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Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

nature.com

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Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#61

Post by hourislate »

mmhsieh wrote: post #13
Cro_on wrote: post #10

If there were ever a panacea, it would be fasting. The more tight and widespread the research becomes, the more that we prove what humanity has known anecdotally throughout civilisation. From being a Roman cure for epileptic seizures, through the integral practice in most religions, and to the 21st century where we start to prove that it increases both healthspan and lifespan. I find it quite interesting that somethi…

while on fasts, you get an energy level and mental clarity that has to be felt to be believed. everyone should try it at least once.

I have fasted 100 lbs away over the last 2 years. I adhere to an 18/6 time delay eating schedule but have done 2-3 day fasts with 1 refeed meal for a month at a time. I've also done countless 5-7 day fasts. I've gone as long as 12 days with nothing but water. There were many months where I could count the number of times I ate on one hand. My last go was every other day with just one meal on my eating days. I did that this year for all of January to the end of March and would never recommend alternate day fasting to anyone. You will mess your self and your metabolism up. You will lose a lot of muscle. Alternate day fasting should be avoided.

Never over two years did I feel any of the mental clarity or more energy you speak of. I follow guys like Cole (snake diet) and even he speaks of the feeling of dying and lying in bed shivering on a 5-7 day.

Are you sure about the metal clarity and energy levels, because I and the folks I know who fast don't seem to have those affects.

Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#62

Post by gridlockd »

bad_user wrote: post #24
Cro_on wrote: post #10

If there were ever a panacea, it would be fasting. The more tight and widespread the research becomes, the more that we prove what humanity has known anecdotally throughout civilisation. From being a Roman cure for epileptic seizures, through the integral practice in most religions, and to the 21st century where we start to prove that it increases both healthspan and lifespan. I find it quite interesting that somethi…

And yet, most of what you said is bullshit that's not evidence based. "Autophagy", that famous process which supposedly happens during fasting, that miraculously regenerates us, actually happens during caloric restriction, and it's actually a daily process that happens during the night, in everyone, while glycogen stores get naturally depleted. And we have no evidence that increased autophagy levels are beneficial, q…

> "Autophagy", that famous process which supposedly happens during fasting, that miraculously regenerates us, actually happens during caloric restriction, and it's actually a daily process that happens during the night, in everyone, while glycogen stores get naturally depleted.

Last I looked into it, we didn't really know the autophagy timeline in humans, because we can't really measure it. Of course there's a natural fasting window that every human adheres to while they sleep, but with food available at all times, three meals a day plus snacks, that window may be far smaller than what the body is evolutionarily adapted to. What if autophagy doesn't kick in properly until 10, 12 or 14 hours?

Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#63

Post by feralimal »

0-_-0 wrote: post #35
feralimal wrote: post #18

Or perhaps, fasting is the cure, and can even undo the harm from chemo!

If I'm reading this correctly, the "harm from chemo" to the person was about the same, but the "harm from chemo" to the cancer was much more significant in the fasting group.

Yes. But there are alternative healing ideas that fasting and juicing in themselves can cure cancer.

Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#64

Post by cellularmitosis »

markus92 wrote: post #27

Interesting study with, as always, a lot of caveats. The most we can take from this is that it's worth to study more, the effect is existing but not extreme. I don't get the submitted title here claiming that it protects from side effects. The study does not mention this at all, just that the side effects are similar despite omission of dexamethason in the fasting arm of the trial - it increases appetite, so makes se…

Do you have any info as to which fasting schedule is most effective?

Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#65

Post by swarnie_ »

mmhsieh wrote: post #13
Cro_on wrote: post #10

If there were ever a panacea, it would be fasting. The more tight and widespread the research becomes, the more that we prove what humanity has known anecdotally throughout civilisation. From being a Roman cure for epileptic seizures, through the integral practice in most religions, and to the 21st century where we start to prove that it increases both healthspan and lifespan. I find it quite interesting that somethi…

while on fasts, you get an energy level and mental clarity that has to be felt to be believed. everyone should try it at least once.

Do you have any recommend resources around fasting? or a preferred routine?

I'm very interested in reading more.

Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#66

Post by StavrosK »

lubonay wrote: post #45
bad_user wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet, most of what you said is bullshit that's not evidence based. "Autophagy", that famous process which supposedly happens during fasting, that miraculously regenerates us, actually happens during caloric restriction, and it's actually a daily process that happens during the night, in everyone, while glycogen stores get naturally depleted. And we have no evidence that increased autophagy levels are beneficial, q…

Fasting != malnourishment tho. Anecdotally, I've been doing 16/8, 20/4 intermittent fasting and a couple of 24-48h fasts over the past 10 years and have not yet developed anorexia.

