Written by: Dr. Frannie Koe, MD
Edited by: Breanne Brazeale
This spring, I attempted to fast again, but life got in the way. I have, however, completed successful fasts in the past, one of which lasted for 11 days. Undoubtedly, one of the first things that people think when they hear about an 11 day fast is that I’m crazy! I am not crazy!
There are many tangible benefits to fasting, including decreasing inflammation, which is the main reason I have fasted over the years. I am always trying to reduce the inflammation associated with the autoimmune disorder I have, Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Other benefits associated with fasting include reversing the aging process, preventing Alzheimer’s, lowering cholesterol, improving fat burning, increasing energy, improving insulin sensitivity, lowering blood sugar levels, improving mental clarity and concentration and increasing weight loss. It can also help reset the immune system through a process called autophagy.
The word autophagy is derived from the Greek words “auto” which means self, and “phagy” which means to eat. Autophagy is a normal physiological process that deals with the destruction of cells in the body. It also maintains cell homeostasis or normal functioning through protein degradation and turnover of the destroyed cell organelles to make room for new cell formation.
During cellular stress, the process of autophagy increases. The deprivation of nutrients and/or growth factors causes cellular stress and, therefore, autophagy. Thus, autophagy may provide an alternate source of intracellular building blocks and substrates that may generate energy to enable continuous cell survival. In simpler terms, the nutrient deprivation that is caused by fasting can trigger faster cell turnover and contribute to overall health.
So how does one fast for 11 days, or even longer in special cases? I teach a class on fasting and have studied fasting for many years as an alternative way to improve health. I do not recommend you fast until you speak with your primary care doctor or an experienced practitioner who understands fasting. It is especially important to consult a qualified practitioner if you are on medication, because you should never stop taking doctor-prescribed medicine without the care of your physician.
There are many types of fasting, including intermittent fasting, which can also be very beneficial in reducing insulin resistance and improving blood sugar. Please check back frequently for more posts about fasting as I document my journey, including successes, failures, new research and health-related results.
