Eat, Fast, Live, Longer

Sunday 2 December 2012

How fasting could help you slow down the ageing process

By Roger Dobson UPDATED: 22:00, 13 February 2010 Fasting every other day may be a way to live longer as well as lose weight. It may also lower the risk of conditions such as heart disease and cancer, as well as ease symptoms of chronic ailments. Research suggests that calorie restriction, especially alternate-day fasting, has effects beyond those of simple weight loss, and a trial at the University of California has been investigating the long-term effects of fasting. Empty plate
'After eight weeks of alternate-day fasting we saw that bad cholesterol was down, along with reductions in triglycerides [fat found in blood], blood pressure and heart rates,' says Dr Krista Varady, who led a small study on overweight and the obese at the University of Illinois, Chicago. 'And since these are all key risk indicators of heart disease, it may not only help people lose weight but also help them decrease their risk of coronary events.' Alternate-day fasting involves a 'feeding day', where there are no restrictions, followed by a fasting day where around 25 per cent or less is consumed - the equivalent of a light lunch. Until relatively recently, most research on fasting has involved animal studies, but an increasing number of researchers are now looking at the effects in humans. In one study, at Louisiana State University, researchers examined the effects of fasting on overweight people with asthma. After eight weeks, they had lost eight per cent of their weight, asthma symptoms had improved significantly and bad cholesterol levels were down. 'The findings showed rapid and sustained beneficial effects of alternate-day fasting on the underlying disease in people with asthma,' says Dr James Johnson who led the study. Exactly how fasting works is not clear. One thought is that it has a beneficial effect on the distribution of stored fat in the body, affecting levels of fatty acids and hormones, including leptin, which is involved in regulating body weight and in metabolism. Fasting has also been shown to impact on insulin levels, body temperature and oxidative stress. One mechanism that has been investigated is that fasting triggers a gene whose job is to promote survival by protecting cells during times when food is scarce. Researchers say it helps repair the damage done by free radicals and prevents cells from dying prematurely, as well as lowering inflammation. 'The gene can also slow the ageing process by reducing the risk of age-related diseases and health threats,' says Dr Johnson. 'It can reduce markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, two primary causes of ageing. 'Studies show that individuals who live to be 100 years old have lower levels of oxidative stress than those who live to be 70.'.................................. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1250798/How-fasting-help-slow-ageing-process.html#ixzz2DvXoN9bR Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

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