FASTING: Master Cleanse: Has anyone done this?

[The Willow Sword]

SO what are YOUR credentials? are YOU a Doctor? Are Your opinions based on your in depth study in the medical field at a reputable medical school? Or is all of your "opinions" based on just layman information and what you have read on your own?
You base a great deal of your opinions on the lack of clinical studies or trials to determine for a fact that fasting doesnt help the body. All we have is one study that proved that in that particular group that NO benefits were found for the detox group when measured for toxins in the blood/urine. Ok so that was a detox DIET, NOT a Fast(which is what we are talking about here). Oh and for your info the term Nutritionist DOES have a classification and one must be well learned in several fields of study before that designation can be bestowed upon them<legally that is, i dont doubt that there are those out there that take advantage of the term. but here is a link so that there isnt any confusion about that term and its meanings or qualifications
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos077.htm of course the statistical info on this concerns me a bit, the state to state requirements that is.

Now Albeit that i miscalculated the proportions of the master cleanse lemonade and had to break the fast early, i still felt pretty good and felt a bit better after not having eaten anything solid for 4 days. Thousands of others have done the Master cleanse correctly and have not reported any ill side effects or experienced any adverse health conditions as a result of doing the Lemonade diet. Since we have many testimonials to the positive and very few on the negative other than "Doctors" saying "well you shouldnt do that because...........". It would seem that the doctors have been proven wrong in many instances. Sure its not a clinical study but if you look at how many have done this and have come out of it feeling better and having certain ailments cured or at least alleviated and controlled,then i would say that in deed the trials have been done,on a personal level, and the same results have made themselves clear, at least to me and others they have.
I would gladly partake in a clinical study on fasting, in fact i have done several clinical studies and trials over the past 3 years and so i DO know the setting and i know what happens in them and i know the results of those trials. There seems to be a repetetive theme in all of them. The drug will block and alleviate one symptom(the symptom the drug is targeting) and will create a host of other symptoms(side effects and YES they are REAL effects) that are seemingly WORSE that the original symptom the drug was trying to target. How is it then that these seemingly wonderful drugs get put out on the market with all these horrid REAL side effects? Well the answer is MONEY and the need to have more money, doesnt seem to me that this aspect of western science and medicine is really all that interested in CURING anything, just really expensive "blockers" that target a symptom and facilitates no healing at all of the root cause of the symptom.
Sure we have a few cures for things but in the grand scheme it is very little when you look at some of the plagues that have ripped through our world and communities( AIDS, CANCER in its many forms, which some can be controlled and cured but with a ton of horrid side effects and health hazards, even something as simple as herpes which has been around for a long long time and all we have to show for that little issue is "suppresive therapy", which really doesnt CURE the problem). i could name many other diseases but i think i have made my point clear here.
Back to Fasting and the lack of clinical trials to substantiate in the western medical science's eye that Fasting helps the body to detox. I think the reason why there hasnt been any is because of what i have written about in the above long winded paragraph. If it was shown that somethig as simple as Fasting and a decent healthy diet could prevent and alleviate certain body and system ailments the medical profession in this country would go bankrupt because people would then not have to spend a ton of $$ to their medical provider to get RX's of CR@P that do really NOTHING to the body other than to make it work harder to process those drugs in the body. Once again the Bulk of western doctors would make less and less $$ because people would be healthier and not have to go get regular checkups and be prescribed for bullsh!T ailments like restless leg syndrom or lower back pain experienced in depression, or even depression in of itself which most of the time our depression or, uhh excuse me here is another way to describe depression, OUR EMOTIONS are just reactive 9 times out of 10 rather than "clinical".
Given that these statements are opinions, alot of the thought process here is based on first hand experience of some of these drugs(except the suppresive therapy,hehehe i dont have herpes) and of course the study that i do on my own,like you do DaveTard. I can only base my opinions on first hand experiences. what do YOU base YOUR opinions on? Just what you read? Or did you do a Fast and it not produce the desired effect, or maybe you are a diabetic? Help us out here Dave.

Peace,TWS

[AndrewS]

Sorry I got to this dance late folks.

First off- the burden of proof lies on those who make a claim, especially when that claim is one outside conventionally accepted scientific thought.

