Re: Fasting and Longevity: Sue

[Guest guest]

Sue,

I just wanted to point out that this Dr. Chaitow is in England, if

you should desire to look him up. He sounds like he is well versed

in naturopathy and other alternative medicine therapies. Have you

heard of him?

I also wanted to point out a few highlight of this article that I

thought were significant to the group:

" From the viewpoint of enhanced health there are the many

beneficial changes which take place in immune function during

fasting.8 Most of these improvements, notably affecting immune

function, carry on into the period after the fast. This is perhaps

the most important aspect of fasting for better health. "

" Among the conditions successfully dealt with by fasting alone

are.......poisoning with toxic chemicals (dramatic benefits with

seven to ten day fasts),17autoimmune disease such as

glomerulonephritis, 18 rheumatoid arthritis,19,20,21 (a 1984 study

in the US22 showed remarkable improvement after seven-day fasts),

food allergy,..... "

" The conclusion of these researchers from the University of Oslo

was: We have shown that a substantial reduction in disease

activity can be obtained by fasting followed by an individually

adjusted vegetarian diet. We do not believe that this regimen

carries a health risk; on the contrary it seems to be a useful

supplement to ordinary medical treatment.24 "

>

> For the first part of this article, go to the link. I wanted to

share the part about fasting and longevity:

>

> http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=1657

>

> Where does fasting fit into all this?

> Later in this book, after evaluating the life extension effects of

animal studies, I suggest strategies which mimic these experiments

and which you can put into daily practice. For now, the purpose of

this chapter is to highlight a different aspect of the potential

which this knowledge offers us, the use of fasting and dietary

modification as a means of health promotion, rather than with the

aim of life extension.

> Fasting is not starvation

> During starvation (once fatty tissue has been used up) the body

draws on its own essential protein reserves for fuel, whereas in

fasting it is the non-essential fat and protein stores which are

used for this purpose. Clearly, if fasting continues for too long a

period, starvation will take over, but no such risk exists when

fasting is used according to certain strict guidelines which I will

explain. One definition of fasting is of a period during which no

solid food is taken and when (ideally) water only is consumed.

Fasting in the treatment of chronic disease has been used for

centuries, and research into its effectiveness has been carried out

for at least 100 years. 1 A number of university studies have been

conducted which show quite clearly just what happens to the various

body systems when humans and animals fast.2,3 In some of these

strictly controlled studies prolonged fasting (months in some cases)

was shown to produce no harmful effects, only benefits. Some of the

diseases

> which have been found to improve with fasting are listed at the

end of this chapter. What happens to the body on a fast?

> The body's basic metabolic rate (BMR), which is an index of the

rate at which the body burns fuel to create energy, is seen to

slowly reduce, by around one per cent daily until it stabilizes at

75 per cent of its normal rate.4 In animal studies a number of ways

have been found to slow BMR, induding dietary (calorie) restriction

and the cooling of core temperature (such as occurs during

hibernation)5 and indeed one of the major markers of animals and

humans whose potential life spans are extended by use of reduced

calorie intake is a slowing down of the rate at which they 'burn'

oxygen; in other words their BMR slows down. The effect of fasting,

in slowing BMR, is therefore one way in which it promotes longevity.

Just how this is achieved is of some importance for it brings into

play a degree of adaptation in which energy is conserved, making the

process more 'thrifty'. Weindrudh and Walford have shown that

longevity is directly linked to efficient energy consumption

('thrifty' as

> opposed to 'burner' animals and people). When fasting begins,

the first source of energy which is tapped is the stored glucose in

the liver (glucose is vital for brain function and red blood cells).

