Anyone thinking of fasting for 72 hours to boost their immune system?

[Quixote1818]

Last edited Sat Mar 7, 2020, 12:07 PM - Edit history (5)

Study: Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system

Why does prolonged fasting work so effectively?
Prolonged fasting forces the body to use stores of glucose, fat and ketones, but it also breaks down a significant portion of white blood cells.

During each cycle of fasting, this depletion of white blood cells induces changes that trigger stem cell-based regeneration of new immune system cells.

In their research, the team from the University of California gathered a group of participants and asked them, in the initial stages, to fast for 2-4 days on a regular basis over a period of six months.

This is where they made a remarkable discovery.

There was 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. In addition the immune system of the participants appeared to get renewed.

“PKA is the key gene that needs to shut down in order for these stem cells to switch into regenerative mode. It gives the OK for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system,” explained Longo.

https://news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/


New England Journal Of Medicine on Fasting

Evidence is accumulating that eating in a 6-hour period and fasting for 18 hours can trigger a metabolic switch from glucose-based to ketone-based energy, with increased stress resistance, increased longevity, and a decreased incidence of diseases, including cancer and obesity.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMra1905136

Medical News Today

Research links intermittent fasting to benefits including:

weight loss
improved markers of health
a reduced risk of chronic health conditions
improved brain health

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323605

[DonaldsRump]

1. Thanks to your post, I might do it this weekend

Have done it before, and it makes you feel so much better. Plus, my lethargy from no food or coffee gives me the perfect excuse to the family as to why I can stay in bed all weekend.

Right now, I have no medical issues, so it's worth a shot, and I can lose a few lbs as well!

[jimfields33]

2. Nope.

[customerserviceguy]

3. I see

this article is from USC, and if there's anything the Trojans are known for, it's protection!

[Rorey]

29. Ha

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. careful.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/not-so-fast-pros-and-cons-of-the-newest-diet-trend

[smirkymonkey]

5. Um. Nope.

I'm living on the edge here.

[TexasBushwhacker]

6. Nope. I have been drinking Emergen C though n/t

[MartyTheGreek]

7. Yes! I did a four day a few weeks ago...

I've been Intermittent and multi-day fasting for a few years now! Had a few healing sensations disappear. Had a dull ache feeling in my back possibly my kidney is now gone and had some liver sensations go away. I think I had a fatty liver and the fasting healed it. This is a known thing and not being Dr. Google here.

Note that some tumors can grow while fasting so be careful. If I recall correctly the stem cell boost of 30-40% (which hasn't happened since birth) occurs between days 3 and 4. In the first 24 hrs there a huge boost of testosterone, just after that is a huge boost in human growth hormones. This is natures way of healing the body and to go get food! Digestion takes up 70% of the body's energy and when we stop eating, all that energy goes towards healing. Some basketball players and MMA fighters are doing this now too. This is not a fad. There were fasting clinics in the US up till 1920. Many closed when Pharma Mafia stepped in. World religions have been fasting for 1000's of years. We were born to fast as food was not always available.

Make sure you take electrolytes: Potassium, Magnesium, and Sodium (sea salt). If you're medicated, ask your Dr. Don't do extended fasts alone especially first timers.

I haven't been this physically healthy in years. Check YouTube... There's a Fasting Clinic in CA called True North, Check Dr. Longo WRT, Fasting and Cancer. Dr. Rhonda Patrick for all around fasting benefits. Dr. Fung for Fasting and Diabetics. Thomas DeLauer Fasting and Beasting (working-out). And learn how to properly re-feed.

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it! Thank You glad to see another Faster here!

[mitch96]

34. And then there is my go to MD that reads all the med journals so you don't have to

Really smart and everything is backed up by science. No bull or conjecture
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-5-2-diet-and-the-fasting-mimicking-diet-put-to-the-test/

m

[MartyTheGreek]

36. Thank you! Good Info...

His reading tone is a little over done but the info is spot on. Still waiting for our expert Nutritionist to chime in here.

It was hard to get the Cancer patients to water fast only. Why not just a 500 cal meal of veggies he asks? They wanted what I call, some yum, yum... Crackers and crunchy things and different foods for compliance. I did it with one avocado and one green drink X 2 per day. It's harder than water fasting because hunger hormones are suppressed when not eating once you get over that hump. RE: Fat Adpated.

If you eat a lot of carbs, this is difficult! Eat a ketogenic diet first going into the fast and it's way easier!

[Dem2theMax]

8. 72 hours without chocolate?

[Awsi Dooger]

9. Probably...I've done it countless times

Only difficult day is the first day. Once the headache goes away you feel better and realize you are doing something great for yourself. Eventually you don't think about food at all.

Longest I went was 8 days. I had no plans to stop the fast but then a friend had a comp to the Caesar's Palace buffet. I hadn't told anyone I was fasting. Nobody could tell. I ate the buffet and it was totally tasteless. The pumpkin pie tasted exactly like the roast turkey with dressing and gravy.

Then I had to get to the bathroom. Everything went right through me in liquid form.

My sinuses also clear up when I fast. I have household allergies but during a fast I don't have to use nose drops.

