Posted on: Wednesday, November 26, 2003
SHAPE UP
Check out risks before starting fasting regimen
By Charles Stuart Platkin
The other day I was in the store and overheard an average middle-aged couple talking about fasting. I was a bit surprised. While religious groups and health zealots have always fasted, lately the idea of "cleansing" one's body seems to be moving from alternative to commonplace.
Still, the thought of going without food for more than a few hours is terrifying to me — forget about 20 days. Skeptical, but curious, I did some digging to find out what fasting was all about.
Four fasting methods
The four main types are juice fasts, modified juice/eating fasts, colonic cleansings and supervised water-fasting programs.
With a juice fast, an individual drinks only fruit and vegetable juices for one to 30 days.
In a modified fast, the individual adds herbal teas, some vegan foods and, often, laxatives.
A colonic cleansing consists of various ways of flushing out and cleaning your colon, including taking certain herbal supplements.
Finally, water-only fasts are typically medically supervised and done in clinics for those with chronic diseases.
Sense of euphoria
Those who fast experience a whole gamut of physiological and psychological effects. "Physiologically, the body can experience heart palpitations, an increased sense of awareness — almost a sense of euphoria. This is from the release of stress hormones used to process energy for your body while you fast," says Timothy Patton, a professor of public health at Florida International University.
Some describe a heightened spiritual awareness and relaxation of the body — even a sense of letting go of pain from the past and developing a positive attitude toward the present.
Typical discomforts seen in the early stages of fasting include: lightheadedness, irritability, racing heart, exacerbation of joint symptoms, muscle aches, headache, nausea, mild abdominal discomfort, and hunger.
The body adapts
"Your body is a very efficient machine and is designed to handle a fast quite well," says Patton. If you do a complete fast (only water), your body first uses the tiny amount of glucose (sugar) you have running through your bloodstream for energy. When this is gone, the lack of food forces the liver to use a small amount of its glycogen (stored glucose).
The brain, vital organs and other body functions still need to find another source of glucose to operate when the liver's available glycogen is used up. Luckily, our bodies have the amazing ability to convert proteins (from muscles) into glucose so we can survive.
Regrettably, we lose valuable muscle (especially if you're body is not in a complete resting state).
What about using fat? Unfortunately, fat never converts to glucose (fat is used to fuel muscles for extended physical activity), but instead is oxidized into an alternative, albeit inefficient, source of energy called ketones, which can be used to partially fuel the brain and central nervous system (glucose is the other source).
Reasons for fasting
"We detoxify for many reasons, mainly to do with health, vitality, and rejuvenation — to clear symptoms, treat disease and prevent disease," says Dr. Elson M. Haas.
In fact, research from the National Institute on Aging demonstrated that rodents that fasted every other day seemed more resistant to diabetes, Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease than control mice or animals on calorie-restricted diets.
In addition, clinical studies have shown that medically supervised water fasting can reduce symptoms of auto-immune illnesses and, in certain cases, bring about disease remission (specifically for rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension and diabetes).
Advocates of medically supervised, water-only fasts see it as a method of "rebooting" your system and generally frown upon fasting on a regular basis. "Fasting is a way of introducing dietary and lifestyle change — starting fresh. But it's not just about fasting; the reason that we have had great clinical success reversing chronic disease is due to the education, controlled supervision, and re-introduction of food and lifestyle," says Alan Goldhammer of True North in Rohnert Park, Calif.
Hazardous side effects
The opponents of fasting (mostly physicians) are as ardent as fasting's supporters. "No scientific evidence exists that fasting has any benefits for the body. In fact, a body that is starved or depleted would not be as effective or efficient at eliminating offending substances," says Dr. Peter Pressman, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California.
Fasting and "cleansing" programs can create a host of medical problems, including damage to your gastrointestinal tract, nutrient malabsorption, impaired liver function, anemia, kidney stones and hypoglycemia. Repeated laxative use and "repetitive colonics lead to dependence on external laxatives, disturbing the body's natural ability to do it itself," explains Pressman.
Gaining body fat is yet another possible hazard of fasting. "When you stop fasting, the first thing your body wants to do is nourish and refeed. Your body is afraid it's going to starve again, so it will crave high calorie foods — that's why this is the most important phase. If you eat the same unhealthy foods you had before the fast, you will gain fat," says Patton.
Bottom line: If you really want to keep your body "toxin-free," try eating a healthy diet.
Charles Stuart Platkin is a syndicated health, nutrition and fitness columnist. Write to info@thedietdetective.com.