TWS writes:

Seems to me that the Western Medical profession and its "scientific research" has been instrumental in its attempts to "debunk" the claims of holistic medicine and alternative ways other than the typical western approach to health and wellness.

What do you mean by 'its "scientific research" '- good medicine seeks to use good science as a tool. Science is a definable process and method of inquiry. One can clearly state when something in medicine is based on science and the scientific method and when it is 'the standard of care'. When the underlying mechanisms of action of a medical procedure- from cognitive behavioral therapy to physical therapy to acupuncture to surgery to pharmacology- are hypothesized, experiments are performed to validate those hypotheses, and clinical trials are performed and subject to statistical analysis to determine if a therapy has a reasonable risk/benefit ratio, that's SCIENCE, not "science". People who make unsupported statements about various fasts, diets, and massage releasing some non-specific toxins or 'evil humours' are invoking "science" as they bullsh*t.

I'm always amazed at these claims of exorcising the evil toxins through whatever method. You'ld think it would be pretty easy to measure what's being released (and precipitating out a bunch of bile salts during 'master cleanse' or a 'liver cleanse' is basic high school chemistry done in your small bowel, not getting the poison out. Your body makes those things for a variety of purposes, well defined and studied.).

The drug companies out there have a quite a grip on the shorthairs of the western medical profession to follow ITS rhetoric and supports its clinical trials with respect to medicines,

I suppose my personal grooming choices have prevented me from succumbing to this, what luck!

Er, yeah, drug companies have money and try to sell drugs; drugs which they must prove are safe and effective (in front of a hamstrung and politicized FDA which the current adminstration has been trying to change from the global standard for drug safety into a rubber stamp, but that's another rant). Purveyors of supplements, fasts, nutriceuticals, colonic irrigation, and naturopathic vetrinary medicine must only convince the credulous and uneducated citizen, and your critical thinking skills are not making it look like you're headed anywhere near the FDA (unless you're a pro-life OB who believes in the power of prayer in contraception and regularly anally rapes his wife, in which case give them a call, Rove's hiring).

not to mention the dairy council and the meat council and its special interests lining the pockets of the western medical profession to go to their tune with respects to health and wellenss.

D*mn, my check didn't show again this month! Excellent analysis of the health benefits (or lack therof) of vegetarianism, dairy, etc. are readily available. Thousands of good studies on diet and its effects on overall morbidity and mortality as well as modification of disease progression in any number of pathologic processes are available and widely distributed. These have measurable benefit, can be examined and debated, and tried by those who suffer from these ailments. Horrible bias, that.

Of course there is a movement in this country to suppress and debunk the claims that alternative methods of maintaining health and wellness.

Uh, half the country uses some form of 'alternative' therapy- the suppression isn't working too well. NIH is funding at around the rate of 1,000,000,000 a year for 'alternative and complementary medical research', dozens of studies on various herbal and nutritional remedies are coming out weekly if not daily. You have a problem knowing if something works? Or if it hurts people? Western medicine used to treat cardiac arrhythmias with a variety of agents to prevent sudden death. Large scale trials were done, the drugs were found to stop arrhythmias, but also kill people (no net survival benefit), and those drugs are no longer used, and the drug companies took a bath.

There is also a counter movement that is growing in strength and seems to have eclipsed the notion that you have to take a pill to cure your ills.

Are you talking about the Luddites who chose to demonize reason, the hucksters trying to make a buck off the desparate and foolish, or the people who are applying the scientific method to explore the validity of the claims of various alternative practices?


The health care system in this country is terminally f*cked, I'll agree, yet this rush to assume a vast conspiracy to keep people sick is delusional and offensive to anyone who tries to put people back together.

t i have done several clinical studies and trials over the past 3 years and so i DO know the setting and i know what happens in them and i know the results of those trials.

Uh, you designed them? Were an investigator? Got a couple of bucks for some blood, bone marrow, whatever? And this gives you the position to make anything like an educated statement on clincial trials? What profound arrogance and stupidity? Have you considered a post in the Bush administration? You seem to have the sort of qualifications they look for in oversight of NASA, or FEMA, or reconstruction in Iraq.

And here you **** me off. . .

Well the answer is MONEY and the need to have more money, doesnt seem to me that this aspect of western science and medicine is really all that interested in CURING anything, just really expensive "blockers" that target a symptom and facilitates no healing at all of the root cause of the symptom.