[GulfCoast66]

10. Because everything you read on the internet is true?

I’ve heard more quack preventative recommendations than I can count on the internet recently. None are based by science or fact. You know what DU is supposedly built upon.

Before you attack me, realize this is what happens when it is apparent our leaders are out to lunch on the largest threat we have faced in years.

The last thing you want if your system encounters the virus is a weakened system. Which for many people will be the case if they haven’t eaten in 3 days. Yeah, your immune system is going crazy, but that means something is off.

This is woo. One study somewhat supporting something does not mean anything.

It’s been a long time since Americans have faced a disease that we have no defense against or real treatment for and can kill you dead. But that is where we are. A non-science based ‘prevention’ is as likely to do as much harm as good.

[PasadenaTrudy]

22. Thank you n/t

[HarlanPepper]

37. Thank you

The pseudo science portion of the program has begun, I see.

[Turin_C3PO]

42. I realize this is anecdotal

but I gotta say that the few times I’ve tried fasting, I felt much better overall. I had more energy and was able to stop using my Allegra for allergies. So there might be something to it.

[Talitha]

11. I read it on the Internet so it must be true... bon jour.

[Buns_of_Fire]

12. "You're not allowed to put anything on the Internet that isn't true."

"Where did you hear that?"

"The Internet."

[Quixote1818]

23. It's an extensive peer review study and backed up by the New England Journal of Medicine

Maybe you don't know the difference?

[marlakay]

13. I started off sugar today

Been eating too much last few months and it creates inflammation.

And eating healthy.

[Buns_of_Fire]

14. I usually fast about once a month.

Usually, it's the time between when the food runs out and the next Social Security check gets deposited.

[Buzz cook]

15. Sounds like bunk.

But if iy makes you happy help yourself.

[obamanut2012]

18. it is

[Quixote1818]

24. So you don't believe in the scientific method?

I am not a health food guru type. I was raised by a Chemist and he says the study looks to have good methods and results. Fasting is also backed up by the New England Journal of Medicine: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMra1905136

[MartyTheGreek]

38. Thank you! I used to call it Woo and Bunk too!...

Until I tried it! Some people have never skipped a meal in all of their lives! When I woke up sleeping on my back in the middle of days 2-3, I knew at that moment this was a thing! I was in full ketosis at that time and you can feel it!

Thanks for sharing that reference too!

[Joe Short]

16. Nope.

I eat a good diet with plenty of fruits. Havent been sick since middle school or even elementary school.

Also, I like food way to much to try fasting.

Good luck to you.

[scarytomcat]

17. no

it is not on my diet

[SammyWinstonJack]

33. Heh.

[a la izquierda]

19. I am hypoglycemic. No thanks.

I’d rather not get dizzy and pass out in a public place or get a debilitating flu.

[hlthe2b]

20. Biggest thing you can do readily to boost your immune system: get enough sleep & stress management

Now might be the time to really take meditation, breathing control, yoga, biofeedback or even just the benefit of long solitary walks to heart.

[Talitha]

21. +1

[Quixote1818]

25. Interesting, you are promoting yoga when yoga promotes fasting for health

Yogis and sages have done fasting through the ages. Regardless of what is done in yoga I will stick with the New England Journal of Science.

[hlthe2b]

26. Yoga for the relaxation effects. You should be cautious promoting fasting as it increases Cortisol

in response to a drop in blood sugar. This is body's response to the perception it is starving and is evolutionary. Corstisol is associated with both stress and negative impact on the immune system.

[Quixote1818]

30. You might want to read this

Promising approach: Prevent diabetes with intermittent fasting
Date:
July 2, 2019
Source:
Deutsches Zentrum fuer Diabetesforschung DZD
Summary:
Intermittent fasting is known to improve sensitivity to the blood glucose-lowering hormone insulin and to protect against fatty liver. Scientists have now discovered that mice on an intermittent fasting regimen also exhibited lower pancreatic fat.The researchers showed the mechanism by which pancreatic fat could contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190702152749.htm

[hlthe2b]

31. I just commented on the effects on obesity and in healthy individuals blood sugar, but not immunity!

Studies repeatedly show that release of stress hormone (as fasting clearly does) has negative impacts on immunity.

[hlthe2b]

27. I'll stick with the New England Journal of Medicine, rather than the unknown "NEJ of Science"

that you just cited.

In the little blurb you had in your OP it cites exactly what I do. That fasting increases stress response and that means cortisol release. In an otherwise healthy person, such "resets" can impact odds of obesity and may stabilize blood sugar response for the long term. But that does NOT mean a beneficial effect on immunity.

[GemDigger]

28. For 72 hours? Yikes! At 92 pounds I cannot afford to fast.

[SidDithers]

32. ...

No.

Sid

[Lucid Dreamer]

35. I didn't think about it until you asked.

My current thoughts : nope, I'm not fasting.

[Calculating]

39. Hell no

I happen to like regular meals

[RoadRunner]

40. Reading the OP title made me hungry.

[Vinca]

41. No. When I die I plan to have the taste of chocolate chip cookies in my mouth.

[MFM008]

43. I cant fast

For 72 minutes....