When its own stores are used up, and whatever remaining food in the

digestive tract has been used as an energy source, the body begins

to synthesize more glucose, taken as stored glycogen from muscle

tissues. After about 24 hours these sources will be depleted, and

free amino acids and protein, and later fat stores (triglycerides),

from various nonessential sites will be turned into energy by the

liver and the kidneys. A combination of a lower requirement for

energy and careful use of what fuels are available (including some

recycling, for example of red blood cells) allows fasting to

continue for many weeks before any vital tissues become threatened

(unless at the starting point the faster is already emaciated or

malnourished). The longer the fast continues the more efficient the

> body function in reducing its dependence on glucose and the more

efficiently it uses fatty tissues for its reduced energy

requirements.6 Changes seen on a fast

> A wide array of biochemical changes occur during fasting, some of

them unpredictable, being dependent on your state of health at the

outset. Many, however, are predictable, including hormonal changes

of particular significance to longevity.7 Except in very overweight

people, one of the key changes seen is an increase in the production

by the pituitary gland of Growth Hormone (GH), of which much more

will be heard in our continued exploration of life extension

mechanics. From the viewpoint of enhanced health there are the

many beneficial changes which take place in immune function during

fasting.8 Most of these improvements, notably affecting immune

function, carry on into the period after the fast. This is perhaps

the most important aspect of fasting for better health. What

fasting can achieve

> Among the conditions successfully dealt with by fasting alone are

the following: diabetes,9 gangrene,9epilepsy,10,11obesity (although

this condition requires counselling and lifestyle modification for

continued benefit),12heart disease,13,14,15pancreatitis,16poisoning

with toxic chemicals (dramatic benefits with seven to ten day

fasts),17autoimmune disease such as glomerulonephritis, 18

rheumatoid arthritis,19,20,21 (a 1984 study in the US22 showed

remarkable improvement after seven-day fasts), food allergy,23

psoriasis, varicose ulcers, bronchial asthma, schizophrenia and many

more (references to these are given by Salloum and Burton, reference

6 below). Recent proof from Norwegian research

> A one year study of people with rheumatoid arthritis was carried

out in Norway. The researchers stated that while fasting is proven

as an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, many patients

relapse when they start eating again. In this study they followed

the four week semi-fast with a one year vegetarian diet, and it was

found that all the benefits of the fast (marked reduction in number

and intensity of swollen joints, pain and stiffness; increased

strength; improved blood chemistry and overall health status) were

maintained at the end of the year. The fast itself was not total but

included herbal teas, vegetable broth and vegetable juices (no fruit

juices because of sugar content). The calorie intake during the fast

ranged between 800 and 1,250 per day. When eating was resumed the

participants were, for the first three to five months, asked to

avoid meat, fish, eggs, dairy produce, refined sugar, food

containing gluten (e.g. wheat), citrus fruits, strong spices, tea,

> coffee, alcohol and preservatives. After this they were allowed

dairy produce and gluten-containing foods, unless there was any

reaction to them (swollen joints or pain etc.) in which case these

foods were stopped again. The calorie intake during this stage of

the treatment is not given, but it must have been in the region of

1,800 and 2,000 calories, as recommended by life extension experts.

The conclusion of these researchers from the University of Oslo

was: We have shown that a substantial reduction in disease

activity can be obtained by fasting followed by an individually

adjusted vegetarian diet. We do not believe that this regimen

carries a health risk; on the contrary it seems to be a useful

supplement to ordinary medical treatment.24 Side effects of fasting

> During the early stages of fasting a number of predictable changes

occur which commonly lead to headache, nausea, dizziness, coated

tongue, body odour, palpitations, muscle aches, discharge of mucous

and skin changes. These symptoms need to be borne philosophically

since they represent a necessary passage in the healing process. The

benefits to be gained are well worth the short-term inconvenience of

this catalog of minor problems which commonly vanish after a few

days, to be followed by a sense of well-being and clarity of mind of

remarkable degree. It is essential if a fast is to be carried out

for more than 48 hours that there is a degree of guidance available

from a health professional who is experienced in fasting techniques,

ideally a naturopathic practitioner. For shorter fasts the

guidelines given later in this book will be sufficient. It is now

time to examine the Weindrudh and Walford research into longevity

enhancement - natural life extension and the prescription

> for youth. References

>

> 'Dr Tanner's Fast', British Medical Journal (1880) ii:V1

>

> Morgulis, S., Fasting and Undernutrition (E.P. Dutton, New

York, 1923)

>

> Keys, A. et al, The Biology of Human Starvation Volumes 1 and 2

(University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1950)

>

> Goodhart, R., Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease 6th

Edition (Lea & Fabiger, Philadelphia, 1980)

>

> Hochachka, P. & Guppy, M., Metabolic Arrest and the Contml of

Biological Time (Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1987)