Welcome to the modern world and grow the f*ck up. Nothing happens without cash flow; it's the gravity of society. You may dislike that reality, but that's exactly what Marx made his bones pointing out, before he attempted to posit an economic system which would result in a society of greater benefit to the individual than capitalism.

Sure we have a few cures for things but in the grand scheme it is very little when you look at some of the plagues that have ripped through our world and communities( AIDS, CANCER in its many forms, which some can be controlled and cured but with a ton of horrid side effects

You miserable ignorant little fool.

I grew up in part around the modern art world in the 1980s, wondering where my parents friends were going as they absented themselves from gallery openings, back when AIDS was GRID. I was a third year medical student on the HIV ward in 1996. I watched intelligent, educated decent men die of the myriad complications of HIV. In 1997 HAART began, the therapy you so casually dismiss as meaningless. When I returned to that ward for my acting internship, we had perhaps 1/10 the number of AIDS patients in house, some truly unlucky, but most mentally ill and unable to take their drugs. By the 3rd year of my residency, we no longer had a dedicated AIDS ward. One of my infectious disease colleagues has stopped doing HIV medicine- it's no longer intellectually rewarding 'cos the therapies are so good, people rarely develop the interesting complications which drew so many very bright doctors to the field (yeah, good MDs like sick patients; we have no incentive to keep them that way, there will *always* be more).

And you wave this away? The treatment isn't good enough for you? Please, make sure that neither you, nor anyone you care about comes to a physician. Take no drugs, receive no surgery, just bask in your righteousness.

and health hazards, even something as simple as herpes which has been around for a long long time and all we have to show for that little issue is "suppresive therapy", which really doesnt CURE the problem). i could name many other diseases but i think i have made my point clear here.

It would seem that the point you've made is that you're a callow and deluded fool who should go spend some time volunteering in a cancer clinic, hospice, or emergency room, before you air your ignorance so publically. I sincerly hope that you are merely young and ignorant, 'cos if you're over 25, my diagnosis is terminal stupidity. Try to check out before you breed as a favor to the rest of us.

Andrew

[DaveTart]

SO what are YOUR credentials? are YOU a Doctor? Are Your opinions based on your in depth study in the medical field at a reputable medical school? Or is all of your "opinions" based on just layman information and what you have read on your own?

Ad hominem arguments won't work here. No, I'm not a doctor, But I do understand how evidence based medicine works - You clearly don't. You clearly don't understand basic logically fallacies either. I'll put this capitals in case you missed it in Andrew's post:

the burden of proof lies on those who make a claim, especially when that claim is one outside conventionally accepted scientific thought

The only evidence you've given is one massively flawed article, which I've already pulled apart. You've failed to address the point that "Low Level Toxemia" Is a made up term, which seems to be the supposed reason for fasting.

Oh and for your info the term Nutritionist DOES have a classification and one must be well learned in several fields of study before that designation can be bestowed upon them<legally that is, i dont doubt that there are those out there that take advantage of the term. but here is a link so that there isnt any confusion about that term and its meanings or qualifications

That article seems to use "nutrionist" and a symonym for "dietician" Do you not think it's a bit odd that ALL the job titles are "Dieticians"? Oh, and from Wikipedia:

Nutritionists should not be confused with dietitians. Dietitians are health care professionals who have received specialised, formal accredited tertiary education and training, and undertake internship in hospitals, and are an approximate equivalent to a registered nurse. Dietitians are required to adhere to their regulatory body's code of conduct. A "nutritionist", in comparison, requires no training, and can often be little more than an opinionated clerk at a health food store.

I can only base my opinions on first hand experiences. what do YOU base YOUR opinions on? Just what you read? Or did you do a Fast and it not produce the desired effect, or maybe you are a diabetic? Help us out here Dave.

First hand experiences are anecdotal and therefore bunk in proving the veracity of a claim. You'll be banging on about how you can "feel" your chi next.
I base my opinions on the evidence at hand. I weigh that evidence, and decide based on that how to form my idea's about the truth of the matter. So far on one side we have one article that is massively flawed - on the other we have several comments from qualified doctors and experiments to say that detoxing has zero effect, and other doctors saying fasting can be potentially harmful.

