The 1945 study by Carlson and Hoelzel, found that the apparent life span of rats was increased by intermittent fasting.
Since then a number of subsequent studies have shown beneficial effects of IF (intermittent fasting) in animals.
- "Reduced serum glucose and insulin levels and increased resistance of neurons in the brain to excitotoxic stress."[5]
- "Enhance[s] cardiovascular and brain functions and improve[s] several risk factors for coronary artery disease and stroke including a reduction in blood pressure and increased insulin sensitivity" and that "cardiovascular stress adaptation is improved and heart rate variability is increased in rodents" and that "rodents maintained on an IF regimen exhibit increased resistance of heart and brain cells to ischemic injury in experimental models of myocardial infarction and stroke."[6]
- May "ameliorate age-related deficits in cognitive function" in mice.[7]
- Correlation with IF and significantly improved biochemical parameters associated with development of diabetic nephropathy.[8]
- Resistance in mice to the effects of gamma irradiation.[9]
- Lifespan increases of 40.4% and 56.6% in C. elegans for alternate day (24 hour) and two-of-each-three day (48 hour) fasting, respectively, as compared to an ad libitumdiet.[10]
- Rats showed markedly improved long-term survival after chronic heart failure via pro-angiogenic, anti-apoptotic and anti-remodeling effects.
Human studies
Studies on humans suggest similar beneficial results.
- In the early 1960s, one study of fasting as a method of weight control noted that "[We] have noticed an improvement in the last few months in the ability of these patients to keep their weight under control by observing one fast per week [water only]. This allows them to be more liberal with their diet on the other days. I cannot overemphasize the fact that they prefer this to perpetual daily denial with no alternative."[12]
- Alternative day fasting (ADF) may produce significant improvements in several markers such as LDL cholesterol in as little as eight weeks.[13]
- ADF "may effectively modulate several risk factors, thereby preventing chronic disease, and that ADF may modulate disease risk to an extent similar to that of CR."[14]
- Serum from humans following an IF diet had positive effects (reduced triglycerides in men and increased HDL in women, as well as reduced cell proliferation and increased heat resistance) in vitro on human hepatoma cells.[15]
- IF is hypothesized to confer protection from toxic chemotherapy treatments, allowing higher doses and therefore more effective treatment for cancers.[16]
- IF may function as a form of nutritional hormesis.[17][18]
- Work at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, USA found evidence that fasting for one or two days a week could protect the brain against some of the worst effects of Alzheimer's,Parkinson's and other ailments.[19]
- Be sure to consult a medical practitioner before going on any strict fast or diet.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment