A research study seems to confirm and justify the beneficial effects of fasting in our body.The study concludes that: Fasting for just three days can regenerate the entire immune system, as it activates the body to start producing new white blood cells, even in the elderly, scientists have found in an important discovery described as "remarkable "
Despite the fact that fasting diets have been criticized by nutritionists to be unhealthy, a new study suggests that when suffering from hunger the body puts forth stem cells to produce new white blood cells, which fight infection.
Scientists at the University of Southern California say the discovery could be particularly beneficial for people with immune system disorders, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
It could also help older people whose immune systems become less efficient as they age, making it more difficult for them to fight even common ailments.
Researchers say that fasting "reverses a regenerative switch" that urges stem cells to create new white blood cells, essentially regenerating the entire immune system.
"It gives the 'OK' for stem cells to go ahead and start rebuilding the whole system," said Professor Valter Longo, Professor of Gerontology and Biological Sciences at the University of California.
"And the good news is that the body gets rid of parts of the system that may have been damaged or the elderly, ineffective parts, during fasting.
"Now, if you start with a system badly damaged by chemotherapy or aging, fasting cycles can literally produce a new immune system."
Prolonged fasting forces the body to use up its glucose and fat stores, but also breaks down a significant portion of white blood cells.
During each cycle of fasting, this depletion of white blood cells induces changes that activate stem cells with the regeneration of new cells of the immune system.
"We could not have predicted that prolonged fasting would have such a significant effect on cell promotion based on the regeneration of the hematopoietic system," added Professor Longo.
"When you are unbearably hungry, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle many of the immune system cells that are not needed, especially those that may have been damaged." said Dr. Longo.
"What we are beginning to realize, both in human and animal work, is that the white blood cell count goes down with prolonged fasting. Then, when you re-enter your food, the blood cells return. So we started thinking, where does all this come from? "
Fasting for 72 hours also protected cancer patients from the toxic effects of chemotherapy.
"While chemotherapy saves lives, it also causes significant collateral damage to the immune system. "The results of this study show that fasting can mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy," said study co-author Tanya Dorff, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at USC Norris Inclusive Cancer Center and Hospital.
"Most clinical trials required, as well as any such dietary intervention, should only be performed under a doctor's guidance."
"We are investigating the possibility that these effects apply to many different systems and organs, not just the immune system," added Professor Longo.
However, some British experts were wary of the research. Dr Graham Rook, an emeritus professor of immunology at University College London, said the study sounded "unlikely".
Despite the fact that fasting diets have been criticized by nutritionists to be unhealthy, a new study suggests that when suffering from hunger the body puts forth stem cells to produce new white blood cells, which fight infection.
Scientists at the University of Southern California say the discovery could be particularly beneficial for people with immune system disorders, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
It could also help older people whose immune systems become less efficient as they age, making it more difficult for them to fight even common ailments.
Researchers say that fasting "reverses a regenerative switch" that urges stem cells to create new white blood cells, essentially regenerating the entire immune system.
"It gives the 'OK' for stem cells to go ahead and start rebuilding the whole system," said Professor Valter Longo, Professor of Gerontology and Biological Sciences at the University of California.
"And the good news is that the body gets rid of parts of the system that may have been damaged or the elderly, ineffective parts, during fasting.
"Now, if you start with a system badly damaged by chemotherapy or aging, fasting cycles can literally produce a new immune system."
Prolonged fasting forces the body to use up its glucose and fat stores, but also breaks down a significant portion of white blood cells.
During each cycle of fasting, this depletion of white blood cells induces changes that activate stem cells with the regeneration of new cells of the immune system.
"We could not have predicted that prolonged fasting would have such a significant effect on cell promotion based on the regeneration of the hematopoietic system," added Professor Longo.
"When you are unbearably hungry, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle many of the immune system cells that are not needed, especially those that may have been damaged." said Dr. Longo.
"What we are beginning to realize, both in human and animal work, is that the white blood cell count goes down with prolonged fasting. Then, when you re-enter your food, the blood cells return. So we started thinking, where does all this come from? "
Fasting for 72 hours also protected cancer patients from the toxic effects of chemotherapy.
"While chemotherapy saves lives, it also causes significant collateral damage to the immune system. "The results of this study show that fasting can mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy," said study co-author Tanya Dorff, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at USC Norris Inclusive Cancer Center and Hospital.
"Most clinical trials required, as well as any such dietary intervention, should only be performed under a doctor's guidance."
"We are investigating the possibility that these effects apply to many different systems and organs, not just the immune system," added Professor Longo.
However, some British experts were wary of the research. Dr Graham Rook, an emeritus professor of immunology at University College London, said the study sounded "unlikely".
"This could be potentially useful because it is not that long and it would not be terribly harmful to someone with cancer.
"But I think the most logical solution would be to synthesize this effect with drugs. I'm not sure fasting is the best idea. "People are better off eating at regular intervals."
Dr Longo added: "There is no evidence to anyone that fasting can be dangerous, and there is strong evidence that it is beneficial.
"I have received emails from hundreds of cancer patients combining chemotherapy with fasting with the help of oncologists.
"So far, the vast majority have reported that everything is going very well and only a few have reported some side effects including fainting and a temporary increase in liver markers.
"It's clear we need to complete the clinical trials, but it looks very promising."
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