Fasting for two days could regenerate the immune system

dlb823

I'm familiar with Dr. Longo's research regarding what he believes is the benefit of fasting prior to chemotherapy, but this newest research out of USC seems to indicate that fasting for 2 to 4 days over the course of 6 months can actually trigger stem cell regeneration in our immune systems. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/fasting-for-two-days-could-regenerate-the-immune-system-according-to-research-9506168.html

I'm fascinated with this, so going to ask my onc about it.  But in the mean time, I'm curious if anyone here -- especially anyone who's Stage IV -- has any experience with this type of fasting.        Deanna

Heidihill

I haven't done this type of fasting myself, although I've tried the Moseley 2-day fast for a very short stint. You are allowed 500 calories (for women) on fast days while the Longo fast if I remember correctly is just water. Going down to 500 calories was tough enough. I felt weak and woozy so stopped it.

I did go on a Ramadan-style intermittent fast for a whole year in 2011. This involved no eating from 7 pm on, skipping breakfast, going to the gym, and eating only from 12 to 7. I lost some weight doing this but started gaining some back at the end of the year so I stopped it. I was just taking in too much during my eating window.

I had chemo in 2007 and had to regenerate my immune cells as they hit rock bottom. I can't imagine fasting with chemo and having even lower blood counts. This must be for certain chemos that don't wipe out your immune system.

In my current quest not to gain weight and maybe lose some more, my onc prescribed metformin. That was a fail, as I gained weight, got very constipated and got strange muscle weakness symptoms. Maybe metformin combined with intense exercise was not a good combination.

So now I am trying to cut down sugar, which could bring me a 30% reduction in calories, the topic of a new thread here by cp418 and one from me on the Stage IV Forum.

Let us know what your doctor says!