Health Benefits of Fasting

[USCguy]

Does anyone know if there is any research about the health benefits of fasting? How often it should be done and for how long?

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[USCguy]

I'm gonna try it for the next 24 hours(36 hour fast total). I'll post how I feel tomorrow morning when I break it

 

[Sundarban1]

I'm gonna try it for the next 24 hours(36 hour fast total). I'll post how I feel tomorrow morning when I break it

I do it every Saturday. The key is to get really drunk Friday night at the club so that you puke all night and your stomach is so wasted the next day that you cannot physically eat anything for 24hrs. 👍

 

[chef_NU]

Does anyone know if there is any research about the health benefits of fasting? How often it should be done and for how long?

It actually slows down your metabolism, makes you feel ****ty, body starts to breakdown muscle, more tired, less perceptive, process information more slowly ... basically not really any benefits.

Of course, if the alternative is eating 30 krispy kremes a day it's probably good for you.

If you want to lose weight, don't ever deny yourself food. The key is to eat all the time, but high-volume, low calorie stuff like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and (occasionally) some lean meat, eggs, nuts, fish. The more fiber in your diet, the less you'll have to eat and feel full. These foods keep your blood sugar stable (and you = happy and effective).

 

[USCguy]

Most of the info I could find online said it was beneficial unless you have some chronic disease or other serious health problem. Then again, most of the websites are talking about "detox"ing the body. Looks like "detox" is the new catchphrase. So long "diet."

I'm not doing it to lose weight. Fasting is a part of most religions (Jesus fasted, Muslims fast during the day during Ramadan<sp?>, The Old Testament is full of "prayer and fasting" passages. Hindus and Buddhist also fast). Many of the lifestyle laws laid out in the Old Testament promote good hygiene for followers. I read that the Jews weren't severely affected by the plag in London in the early 1800's, and were persecuted because people noticed this and thought the Jews had something to do with causing it(maybe a precursor to mein kampf?). They weren't affected because of strict dietary/lifestyle laws that prevented them from eating/being in contact with food/animals that were spreading it.

Maybe Fasting has a two-fold effect, psychological and also for good physical health. This is what sparked my interest in fasting

 

[tigress]

Jewish laws about diet and lifestyle, particularly sanitary laws, may have had something to do with the plague, but they aren't related to fasting. But yes, Jews fast. We have two major fast days during the year (25 hours each) and a number of smaller ones. But I think Jews fast differently than Christians. When we fast we can't have any food or liquid at all. I remember in high school a classmate telling me that she fasted at her church and they could have clear liquids.

As far as health benefits, yeah right. After fasting for 25 hours straight you feel tired, woozy, and not so great. All that nonsense about "detoxing" the body is a big fad. As a matter of fact, I recently read a "health" magazine that was laying around somewhere that suggested going to a colonic specialist, taking supplements, and having an enema every other day for 30 days 😱 to rid your colon of "rotting, putrified" stuff. Suuuure, why don't you do that. Enjoy.

I can't say that you won't gain anything psychological from fasting. That's why religions do it -- it can induce a state of emotion and single-minded concentration on prayer, for example. But I really don't think there's a physical benefit; in fact, I think physically it's probably pretty bad for you.

 

[2DEG]

I am not religious..but muslims fast from dawn to dusk (approximately) during the month of Ramadan in Arabic calendar. No food, no drinks, no smoking nothing..and no sex during that fasting period either if you are married. Doesn't say anything about sex with girlfriend..so thats a different story 🙂

My personal experience - I don't like fasting. Makes you so weak, can't concentrate at work or study and then voraciously eat when the time comes to break the fast. People who fasts and like it - in my opinion ..they like it for religious reasons more than any logical/rational reasons. Thats my humble opinion.

Thats my 2 cents.

 

[JimmyG]

My mother and brother just completed the Master Cleanse Diet, not a fast but a "detox" diet. (by Stanley Burroughs) My mom completed it for 10 days and she said she never felt hungry or tired and she works out at the gym twice a day. She recommends it to all her friends now. You can find it online if you are interested. PM me if you would like a PDF file I can send you.

 

[USCguy]

Well, its been 36 hours. I feel pretty good. I wasn't ever hungry until I woke up this morning. I drank a whole lot of water yesterday, to stave off any stomach growls. I think a fast longer than a day would be really hard to do. I'm gonna keep looking into this to see if I can dredge up any case studies. This was a water/green tea only fast. Some longer fast use fruit/veg juices, to help make it through I guess

 

[JohnnyOU]

I am not religious..but muslims fast from dawn to dusk (approximately) during the month of Ramadan in Arabic calendar. .

I always found that sortof odd. It doesn't sound like fasting at all to me, just eating at a different time for a month.

 

[USCguy]

And when they eat, it is alot...Everynight of Ramadan envolves some sort of feasting(at least, if you can afford it). My g/f grew up in Saudi Arabia, and she said that its like Thanksgiving everynight.

 

[Law2Doc]

I always found that sortof odd. It doesn't sound like fasting at all to me, just eating at a different time for a month.

Yeah -- I've had jobs where I didn't get a lunch break and basically didn't get to eat until the evening, but my daily caloric intake was probably pretty similar. I wouldn't really count that as fasting.

With diet, extremes are bad. Don't fast, and don't gorge. Don't assume that religions track common sense health -- a lot of assumptions made eons ago were based on faulty science. Just eat normally and in moderation.

 

[guv_garfunkel]

Does anyone know if there is any research about the health benefits of fasting? How often it should be done and for how long?

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f02/web1/wcarroll.html

 

[HealthActuary]

Benefits of Fasting for 24 Hours: Your Body's Reset Button

Want to reset your body naturally? Learn the benefits of fasting for 24 hours, including weight loss, cellular repair, and improved insulin sensitivity.

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