>

> Salloum, T. & Burton, A., 'Therapeutic Fasting' from Textbook

of Natural Medicine , ed: PDrno and Murray (Bastyr College

Publication, Seattle 1987)

>

> Kernt, P. et al, 'Fasting: the history, pathophysiology and

complications' Western Journal of Medicine (1982) 137:379-99

>

> Palmblad, J. et al, 'Acute energy deprivation in man: effect on

serum immunoglobulins, antibody response, complement factors 3 & 4,

acute phase reactants and interferon producing capacity of blood

Iymphocyted Clinical Experimental Immunology (1977) 30:50-5

> 8b. Win & E. et al, 'Fasting enhanced immune effector mechanism in

obese patients' American Journal of Medicine (1983) 75:91-6

>

> Allan, F., 'Prolonged fasting in diabetes' American Journal of

Medical Science (1915) 150:480-5

>

> Hoefel, G. & Moriarty, M., 'The effects of fasting on the

metabolism' American Journal of Diseases in Children (1924) 28:16-24

>

> Lennox, W. & Cobb, S., 'Studies in epilepsy' Archives of

Neurology and Psychiatry (1928) 20:711-79

>

> Duncan, C. et al,' Intermittent fasts in the correction and

control of intractable obesity' American Journal of Medical Science

(1963) 245:515-52

>

> Gresham, G., 'Is Atheroma a reversible lesionr Atherosclerosis

(1976) 23:379-91.

>

> Suzuki, J. et al, 'Fasting therapy for psychosomatic disease'

Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine (1976) 118(supp):245-59

>

> Sorbris, R. et al, 'Vegetarian fasting in obese patients: a

clinical and biochemical evaluation' Scandinavian J. Gastroenterolgy

(1982) 17:417-24

>

> Navarro, S. et al, 'Comparison of fasting, nasogastric suction

and cimetidine in treatment of acute pancreatitis' Digestiom (1984)

30:224-30

>

> Imamura, M. et al, 'A trial of fasting cure for PCB poisoning

patients in Taiwan' American Journal of Internal Medicine (1984)

5:10-53

>

> Brod, J. et al, influence of fasting on the immunological

reactions and course of glomerulonephritis' Lancet (1958) 760-3

>

> Lithell, H. et al, 'A fasting and vegetarian diet treatment

trial on chronic inflammatory disorders' Acta Derm. Venereol .

(1983) 63:397-403

>

> Skoldstam, L. et al, 'Rheumatoid disorders' Scandinavian

Journal of Rheumatology (1979) 8:249-55

>

> Skoldstam, L. et al, impaired con A suppressor cell activity in

patients with rheumatoid arthritis shows normalization during

fasting' Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology (1983) 12:4:369-73

>

> Kroker, G. et al, 'Fasting and rheumatoid arthritis: a

multicentre study, Clinical Ecology (1984) 2:3:137-44

>

> Gerrard, J., Food Intolerances' Lancet (1984) ii:413

>

> Kjeldsen-Kragh, J. et al, 'Controlled trial of fasting and one-

year vegetarian diet in Rheumatoid Arthritis' Lancet (1991) 899-904.

> Experimental Evidence of Life Extension

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

> Related HealthWorld Articles

> More articles about Aging

> More articles about Fasting

> More articles from the Alternative Medicine Center

> More articles from the Healthy Aging Center

> More articles by Leon Chaitow

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> A practicing naturopath, osteopath, and acupuncturist in the

United Kingdom, with over forty years clinical experience, Dr.

Chaitow is Editor-in-Chief, of the Journal of Bodywork and Movement

Therapies. He regularly lectures in the United States as well as

Europe where he instructs physiotherapists (Holland and USA),

osteopaths (Spain and UK), chiropractors (Denmark, USA and UK) as

well as massage therapists (Ireland, Sweden, USA). He is a senior

lecturer by London's University of Westminster on under and

postgraduate courses in therapeutic bodywork and naturopathy. In

1993, he became the first naturopath/osteopath to be appointed as

consultant to a UK government-funded conventional medical practice.

He lives and practices in both the UK and Greece. A prolific author,

Dr. Chaitow has written over 60 books on natural health and

alternative medicine.