advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-14-2006, 10:45 AM #1
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
Default Slightly off-topic: Intermittent Fasting

I've been hearing a lot about Calorie restriction to extend life and help with various diseases, especially autoimmune disease as I'm battling one myself. But I didn't think I could do it. Just don't have that sort of willpower. But I might be able to do Intermittent Fasting (IF) and I keep reading more and more about it.

Here's an interesting article from Dr. Eades blog.

Quote:
Like caloric restriction, intermittent fasting reduces oxidative stress, makes the animals more resistant to acute stress in general, reduces blood pressure, reduces blood sugar, improves insulin sensitivity, reduces the incidence of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and improves cognitive ability. But IF does even more. Animals that are intermittently fasted greatly increase the amount of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) relative to CR animals. CR animals don't produce much more BDNF than do ad libitum fed animals...

...In this study, published in the journal Medical Hypothesis in March of this year, Dr. Laub along with two other physicians (neither of whom I know) underwent their version of and intermittent fast. The three of them have since May 2003 been on a version of the IF in which they consume about 20-50 percent of their estimated daily energy requirements on the fast day and eat whatever they want on the non-fast days.

Since starting their regimen they have

"observed health benefits starting in as little as two weeks, in insulin resistance, asthma, seasonal allergies, infectious diseases of viral, bacterial and fungal origin (viral URI, recurrent bacterial tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, periodontal disease), autoimmune disorder (rheumatoid arthritis), osteoarthritis, symptoms due to CNS inflammatory lesions (Tourette's, Meniere's) cardiac arrhythmias (PVCs, atrial fibrillation), menopause related hot flashes."
I think I'm going to try this, see if it helps with my AS.
NancyM is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 09-15-2006, 04:28 AM #2
Hanna Hanna is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 24
15 yr Member
Hanna Hanna is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 24
15 yr Member
Default More than just interesting

Because of this gluten problem and being in Europe out and about, we can not find food and often find ourselves not eating until dinner. I hate breakfast. He does not talk about hydrating the body with water. I am doing better. Believe it or not, I never am sick. It has been 6 years since the last case of anti biotics.


We have a saying "the least you eat the healthier you are".
Hanna is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-15-2006, 06:18 AM #3
KimS KimS is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 574
15 yr Member
KimS KimS is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 574
15 yr Member
Default

We do a soup broth/juice fast when we get glutened.

The first fast we ever did started us on our gf journey. It was 4 days and on the fourth day, I felt super-human!

I don't have the wear-with-all to do it very often (especially now since I'm nursing and almost always ravenous) but I do want to do another one soon because I have come to believe that it gives the body a break and gives it a really good cleanout (like cleaning out your oil/filter in your vehicle ).

My son (6 years old) does two day fasts (broth/juice) frequently (about once every 2/3 months or so) because he gets contaminated very easily. Nothing gets his system back on track as quickly and efficiently as one of these fasts (and we've tried many things over the last 4 years).
__________________
Kind regards,
KimS
formerly pakisa 100 at BT
01/02/2002 Even Small Amounts of Gluten Cause Relapse in Children With Celiac Disease (Docguide.com) 12/20/2002 The symptomatic and histologic response to a gf diet with borderline enteropathy (Docguide.com)
KimS is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-15-2006, 11:05 AM #4
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
Default

I just started IF with yesterday being my first fasting day. It wasn't difficult at all. We'll see how tomorrow goes. My hope is to improve my health and reduce my autoimmune disease symptoms and perhaps even lose a bit of weight! I could stand to lose another 10-20 pounds.
NancyM is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-15-2006, 12:52 PM #5
orthomolecular orthomolecular is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 72
15 yr Member
orthomolecular orthomolecular is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 72
15 yr Member
Default

I must diagree with you about it being "slightly off-topic." Fasting does help sometimes when it comes to food allergies or sensitivities. So not off topic at all.

I have severe nutritional deficiencies and sometimes I will have a minor health problem. I have had ulcers in the past from too much stress. When I don't feel well I usually don't feel much like eating. So, sometimes I know that the body may benefit from easing up on digestion by fasting. Feed a cold and starve a fever.