[The Willow Sword]

AndrewS.

I find your brash insults towards me and deluded views on my political and spiritual beliefs,which are way off base, very funny. I seriously doubt that you would have the nerve to tout it to my face. This is a safe avenue with which to kung fu keyboard your over emotional diatribe without any consequence. Feel better now that you got it all off your chest? I hope so. Seems like i have touched on some nerve points that set you right off, . Amazing that such a wise and well scholared MD such as you make yourself out to be would allow such a young poorly educated and misconstrued scrub such as myself to get the better of your Maturity .

Peace,TWS

[AndrewS]

TWS,

I will happily call you an idiot to your face. Most of the folks who know me face to face know that well.

Yes, you annoy me. I make no pretense to be 'mature', and don't view anger as a negative.


Your sole response seems to be pointing that out.

Thank you for sending me your phone number, but I feel no need carry on a private conversation with you, I responded mainly because allowing such stupidity to be spouted unopposed in public grants it validation, and I'm quite tired of having to deal with magical thinking when someone has a real problem that needs immediate address.

Andrew

[The Willow Sword]

I will happily call you an idiot to your face. Most of the folks who know me face to face know that well.

Most Folks who know you prolly think that you are a pr!ck too,because of that Fact stated above. Maybe they dont tell you that face to face.

Yes, you annoy me

Good, Im glad that i do.

I make no pretense to be 'mature', and don't view anger as a negative.

Which is part of your own personal problems and issues and maybe you should partake of those wonderful anti-depressants that "work" so well to quell those issues. Or maybe you are one of those MD's who drowns their sorrows in a bottle,or better yet, does a few lines to enhance that wonderful personality of yours,LOL


Sorry guys but this thread has, as many others in this whole forum, turned to cr@p. Got too wrapped up on debating with Moe and Curly that i missed what i was trying to get accomplished here, which was to get some feedback on those who have done fasts before and what was their experiences and if it benefitted them and their training and such.

I will repost at another time when i start to do the Master Cleanse Fast again( spring time or early summer) Hopefully by then the two jerks will have better things to do. Anyway i apologize to the rest of you, i didnt think that this thread would turn out like it did.

Take care and Peace to all(yes even the Pr!cks as well)
TWS

[DaveTart]

Got too wrapped up on debating with Moe and Curly that i missed what i was trying to get accomplished here, which was to get some feedback on those who have done fasts before and what was their experiences and if it benefitted them and their training and such.

So basicly - You wanted feedback about Fasts, which we gave you. We backed up our comments with reference to studies and medical advice from doctors. We pointed out your reasons for fasting (to get rid of "toxemia") are fundementally flawed, and the evidence for fasts being beneficial is shaky at best.

Oddly enough - You (who originally demanded Facts) have completely ignored all this advice and feedback because it doesn't fit with what you want to hear - That fasts are good for you. Well done on your open mindedness.

[mawali]

The Master Cleanse diet is very extreme and because of that many people will fail to follow its requirements. Plus, it is not for everyone!
The body does not always clean itself but if we eat the most enzymatically pure food we are halfway there. Some steps:
1. Give up the sweet drinks. Replace with water and even the water/lime or lemon mix.
2. Be more physically active.
3. Watch the gut associated with obesity. All of that stuff is dried food stuffs adhereing to the abdominal wall and intestines.
4. Eat more life foods. Less fried and other stuff.

For background and informational purposes only;
All o fthat stuff does come out of your intestines!
Please look at the principles and concepts.

http://www.drnatura.com/

[AndrewS]

Some stuff from pub med- search: fasting, complementary medicine, english, adults

Briefly- you get some blood pressure lowering effects, comparable to what would be associated with an Ornish or <2g/day sodium diet, improved glucose tolerance, and drop in lipolysis (you slow the rate of fat breakdown).

s there any effect of Ramadan fasting on stroke incidence?

