To fast or not to fast, that is the question.

     I have been doing some research on fasting and health.  As I have mentioned previously, Dean fasts on the day prior to and day of his chemo treatments.  There is some medical research showing that fasting is protective of normal body cells against the chemotherapy but not protective of cancer cells, also that it can potentiate cancer cell death even without the chemo. These are preliminary research studies and more and longer term human studies need to be done.  Dean's doctor is well aware of his fasting.  She even obtained a copy of the research article for us. Here is more info on fasting and cancer.....  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241518.php

     Fasting has been practiced by humans for many centuries.  Most religions incorporate some type of fasting.  Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) have a Fast Sunday the beginning of each month.  Muslims fast during Ramadan, which is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Fasting also has a long history of being used as medical treatment.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting

     Preliminary research shows that it can be good for your heart and your health, and may help with weight loss and diabetes prevention.   http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/221081.php

     This blog by Mark Sisson gives a good overview of fasting.  One caveat....Mark believes in a primal or paleolithic type of diet.  I disagree.  Early humans may have killed and eaten the rare woolly mammoth, but that does not equal the frequent Big Macs available today.  I believe that early humans were more often prey than predators and more often gatherers than hunters.  They ate what they could scavenge to survive, probably stealing  the kill of other predators when possible, and gathering whatever they could find....fruits, nuts, seeds, tubers, greens, grains, mushrooms, etc.  In feast times, they feasted.  In times of famine, they fasted.  Civilizations didn't take off until farming was practiced, food was stored, and our ancestors could venture away from equatorial areas.  I did find Mark's blogs on fasting informative and well researched.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting-weight-loss/#axzz1w4Rn7JtA
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting-cancer/#axzz1w4Rn7JtA
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting-longevity-lifespan/#axzz1w4Rn7JtA
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting-brain-function/#axzz1w4Rn7JtA
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting-exercise-workout-recovery/#axzz1w4Rn7JtA
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-fast-part-six-choosing-a-method/#axzz1w4Rn7JtA
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting-questions-answers/#axzz1w4Rn7JtA

     The gist of all this is that I am going to try fasting along with Dean.  If it is healthy for him, it will be for me.  I'm not sure how often we will do this.  As Mark Sisson's blog discussed, there are various methods available.  We are doing a one day fast this week.....water, green and herbal teas only are allowed.  We will see how it goes and keep you apprised.  Also, I have requested a library book on fasting which was authored by a well-respected physician, so that I can learn more.

     Addendum:  The one day fast went well.  I was hungry at times, but that is all.  We fasted from bedtime Thursday night through breakfast on Saturday.  Actually, I wasn't hungry when I woke up on Saturday.  I had expected to be famished.  We'll do this again in a week or two.

  “To Lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals. The best of all medicines is rest and fasting.”
       -Benjamin Franklin. 

"Fasting is the greatest remedy–the physician within!”
       -Philippus Paracelsus- famed Swiss physician and one of three Fathers of Western Medicine who all practiced fasting  

“Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work.  The natural healing force within each of us is the greatest force in getting well.  Our food should be our medicine.  Our medicine should be our food.  But to eat when you are sick, is to feed your sickness.”
     -Hippocrates, MD  Father of Western Medicine.  

“I fast for greater physical and mental efficiency”
       -Plato  

     Hippocrates, Aristotle, Galen, Paracelsus, Plato, Socrates, Gandhi, and other great scientists and physicians have used fasting as a method of healing for centuries.

Disclaimer......this is not a medical recommendation for anyone to try without notifying their doctor!  We are experimenting with this in a safe manner.  We are an experiment of two.  We hope this will be the start of our own long-term human study on fasting as researchers won't get around to it anytime soon....there is no money in it.  Dean is under medical supervision, and I am being supportive of him.  I have no medical conditions that might be affected adversely.  Please note that I am not suggesting anyone else try this. 


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