Fasting

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imported_delphi23

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Over the years I have read so many claims with regards to fasting. Are there any health benefits to incorporating fasts into your lifestyle? For example, I read that a basketball player (I can't remember his name) fasts one day out of every four thinking this will prolong youthfullness and vitality.

People on this site have great scientific knowledge which is why I am asking this. I know some people fast for religious or political reasons. That is not my motivation. I was just wondering if periodic fasts such as one day a week or one weekend a month create any long term health benefits and/or speed up weight loss. Does fasting "flush out the impurities" or "give the digestive system a rest", etc? I wonder if there is any science behind these claims.

Forgive my ignorance if the answers are obvious. I am an economics major and unfortunately don't remember any of my biology classes.
 
Yes, fasting is literally the fountain of youth. By not stressing the digestive system and all of the metabolic processes (especially the electron transport chain which generates the most free radicals) you can expect to put significant years on your life with fasting.

But someone your same age could eat junk his whole life, not even know fasting is an option, and still outlive you. And he got to eat whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.
 
[b said:
Quote[/b] (kyleman1 @ July 05 2005,5:52)]Yes, fasting is literally the fountain of youth. By not stressing the digestive system and all of the metabolic processes (especially the electron transport chain which generates the most free radicals) you can expect to put significant years on your life with fasting.
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This is what I want to know more about. Are there any systems or methods of periodic fasting that one could incorporate into their lifestyle? I mentioned the basketball player that fasts once out of every four days. Are there any bbs that do periodic fasts? I have heard about how giving the digestive system a periodic rest can give major benefits. Is there science to back this?

"But someone your same age could eat junk his whole life, not even know fasting is an option, and still outlive you. And he got to eat whatever he wanted whenever he wanted."

Well this is the luck of the draw. But I would guess such a person would be an anomoly. The best way to proceed, IMO, is to do the things which give you the highest probability of success and let the cards fall where they may.

Any other info on this would be appreciated.
 
For bodybuilding reasons, i wouldnt go near a dumbbell on a fast!!

But, there is something ive come across called the anabolic rebound. When people are dieting for upcoming competitions, they of course begin to loose fat, and they also loose a little muscle too. Since youre body is being deprived, itll respond much more dramatically to nutrients, when they are eventually delivered. Good exmaple: everyone says when you go on a low carb diet, it works, but when the carbs do come back, you get even fatter then ever.

I brougt these examples up because you can consider the fast the deprivation, and then you can expect an anabolic rebound after it.

I wouldn't fast more than once a week. Me personally, I dont like fasting. It feels so good, and it feels so right that If I did it, id probably end up quitting bodybuilding so i could fast more. Bodybuilding and undereating dont get along too well, and ive made my choice
 
"I wouldn't fast more than once a week."

Actually, that's what I was thinking of doing; fasting on an off day. I know that fasting would be considered catabolic and that doesn't go well with building muscle. But how much could one day a week hurt?
 
If you wish to find out what happens during starvation read the work of Oliver Owen

Protein, fat, and carbohydrate requirements during starvation:
anaplerosis and cataplerosis.
 
[b said:
Quote[/b] (kyleman1 @ July 05 2005,5:52)]Yes, fasting is literally the fountain of youth. By not stressing the digestive system and all of the metabolic processes (especially the electron transport chain which generates the most free radicals) you can expect to put significant years on your life with fasting..
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um... according to what?
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]By not stressing the digestive system and all of the metabolic processes (especially the electron transport chain which generates the most free radicals) you can expect to put significant years on your life with fasting.
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right, and when you fast, your cells for some reason are able to stop undergoing cellular respiration?  Don't think so.
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]But someone your same age could eat junk his whole life, not even know fasting is an option, and still outlive you. And he got to eat whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.
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Kyleman, no offense, but please.  Don't post anything like this unless it is true.  This brings to mind the "don't eat veggies, just eat fruit" advice you gave to someone else.  There's nothing wrong with wanting to contribute, but when you give erroneous information, it can sabotage other people in their pursuits.
 
i do not know about fasting HOWEVER, i HAVE heard about how decreasing your overall caloric intake will decrease the aging process.

did some study with monkies. was pretty interesting. but all in all, i love my food :)
 
"If you wish to find out what happens during starvation read the work of Oliver Owen"

Could you summarize the essentials.
 
I was going to type a lengthy response back to you BoSox, but i dont want to. Ill stop giving my advice then. No good comes from egos, ever.
 
[b said:
Quote[/b] (kyleman1 @ July 05 2005,11:35)]I was going to type a lengthy response back to you BoSox, but i dont want to. Ill stop giving my advice then. No good comes from egos, ever.
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You can talk all you want about BoSox's ego, but the bottom line is that he is right and you are wrong.....almost all of the time. :)
 
[b said:
Quote[/b] (delphi23 @ July 05 2005,8:40)]"If you wish to find out what happens during starvation read the work of Oliver Owen"
Could you summarize the essentials.
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A one day fast is not going to harm you, but when looking at it in a body building context why would you want too.
Look at the results synopsis I posted above, now this is strictly looking at the major substrates and RMR, not enzymes or other processes, but overall after Day 1 of starvation there wasn't much of a difference between baseline.
[b said:
Quote[/b] (onemorerep Posted on July 05 2005 @ 8:24)]i do not know about fasting HOWEVER, i HAVE heard about how decreasing your overall caloric intake will decrease the aging process.
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Although life extension through, what is termed Caloric Restriction, has been observed over the years in many species, including mice, hamsters, dogs, fish, invertebrate animals, yeast and nematodes there isn't much out there in the way of Human research.
 
Granted, sometimes we post stuff that isn't exactly true. But this board does encourage people to post their thoughts and opinions.

If there is soemthing about kyleman1's post(s) that isn't true, please point it out, but use research or a text book to show where the error is. Try not to insult people though.
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I used to fast for 24-36 hours once a week.  I got into it after reading a book called "The Miracle of Fasting," by Paul Bragg, a real old-school health nut (see "The Road to Wellville" for an example of this)...it's kind of kooky in its zealotry, but entertaining for that same reason.  One particularly nasty image stands out.  The author was describing how during one fast (it was a longer, weeklong fast, I think) he had a sudden powerful urge to defecate--despite having not eaten anything for some time--and pooped a substantial amount of mercury that had accumulated in his bowels...it was something of a religious experience for him.  

From what I've read, to get the really profound de-toxifying effects of fasting, you'll have to go on longer fasts--like weeklong fasts--during which all manner of old and unsightly horrors will be expelled from your body.  A lot of the fasting regimes involve *some* consumption--psyllium husk powder (pure, non-nutritive fibre), diluted juice, organic apple-cider vinegar/honey cocktails, Sonne's 7....the goal is not some purist fasting achievement that allows you to drinking only water, but detoxification.

When I'm working out hard, though, I now go the opposite route.  One day a week I rest and eat whatever I want--it's a lot more fun.
 
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