I've been doing 16/8 for the past year+ and I've barely lost any weight (BMI of 25.5ish but I'm muscular). I've always been quite comfortable going without food for 16 hours, so I'm never even hungry.

Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#67

Post by crusso »

xutopia wrote: post #33
mmhsieh wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

while on fasts, you get an energy level and mental clarity that has to be felt to be believed. everyone should try it at least once.

I did a 3 day fast to see what it was all about. The energy levels were not there. I would get tired after a short brisk walk. Physically I was weaker but still had burst strength just no endurance or cardio. Mentally however I found myself unable to have too many variables in my head and my mind was not more able to focus on something but less distracted with extraneous thoughts. I could if I wanted to shut off the…

I found my first fast to not be representative of later fasts. You get more accustomed to not eating after you repeat the practice. You become conscious of how often you wander into the kitchen and stick your nose in the refrigerator and the pantry. A cold glass of water becomes a delightful snack.

You might try reducing your fasts to just 24 or 36 hours on weekends.

Currently, I do intermittent fasting where I don't eat before noon or after 6pm, 7 days a week. It helps me to manage my weight, I feel consistently energetic (I work out most days, cardio and weights), my mind feels as clear as ever, and I have no trouble following the practice as a lifestyle.

I'd say that I don't feel quite that clarity of thought when meditating after fasting for 30 hours or so. But it strikes the right balance of achieving some benefits of fasting without feeling like a huge chore that I have to overcome.

Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#68

Post by valar_m »

luxurytent wrote: post #14

What are the recommended ways to fast? I did intermittent fasting for about 5 months to shed 25lbs. It likely contributed, but I was also laser focused on dropping.

I've been doing intermittent fasting for 5 weeks as of today and in that time have lost 22 pounds. I have more energy and have noticed a generally heightened sense of well-being (though perhaps as a result of the weight loss and improved appearance).

I am doing 18:6, so I generally eat from 12pm to 6pm. During that time I typically eat two meals, and one or two small snacks. I try to eat pretty healthy, but there have been plenty of times in the past 5 weeks when I've just pigged out at Waffle House. I still have lost significant weight.

I have two major recommendations: first, drink tons of water. I try to drink about 16oz of water every hour. Besides hydration, it helps a lot with hunger. You will get hungry at times. For me it isn't every day - some days it's easy to stay on track. Others, it's tough. When you're feeling hungry, chug water. It really helps. (tip: try sparkling water to change things up if you get sick of regular flat water).

Second, I recommend using an app to track your fasting. Mine was free and tracks your start and end times for fasting and tells you how long until your fasting period is over. It also lets you track your weight, and even water drinking progress if you want.

Last thing - the hardest day of fasting, by far, is the very first day. After that, it will get easier.

ETA another tip: If you're doing it for weight loss, don't weigh yourself every day. Your weight will fluctuate a pound or two from one day to the next, and even throughout the day. It can be demoralizing to fast for a day and then the scales tell you that you're up a pound. Instead, weigh yourself maybe twice a week, and always near the end of your fasting period.

Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#69

Post by temptemptemp111 »

No; this is the opposite of the truth. Food, with its nutrients, protects from the toxicity of "chemotherapy." Just look at the studies showing Vitamin C as protective & synergistic with chemotherapy. Those should cast doubt upon this; not the other way around. "Nature" is clearly corrupt.

Re: Fasting improves chemotherapy results and protects from side effects: study

#70

Post by markus92 »

cellularmitosis wrote: post #64
markus92 wrote: post #27

Interesting study with, as always, a lot of caveats. The most we can take from this is that it's worth to study more, the effect is existing but not extreme. I don't get the submitted title here claiming that it protects from side effects. The study does not mention this at all, just that the side effects are similar despite omission of dexamethason in the fasting arm of the trial - it increases appetite, so makes se…

Do you have any info as to which fasting schedule is most effective?

Unfortunately that is far outside my expertise. The study here used a diet that is supposed to mimick the effects of fasting by having a low calorie/protein diet. In the discussion, they say the effects on a growth factor can be measured in blood plasma after 48 hours of fasting, or 48 hours of this diet.

My layman guess is that the best schedule is probably the one you can adhere to.

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