Bener A,
Hamad A,
Fares A,
Al-Sayed HM,
Al-Suwaidi J.
Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Hamad Medical Corporation and Hamad General Hospital, University of Qatar, Doha. abener@hmc.org.qa
INTRODUCTION: Over one billion Muslims fast worldwide during the month of Ramadan. Fasting during Ramadan is a radical change in lifestyle for the period of a lunar month. The objective of this study was to investigate whether Ramadan fasting has any effect on the incidence of stroke and its outcome in a geographically-defined population. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a 13-year stroke database and studied the data on Muslim patients who were hospitalised with stroke over a 13-year period from January 1991 to December 2003. Patients were divided according to the time of presentation in relation to the month of Ramadan, one month before, during, and one month after Ramadan. The number of hospitalisations for stroke in various time periods was analysed. The age of presentation, gender, cardiovascular risk factor profiles (smoking status, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes mellitus, and pre-existing cardiovascular disease) were analysed. We also studied the trends of in-hospital mortality, morbidity and acute medical care provided. RESULTS: Overall, 335 Muslim patients were hospitalised for stroke. Their mean age and standard deviation were 56.99 and 13.9 years, respectively. The number of hospitalisations for stroke was not significantly different in the month of Ramadan (29 cases), when compared to the month before Ramadan (30 cases) and the month after Ramadan (29 cases). Risk factors included for stroke were not significantly different in Ramadan when compared to the month before and after Ramadan. These associated diseases were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, acute myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that no significant difference was found in the number of hospitalisations for stroke while fasting during the month of Ramadan when compared to the non-fasting months.
PMID: 16645691 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

J Appl Physiol. 2005 Dec;99(6):2128-36. Epub 2005 Jul 28. Links
Effect of intermittent fasting and refeeding on insulin action in healthy men.

Halberg N,
Henriksen M,
Soderhamn N,
Stallknecht B,
Ploug T,
Schjerling P,
Dela F.
Dept. of Muscle Research Centre, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. nilsh@mfi.ku.dk
Insulin resistance is currently a major health problem. This may be because of a marked decrease in daily physical activity during recent decades combined with constant food abundance. This lifestyle collides with our genome, which was most likely selected in the late Paleolithic era (50,000-10,000 BC) by criteria that favored survival in an environment characterized by fluctuations between periods of feast and famine. The theory of thrifty genes states that these fluctuations are required for optimal metabolic function. We mimicked the fluctuations in eight healthy young men [25.0 +/- 0.1 yr (mean +/- SE); body mass index: 25.7 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2)] by subjecting them to intermittent fasting every second day for 20 h for 15 days. Euglycemic hyperinsulinemic (40 mU.min(-1).m(-2)) clamps were performed before and after the intervention period. Subjects maintained body weight (86.4 +/- 2.3 kg; coefficient of variation: 0.8 +/- 0.1%). Plasma free fatty acid and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were 347 +/- 18 and 0.06 +/- 0.02 mM, respectively, after overnight fast but increased (P < 0.05) to 423 +/- 86 and 0.10 +/- 0.04 mM after 20-h fasting, confirming that the subjects were fasting. Insulin-mediated whole body glucose uptake rates increased from 6.3 +/- 0.6 to 7.3 +/- 0.3 mg.kg(-1).min(-1) (P = 0.03), and insulin-induced inhibition of adipose tissue lipolysis was more prominent after than before the intervention (P = 0.05). After the 20-h fasting periods, plasma adiponectin was increased compared with the basal levels before and after the intervention (5,922 +/- 991 vs. 3,860 +/- 784 ng/ml, P = 0.02). This experiment is the first in humans to show that intermittent fasting increases insulin-mediated glucose uptake rates, and the findings are compatible with the thrifty gene concept.

Topacoglu H,
Karcioglu O,
Yuruktumen A,
Kiran S,
Cimrin AH,
Ozucelik DN,
Sarikaya S,
Soysal S,
Turpcu U,
Bozkurt S.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, 35340 Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey. hakan.topacoglu@deu.edu.tr
Summary The objective of this study was to determine whether Ramadan is changing frequencies and demographics of visits due to certain diseases. Data obtained from the charts of the adult patients admitted into the emergency department (ED) due to 10 predetermined entities between 2000 and 2004 were analysed. Demographic variables analysed separately for certain entities visiting the ED in Ramadan were not found to be different from visits in other times of year. Visit frequencies for hypertension and uncomplicated headache in Ramadan were significantly higher than in non-Ramadan months (chi(2) test, p = 0.015 for hypertension, p < 0.001 for uncomplicated headache). Mean age of the patients admitted to the ED due to diabetes-related conditions in Ramadan was significantly lower than in pre- and post-Ramadan months (59.91 +/- 14.60 and 62.11 +/- 14.61, respectively) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p = 0.032). The patients with diabetes presenting in Ramadan were found significantly younger than their peers in the rest of the year. For other diseases, Ramadan does not appear to be a risk factor.

