-fasts. People
who survive prolonged fasts (starvation) may suffer anemia, decreased
immunity, osteoporosis, kidney damage, or liver damage. Depressed
gastrointestinal or digestive functions may persist for weeks or
months [v]. The worst thing about fasting is its destruction of lean
and vital tissue needed for a healthy and active life. Fasting, like
colonic irrigation, laxatives, sweat baths, and other naturopathic
regimes are at best useless, and at worst, can be fatal. Fasting is
particularly dangerous for children.”
Fasting - William T. Jarvis, Ph.D.
National Council Against Health Fraud
http://www.ncahf.org/articles/e-i/fasting.html
On the subject of even a 24 hour fast, Laurence Lindner writes:
“Different religious practices call for periodic fasts to cleanse the
body spiritually. But can a 24- to 48-hour fast -- with or without
juices or other fluids -- lead to a physical cleansing? No.
[…]
Granted, some people say they feel better after a fast, even if it
does cause fatigue, dizziness and irritability or depression. And as
long as the fast doesn't last more than 24 to 48 hours, it won't do
any real harm. But the positive response to fasting is psychological
rather than physiological. Fasting might help people reach a state of
spiritual cleanliness, for instance. Or it may just make them feel
like they have beaten hunger at its own game for a while, making them
feel they are not slaves to food.”
Can Fasting Actually Cleanse the Colon? By Lawrence Lindner
Special to The Washington Post - Tuesday, January 9, 2001; Page T16
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A25694-2001Jan5¬Found=true
Nutricise Personal Nutrition Counseling warns:
“You're asking for trouble when you try fasting (unless you're
supervised by a physician). Your body is usually worse off after the
fast than when you started. Because it was under the impression it was
being starved (which it was), your body will try to protect itself for
next time it is starved by storing excess calories as soon as you stop
fasting. That means you could eat less than you ate before the fast
and gain weight.”
Trendy Diets
http://www.efit.com/basics/w_m_chap4.html
During the course of my research today, I reviewed hundreds of sites
discussing fasting (once I got past all of the religious fasting
sites), and was unable to find a single shred of proven medical
evidence that fasting had any beneficial effects at all.
There are many “naturopathic health” sites extolling the virtues of
fasting, and site after site touting the latest and greatest juice
fasting diet, but not one has presented verifiable facts about the
supposed benefits of fasting for any length of time.
The most sensible pages dealing with fasting were those discussing
fasting for the purposes of spiritual enlightenment or expression of
faith. These presented fasting methods for specific periods of time,
and did not require that a person completely forgo food for the
duration of the fast (see the Catholic tradition noted above, or read
it in more detail at the link listed below).
Before undertaking a fast, carefully consider why you would want to do
so.
If you are interested in pursuing a fast for the purposes of spiritual
cleansing, a once a week fast, practiced carefully, and gently eased
into and out of, may be beneficial.
If you seek to achieve physical cleansing through fasting, I’m afraid
there’s nothing to support the claims made by proponents of such
fasting. Likewise, weight loss through fasting is neither effective
nor healthy, and can prove harmful.
I would suggest you speak with your physician about the effects of
fasting. Although fasts conducted under strict medical supervision
are sometimes prescribed for the morbidly obese, other fasts are
generally discouraged. You should never undertake a fast without
consulting your physician.
Sources:
Ramadan and Fasting by Dr. M. Amir Ali, Ph.D
http://www.iiie.net/Brochures/Brochure-25.html
Your Personal Guide To Fasting and Prayer
http://www.billbright.com/howtofast/index.html
Catholic Encyclopedia
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05789c.htm
Tisha B'Av- Reasons for Fasting - Part 1
by Rabbi Yehudah Prero
http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/3weeks/vol1no30.html
Fasting for life – The Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/126/science/We_re_number_one_+.shtml
Alternative Therapies – Fasting
http://www.medicomm.net/Consumer%20Site/am/fasting.htm
Skipping Meals Might Offer Health Gains
http://www.sciencenews.org/20030607/food.asp
Intermittent fasting dissociates beneficial effects of dietary
restriction on glucose metabolism and neuronal resistance to injury
from calorie intake
R. Michael Anson*,, Zhihong Guo*, Rafael de Cabo, Titilola Iyun,
Michelle Rios, Adrienne Hagepanos, Donald K. Ingram, Mark A. Lane, and
Mark P. Mattson
Laboratory of Neurosciences, Gerontology Research Center, National
Institute on Aging, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/100/10/6216
I hope this answers your questions about fasting. Please ask for
clarification if you need additional information – I’m always glad to
assist you.
Do take care of yourself, Johnny. I have to admit that I worry about
your well being when you ask after methods like fasting. They’re not
very good for you! You might be happier with good nutritional
counseling if you’re looking to lose weight, improve your general
health, or both.
--Missy
Search terms: [ “health benefits” weekly fasting ] , [ fasting ], [
“weekly fasting” ] |
