Academia

Study: Three Day Fast May Reboot Immune System And Produce Other Benefits

300px-MahavratasThere is an interesting study out of the University of Southern California on fasting. The study is fascinating in what it found to be benefits from three-day fasts. The researchers found that such fasts could protect against immune system damage and actually induces immune system regeneration. I was so intrigued by the study, I decided to give it a try. I am on my third day of only water.

The researchers were surprised by their results and concluded that fasting not only force the body to eat stores of glucose, fat and ketones but devours white blood cells. Once you begin to eat again, new cells are produced — a type of reboot.

They also found that fasting reduced the enzyme PKA that is linked to aging and a hormone which increases cancer risk and tumor growth. This was particularly important for people undergoing chemotherapy who reported positive effects.

The study suggests that periodically doing a three-day fast each year could be highly beneficial.

As for me, I must admit that I am feeling the fast today as I complete my third day. I fasted many years ago and I was interested in just seeing if I could go the distance. It is an interesting collection of sensations and reactions as you pass through the three days. I am looking forward to dinner tonight, however.

Source: Medical News

75 thoughts on “Study: Three Day Fast May Reboot Immune System And Produce Other Benefits”

  2. RTC, Lydia is great. She’s a control freak, but most chefs are. She has a restaurant in KC I need to visit. We used to live in KC. We got married there THIS DATE, in 1977. Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown that day. We visit friends there annually.

  3. How did you determine the fast was water only? I read the full paper and didn’t find a definition. The authors report benefits from a single 3 day fast but also indicate periodic fasts over a 6 month period without stipulating how often, e.g., once a month for 6 months, every other week for 6 months? The authors also seem to indicate that a single day of fasting is worse, for purposes of immune system renewal, than doing nothing. I applaud you for getting through a 3 day water only fast. I’m still mulling it over and wondering if I really have the stones to do it.
    Here’s a link – look for pdf’s on the right
    http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/S1934-5909%2814%2900151-9

  5. Karen, I’m not a big fan of Mario Batali but he has been important and helping people understand there is no one Italian cuisine. It is all regional because it is all based on what is local and fresh. The tradition of eating is the same throughout Italy, but the food is quite varied. We went to northern Italy last December after having been to Rome, Naples, Sorrento and Capri previously. Entirely different cuisine. My grandparents were southern Italian immigrants, so that’s what I ate growing up. Northern Italy was many surprises, all pleasant.

  6. earsoftheworld, I have 2 nieces who have gone to several Bonnaroo. I’m out west for Coachello and have considered but it is so elitist I have not gone. Lollapalozza in Chicago has really grown. I might go this year. I am not a fan of many current bands but love live music. I listen to classical in the car.

  8. Nick – true Italian food is an epiphany. I loved the different regional cuisines in Italy.

    It’s interesting how different it is from Americanized Italian food.

  9. I wonder if there is a window of time during which you would be more susceptible to illness, as your body consumed WBC.

    I get light headed and grumpy when I skip meals – I don’t know if I could make it 3 whole days! I wonder if there are any benefits to 1- and 2-day fasts.

  10. I’ve always found that I have much more energy when I fast for 24 hours or so. Never really tried three days, except maybe at Bonnaroo back in 2002, but that doesn’t really count.

  11. GQ had an article about fasting that is interesting:

    http://www.gq.com/life/fitness/201311/six-day-water-fast-diet

    Personally, I fast from Friday dinner to Saturday night with good results. It gives your system a break and does reboot your system. Rather than just water I sip a mixture of 20 oz of water and two tablespoons each of apple cider vinegar (with mother) and lemon juice which helps with the hunger pangs and alkalyzes your body.

  12. I live by the Satchel Paige philosophy, everything in moderation. I tend to eschew extremes. Our culture, regarding food and much more has become one of extremes. However, I always read these studies and run them by my doc. She is Harvard educated, a voracious reader of new info, and very common sense. Being a Jew, she and I have a strong food connection. She spent summers in Italy and agrees emphatically, we need to eat like Italians. They love food, but are very moderate in what they eat. Italians have the lowest BMI in Europe. They’re meals are simple, w/ local fresh ingredients. The diet is low in meat and dairy, high in seafood, nuts, vegetables, olive oil and fruit. Of all the diets that have come and gone, all the fads, all the craziness, the Mediterranean Diet has remained constant for centuries. And, there is NO controversy that it is the best diet for a long, healthy life. You don’t realize just how much this country has lost its soul vis a vis food, until you travel to Italy and see the soulful way people eat. The US has a dysfunctional relationship w/ food. I had it, and it almost killed me. There is no magic wand. No quick fix. Exercise for me is the key, along w/ a sensible Mediterranean diet, as best one can in Wi.

    All that said. I hope this is a benefit. It is an extreme but only 3 days. There is so much information that shows our metabolism shuts down when starved and burns less fat that I remain skeptical. But, I will read this and run it by my doc.

    1. Nick Spinelli wrote: “There is so much information that shows our metabolism shuts down when starved and burns less fat that I remain skeptical.”

      Indeed, the metabolism does slow down, but it is the toxins built up in the body that are purged. Also, a lot of fat that lines the circulatory system dissolves away which leads to increased circulation making you feel more energy. The mind can become much more active after not eating for 2 or 3 weeks. Energy levels that were greatly depressed after 4 or 5 days of fasting will rise tremendously. However, you will find the need to retire for sleep sooner. Your activity during the day cannot be as long without some rest.

      The Jews during the time of Christ, as well as the early Christians, were disciplined to fast two days out of the week. The traditional fast days were Mondays and Thursdays. Going into the second century, the Christians changed their fast days to Wednesday and Friday to separate themselves from the “hypocrites.” So says the Didache.

  14. Professor: Let us know the results of your fast if you feel any improvement. I’m skeptical of fasting myself but I think a limited caloric intake is ideal.

  15. I’ve been doing IF ( Intermittant Fasting) for a couple of years now, with an eating window of four hours and a fasting time of 20 hours, combined with The Perect Health Diet by Drs. Paul and Shou – Ching Jaminet. Never felt better.

    http://perfecthealthdiet.com/

  16. Fasting is very beneficial and overlooked by our culture. I fasted for three days just two weeks ago. I’ve done many fasts that were 10 to 14 days in duration. The longest fast I’ve done was 40 days. Long fasts become very destructive to the body, but short fasts of several days up to two weeks offer body cleansing health benefits.

    1. Amy, now you tell me!

      I enjoyed reading your linked article. I am still a bit uncertain of whether the shorter fasts produce the immunity response found in California, however.

  20. Very interesting! I always thought that we were really never meant to eat at precise intervals–for precisely the points raised above. I am sure before we became civilized (and before we completely regress), humans did not eat a consistent amount of food every day, and this ebb and flow resulted in biological processes that worked in harmony with this. Especially the immune system. I did fast about 20 years ago, and it was amazing what it did at the time. I felt more energy, became much more clear-headed, and my hair and skin texture was totally different. I am thinking it might be a way to fight back against allergies. And I lost my appetite for nasty stuff. Chips and the like. Plus, I can use my own fat to save money against the ridiculously inflating food prices. I hope you see similar benefits, please give us a report!

Comments are closed.