A few other interesting articles about IF:
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20030607/food.asp
Quote:
When resting, rats fed only on alternating days had lower heart rates and blood pressure and less circulating glucose and insulin in their blood than did the other rats. The sometimes-fasting rats also showed muted cardiovascular responses to stress, suggesting that they more readily adapt physiologically to such situations.
The results of the hormone tests were less clear, but the researchers conclude that intermittent feeding helps the animals adjust to periodic exposures to certain stresses. The scientists didn't investigate whether temporary intermittent fasting had short-term effects on the animals' memory and learning ability. They report their findings in the June Journal of Nutrition.
"A meal-skipping diet . . . is good for cells throughout the body" because it periodically reduces the amount of glucose from digested food available to cells, says Mattson. During those times, cells build their ability to take up glucose when it's available he hypothesizes.
Thus, the mild stress of temporarily having less glucose may help cells prepare to cope with major stresses later, Mattson says. In that sense, meal skipping may be analogous to exercise in how it improves physiology. In fact, says Mattson, "intermittent fasting reduces blood pressure [and] reduces heart rate similar to what's seen with regular exercise."
|
http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...30211072836.htm
http://lansbury.bwh.harvard.edu/ad_reviews_2003.htm
I'm not a lab rat, although I do play one on TV. But the calorie restriction response seems to work regardless of species. Traditional CR always seemed too difficult to me, but delaying eating until dinner time every other day, I think I can do that.
I'm experimenting on myself hoping I can help other people with AS. I know that AS patients often use longer fasts to get out of a flare. I tried one, it was very tough, although it did seem to help my symptoms for awhile.