Does Fasting Improve Health or Just Hype?

I usually do a 72-hour fast monthly. I drink only water or unsweetened iced tea. I do this to improve the function of my immune system. Several years ago, Valter Longo, Ph.D. and his team at the University of Southern California discovered that a 72-hour fast reset the immune system. See https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2020/01/06/can-intermittent-fasting-reset-your-immune-system/#12151ade27ac

A short time later, his team works with other medical professionals to test the efficacy of using a 72-hour fast to combat cancer (skin and breast cancers). Both chemotherapy and fasting had about the same results. Using them together the biomarkers showed greater improvement than using either alone. See https://news.usc.edu/103972/fasting-like-diet-turns-the-immune-system-against-cancer/

More recent studies by Dr. Longo are showing the 120-hour fast can reset the pancreas in laboratory animals. The human tests are ongoing. Fasting doesn’t mean water only. A fasting-mimicking diet (certain foods allowed) can also accomplish similar results.

There are many more benefits that this short article will list. Stem cell regeneration is another positive result of fasting. See here https://news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/

I started doing 72-hour fasts over a year ago. I have probably missed one, possibly two months during that time in which I did not do a monthly fast. I do it to improve and enhance my immune system. With the coronavirus prevalent, our immune systems are our first line of defense.

I am within a few hours of completing my first 120-hour fast (water and unsweetened tea only). The 120-hour fast should be done three months in a row. I intend to increase my monthly 72-hour fast to 120 hours during the next two months and then return to a normal 72-hour fast.

Fasting also increases human growth hormone (HGH). As we age, our body’s production of HGH decreases. The lower levels of HGH can destabilize the body’s overall balance of hormones. When we were children, our bodies produced great amounts of HGH. This HGH supported our growth. As we pass our 40s, the daily production is half of what it was decades earlier. After reaching our 70s, the daily production is a small fraction. Fasting, for me, is one of the easiest ways to increase my HGH levels. See https://blog.davincilabs.com/blog/does-intermittent-fasting-boost-human-growth-hormone-hgh.

Not everyone can fast. Pre-existing conditions would require continuous monitoring by doctors or other health professionals. I am extremely healthy, research, write books and blogs, and speak on health and wellness specializing in longevity. Again, fasting is not for everyone. If you think this might help you, please consult your physician before starting any type of fast.

There are many things you can do to improve your health, but fasting, to me, is in the top three (balanced nutrition and caloric restriction being the other two).

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – https://RedOLaughlin.com