Posted on 06/17/2014 12:49:38 PM PDT by Phillyred
Fasting for as little as three days can regenerate the entire immune system, even in the elderly, scientists have found in a breakthrough described as "remarkable". Although fasting diets have been criticised by nutritionists for being unhealthy, new research suggests starving the body kick-starts stem cells into producing new white blood cells, which fight off infection. Scientists at the University of Southern California say the discovery could be particularly beneficial for people suffering from damaged immune systems, such as cancer patients on chemotherapy. It could also help the elderly whose immune system becomes less effective as they age, making it harder for them to fight off even common diseases. The researchers say fasting "flips a regenerative switch" which prompts stem cells to create brand new white blood cells, essentially regenerating the entire immune system. Related Articles Bosses should allow staff afternoon naps at work to boost productivity, scientists say 05 Jun 2014 Sleeping with light on increases risk of obesity 30 May 2014 Watching pornography damages men's brains 29 May 2014 Retirement is liberating – I’m learning to foxtrot 08 Jun 2014 Clients not wedded to Ayesha Vardag’s big day 08 Jun 2014 Why brights are big this season - and how to wear them 08 Jun 2014 "It gives the 'OK' for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system," said Prof Valter Longo, Professor of Gerontology and the Biological Sciences at the University of California. "And the good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting. “Now, if you start with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or ageing, fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
and give you the Runs when start to eat again
I proved this to myself on a recent trip from Illinois to Orlando where four of the five people in our party cycled the intestinal flu. I immediately stopped eating, drank water the first day and green juices the second day. By the third day I ate a salad in the evening and made it home without incident.
I am certain that is what saved me!
Something tells me that such a strategy may cause more problems than it solves.
One day, ok.
Two days, I’m wobbling.
I don’t think I could do three days.
Does this also work for the booze-only for three days regimen? Or does it have to be water-only?
In ancient China, the custom was that ministers or advisors with something very important to discuss with the Emperor (assuming not an emergency) would fast for 3 days, bathe, and then go to see the Emperor.
If I can stay in bed for the three days...maybe.
Looks like this article shared space with articles on
‘Bosses should allow staff afternoon naps’
‘Sleeping with light on increases risk of obesity’
‘Retirement is liberating ‘
‘I’m learning to foxtrot’
And a few other fluff articles of no importance whatsoever.
If I went for 3 days without eating I would die from a screaming bad headache caused by low blood sugar.
well, fasting is actually biblical, that other stuff you mentioned not so much.
3 day Budweiser fast? :-)
indeed... same method here.
3 days to rebuild the temple.
Pretty easy to ‘fast’ on chemo.
Worth the experiment, but I was thinking more along the lines of clear liquids.
if you have a high metabolism, fasting is ill advised, but for people above 50 or with very low metabolics, it makes sense... 3 days is no big deal.
There’s no such thing as “intestinal flu” or “stomach flu”. Flu is a viral infection that affects the whole body, and last several days to a week. What people call “stomach flu” is really just food poisoning.
It might be moderated with sugared drinks like Gatorade, not going overboard of course.
Survival training in Pensacola FL at AOCS, you went out day one, no food, day two no food, day three you packed it in and returned in time for evening chow.
We all heaped our plates, hungry as can be. A few mouthfuls and our shrunken stomachs were full.
Fasting can be entertaining, headaches, weakness, lethargy, the pre-occupation of the mind with something good to eat. You drink a lot of water, we had chlorine pills to “sanitize” what we were drinking, you just did it.
I think fasting for a reason—health, would not hurt anyone.
Coming off of a 72 hour or so fast guarantees you could order a kid’s meal and not finish it.
Well the germs can be ingested in other manners than their being in food.
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