The Health Benefits of Fasting
Will Carroll
There has been much contention in the scientific field about
whether or not fasting is beneficial to one's health. Fasting is an
integral part of many of the major religions including Islam, Judaism
and Christianity. Many are dubious as to whether the physiological
effects are as beneficial as the spiritual promoted by these
religions. There is a significant community of alternative healers who
believe that fasting can do wonders for the human body. This paper
will look at the arguments presented by these healers in an attempt to
raise awareness of the possible physiological benefits that may result
from fasting.
Fasting technically commences within the first twelve to
twenty-four hours of the fast. A fast does not chemically begin until
the carbohydrate stores in the body begin to be used as an energy
source. The fast will continue as long as fat and carbohydrate stores
are used for energy, as opposed to protein stores. Once protein stores
begin to be depleted for energy (resulting in loss of muscle mass) a
person is technically starving. (1)
The benefits of fasting must be preceded by a look at the body's
progression when deprived of food. Due to the lack of incoming energy,
the body must turn to its own resources, a function called autolysis.
(2) Autolysis is the breaking down of fat stores in
the body in order to produce energy. The liver is in charge of
converting the fats into a chemical called a ketone body, "the
metabolic substances acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyric acid"
(3), and then distributing these bodies throughout
the body via the blood stream. "When this fat utilization occurs, free
fatty acids are released into the blood stream and are used by the
liver for energy." (3) The less one eats, the more
the body turns to these stored fats and creates these ketone bodies,
the accumulation of which is referred to as ketosis. (4)
Detoxification is the foremost argument presented by advocates of
fasting. "Detoxification is a normal body process of eliminating or
neutralizing toxins through the colon, liver, kidneys, lungs, lymph
glands, and skin." (5). This process is precipitated
by fasting because when food is no longer entering the body, the body
turns to fat reserves for energy. "Human fat is valued at 3,500
calories per pound," a number that would lead one to believe that
surviving on one pound of fat every day would provide a body with
enough energy to function normally. (2) These fat
reserves were created when excess glucose and carbohydrates were not
used for energy or growth, not excreted, and therefore converted into
fat. When the fat reserves are used for energy during a fast, it
releases the chemicals from the fatty acids into the system which are
then eliminated through the aforementioned organs. Chemicals not found
in food but absorbed from one's environment, such as DDT, are also
stored in fat reserves that may be released during a fast. One fasting
advocate tested his own urine, feces and sweat during an extended fast
and found traces of DDT in each. (5)
A second prescribed benefit of fasting is the healing process that
begins in the body during a fast. During a fast energy is diverted
away from the digestive system due to its lack of use and towards the
metabolism and immune system. (6) The healing process
during a fast is precipitated by the body's search for energy sources.
Abnormal growths within the body, tumors and the like, do not have the
full support of the body's supplies and therefore are more susceptible
to autolysis. Furthermore, "production of protein for replacement of
damaged cells (protein synthesis) occurs more efficiently because
fewer 'mistakes' are made by the DNA/RNA genetic controls which govern
this process." A higher efficiency in protein synthesis results in
healthier cells, tissues and organs. (7) This is one
reason that animals stop eating when they are wounded, and why humans
lose hunger during influenza. Hunger has been proven absent in
illnesses such as gastritis, tonsillitis and colds. (2)
Therefore, when one is fasting, the person is consciously diverting
energy from the digestive system to the immune system.
In addition, there is a reduction in core body temperature. This is
a direct result of the slower metabolic rate and general bodily
functions. Following a drop in blood sugar level and using the
reserves of glucose found in liver glycogen, the basal metabolic rate
(BMR) is reduced in order to conserve as much energy within the body
as can be provided. (2) Growth hormones are also
released during a fast, due to the greater efficiency in hormone
production. (7)
Finally, the most scientifically proven advantage to fasting is the
feeling of rejuvenation and extended life expectancy. Part of this
phenomenon is caused by a number of the benefits mentioned above. A
slower metabolic rate, more efficient protein production, an improved
immune system, and the increased production of hormones contributes to
this long-term benefit of fasting. In addition to the Human Growth
Hormone that is released more frequently during a fast, an anti-aging
hormone is also produced more efficiently. (7) "The
only reliable way to extend the lifespan of a mammal is
under-nutrition without malnutrition." (5) A study
was performed on earthworms that demonstrated the extension of life
due to fasting. The experiment was performed in the 1930s by isolating
one worm and putting it on a cycle of fasting and feeding. The
isolated worm outlasted its relatives by 19 generations, while still
maintaining its youthful physiological traits. The worm was able to
survive on its own tissue for months. Once the size of the worm began
to decrease, the scientists would resume feeding it at which point it
showed great vigor and energy. "The life-span extension of these worms
was the equivalent of keeping a man alive for 600 to 700 years."
(8)
In conclusion, it seems that there are many reasons to consider
fasting as a benefit to one's health. The body rids itself of the
toxins that have built up in our fat stores throughout the years. The
body heals itself, repairs all the damaged organs during a fast. And
finally there is good evidence to show that regulated fasting
contributes to longer life. However, many doctors warn against fasting
for extended periods of time without supervision. There are still many
doctors today who deny all of these points and claim that fasting is
detrimental to one's health and have evidence to back their
statements. The idea of depriving a body of what society has come to
view as so essential to our survival in order to heal continues to be
a topic of controversy.
References
1)"Dr.
Sniadach – True Health Freedom 3
2)fastingforbetterhealth
3)"Ketosis
by Sue Reith"
4)"Nutriquest,
March 11th, 2000 – Ketosis and Low Carbohydrate Diets"
5)"WebMD
– Detox Diets: Cleansing the Body"
6)"Fasting"
7)"Fasting
– Good Morning Doctor"
8)"The
health Benefits of Fasting"
This paper is published at:
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/
URL:
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f02/web1/wcarroll.html
info@submission.org