I find that sometimes when I fast for maybe a day or two it does seem to bring everything back to the same level like KimS indicated. In my case though I can have problems with the nutritional supplements I take. So just stopping the supplements for a day or two can basically allow me to start fresh again.

The only medical reason I have seen to do a fast for more than a couple of days is to start the rotation diet. There seems to be a real benefit in this situation where you are getting basically everything (all foods) out of your system.

I have read that if you do need to fast for more than a couple of days glutamine, an amino acid, can provide energy to your brain. This amino acid is also great mixed in water to soothe the GI tract. So glutamine might be good for people with GI problems, like leaky gut, or those who do a fast sometimes. But glutamine would prevent the problems some can feel when their brain is starved of sugar basically.
orthomolecular is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-15-2006, 01:17 PM #6
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
Default

Dr. Eades recommends glutamine too, especially for gut issues. I keep forgetting to take it.

The thing that got me interested in fasting is that lots of autoimmune arthritis people I talk to get relief from their symptoms with fasting (and a no-starch diet).

There's a good article on Sciencenews.org about this.
NancyM is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-16-2006, 10:40 AM #7
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
Default

Day 3 of trying out IF. I hear it takes 2 weeks of this before the good effects kick in. I wonder if it'll be tough going without food on a Saturday? I really loaded up last night and I'm still feeling pretty stuffed today.
NancyM is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-16-2006, 03:23 PM #8
turner turner is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 73
15 yr Member
turner turner is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 73
15 yr Member
Default Hi everyone

My experiance with fasting was not that great. I went on a juice fast, that was suppose to detox your body. Well it did, and I felt just awful, like I had the flue. I think the third day my boss made me go home because I looked awful. Anyways I did learn something from it. Your suppose to ease into a fast and ease out of a fast. Lots of people think you just stop eatting, and then on day whatever, they gorge themselves because there starving. Apparently this is not very good for the body. I think its a great thing to do, eatting is way overrated Patricia
turner is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-16-2006, 03:47 PM #9
diamondheart's Avatar
diamondheart diamondheart is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Colorado
Posts: 213
15 yr Member
diamondheart diamondheart is offline
Member
diamondheart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Colorado
Posts: 213
15 yr Member
Default Not for me: hope it works for you

I have done various fasts in the past, but I will never fast again after having two bad experiences with the last two fasts. I hope it works for you Nancy, but I think if you start out in a very depleted state, a fast can be harmful. I think you really need to be taking it easy during the fast and for at least two to three weeks afterwards.

The last two fasts I did were for 3 to 4 days. The last fast was a juice fast and I eased into it and out of it and did not work during the fast. The previous fast before that, I didn't take it easy so much. Anyways, two weeks after both of these fasts, I ended up with severe back muscle spasms and it literally took me about 6 months to get better. There were a couple of years between the fasts. I think fasting is a very personal thing. It works for some people and not for others, like me. Since I have been working with an acupuncturist, it makes sense to me that fasting would not be good for me because of my particular bodily deficiences.

There are ways to detox the body without fasting, using herbs and a clean diet. I personally think the SCD intro diet is pretty good if you need to give your digestive system a break, but don't want to deny your body of nutrients and calories (I didn't eat the dairy or honey). I did this twice over the summer, and it cleared my diarrhea up temporarily. Or, I think just cutting out sugar, alcohol, stimulants, preservatives, and only eating home cooked meals with whole organic foods is a good way to clean your body out.

Claire
__________________
Two identical copies of DQ1; HLA-DQB1*0501, 0501

Last edited by diamondheart; 09-16-2006 at 03:50 PM.
diamondheart is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 09-16-2006, 08:51 PM #10
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
NancyM NancyM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 261
15 yr Member
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by diamondheart View Post
I have done various fasts in the past, but I will never fast again after having two bad experiences with the last two fasts. I hope it works for you Nancy, but I think if you start out in a very depleted state, a fast can be harmful. I think you really need to be taking it easy during the fast and for at least two to three weeks afterwards.
They're very short fasts. Just 24 hours and you're asleep for 8 of them. Not that difficult really. The health benefits sound great. In fact, I noticed on my swim today my stamina had improved enormously. Read the article if you haven't, it really is thought provoking.

I'd think of this more as "Ramadan Lite" than anything else.
NancyM is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:25 AM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.