There
has long been controversy surrounding the potential benefits or hazards of
fasting. On one hand, supporters of fasting point to the many benefits that
they claim fasting provides. This includes promoting weight loss, normalizing
insulin sensitivity, lowering triglyceride levels in the body and slowing the
signs of aging. There are a number of different ‘fasting plans’ ranging from
intermittent fasting lasting, on average, 14 to 18 hours to longer-term plans
abstaining from solid foods for 2 to 3 days. Each is said to carry their own
benefits and challenges, offering options for everyone.
Many
nutritionists and medical professionals argue that fasting is nothing more than
an unsupported trend, and carries with it a number of health risks that should
be considered. They point to the loss of nutrients during the time spent
fasting, as it limits not only the intake of unhealthy foods but also those
that our bodies require including fruits, vegetables, lean protein and healthy
fats. Furthermore, they argue that fasting often leads to rebound eating, which
results in an overall weight gain as opposed to the sought-after weight loss.
New research out of the University of Southern California presents a fascinating
discovery, once again bringing the debate to the forefront. The team gathered a
group of participants and asked them, in the initial stages, to fast for 2-4
days on a regular basis over a 6-month period. During this time, they witnessed
some incredible changes. The participants saw a noticeable decrease in the
production of the enzyme PKA, a hormone which has been associated with an increased
risk of cancer and tumor growth. Furthermore, the immune system of the
participants appeared to get a complete overhaul.
ProfessorValter Longo, PhD, the researcher of the study expressed his surprise with the
study’s findings, stating, “What we started noticing in both our human work and
animal work is that the white blood cell count goes down with prolonged
fasting. Then when you re-feed, the blood cells come back. So, we started
thinking, well, where does it come from?”
The
findings may provide considerable promise for those that are susceptible to
disease, currently receiving chemotherapy treatments or simply for our aging
population. The research showed that the act of fasting triggered a switch to
flip in the body, signalling it to begin a “stem-cell based regeneration of
the hematopoietic system.” It forced the body to use up its stores of
glucose, fat and ketones, and also started to break down a large number of
white blood cells. The loss of white blood cells flagged the body to, in turn,
regenerate new immune system cells.
Professor
Longo explained, “When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one
of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells
that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged.” This would mean
that according to the study’s findings the process of fasting for a 72-hour
period of time followed by re-feeding with a healthy, nutritionally focused
diet can, essentially, provide those who are struggling with a new immune
system.
While
the possible benefits are definitely worth further review, medical
professionals warn that further study is required before it will be seen as a
definitive medical option. The study’s co-author Tanya Dorff, MD, assistant
professor of clinical medicine at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
and Hospital advised, “While chemotherapy saves lives, it causes significant
collateral damage to the immune system. The results of this study suggest that
fasting may mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy. More clinical
studies are needed, and any such dietary intervention should be undertaken only
under the guidance of a physician.”
Source : deapod.com