[AndrewS]

Saudi Med J. 2004 Dec;25(12):1858-63. Links
Metabolic alterations as a result of Ramadan fasting in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients in relation to food intake.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is known to be associated with alterations in metabolic parameters. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Ramadan fasting can affect these metabolic parameters in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. METHODS: This study was conducted in the outpatient Clinic of Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan in February of 1415 Hijra year (1995 Gregorian). Forty-four NIDDM male patients volunteered for this study. Patients fasted the month of Ramadan and few metabolic parameters were recorded. Body weight, fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured, before, at mid- and at the end- of Ramadan. Detailed energy intakes were also recorded. RESULTS: Patients mean age were 52+/-9 years (range 35-75). Patients showed a statistically significant reduction in their body weight, FBS, HbA1c, and TG levels by the end of Ramadan (1.57 kg, 31 mg/dl, 0.85%, and 35 mg/dl). Other parameters such as TC, LDL-C, HDL-C were not affected by Ramadan fasting. The total daily energy intake remained unchanged including the qualitative components of nutrients. CONCLUSION: Muslim NIDDM patients showed a trend towards better glycemic control following Ramadan fasting. However, the pre-Ramadan existed dyslipidemia was sustained or even worsened following Ramadan fasting.

The effect of fasting on the parameters of the antioxidant defence system in the blood of vegetarian human subjects.

Gilca M,
Soian I,
Mohora M,
Petec C,
Muscurel C,
Dinu V.
Biochemistry Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. mgilca@univermed-cdgm.ro
OBJECTIVES: Although the evidence is strong that fasting has anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing actions, the mechanisms responsible for these phenomena are still unclear. An ameliorated antioxidative defence with fasting may be the cause of such effects. The objective of the present work was to determine the influence of fasting on antioxidant systems in healthy young vegetarian humans. DESIGN AND METHODS: We measured Trolox Equivalents Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) of plasma, erythrocytes superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, level of total blood non-proteic thiols (TBNT), plasma ceruloplasmin activity, plasma level of NO metabolites (the sum of nitrites and nitrates, NOx), in 18 healthy young humans (age 20-27 years) after 12h (overnight fasting) and 80h of fasting. RESULTS: Trolox Equivalents Antioxidant Capacity of plasma, the level of total blood nonproteic thiols, plasma ceruloplasmin activity and plasma concentration of nitrites and nitrates were significantly increased after 80h of fasting. Superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione peroxidase activity were lower after 80h of fasting. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that fasting induces the "reorganisation" of antioxidative defence lines: fasting increases especially plasma protective systems (total antioxidant capacity of plasma, plasma ceruloplasmin activity) and decreases an erythrocytes antioxidant enyzme (superoxide dismutase) and blood glutathione peroxidase.
PMID: 15526512 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effects of one week juice fasting on lipid metabolism: a cohort study in healthy subjects.

Huber R,
Nauck M,
Ludtke R,
Scharnagl H.
Ambulanz fur Naturheilverfahren/Abteilung Innere Medizin II, Universitatsklinik Freiburg. rhuber@med1.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of a popular modified juice fasting program on lipid metabolism. VOLUNTEERS AND METHODS: 5 healthy, nonobese, male volunteers fasted for 8 days. Daily energy intake was limited to 150-300 kcal/d solely as carbohydrates (vegetable and fruit drinks). Physical activity was maintained as before. At baseline, on days 2, 3, and 8 during fasting, and on days 2 and 8 after fasting, serum lipids, lipoproteins, and insulin were investigated. RESULTS: Juice fasting resulted in bi-phasic changes: Until day 2 and 3 triacylglycerols (TG), very low-density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B (VLDL apo B), and insulin decreased by 52, 51, and 65% respectively, while nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apo B, and LDL cholesterol increased by 363, 38, and 35%. Between day 3 and 8 NEFA increased; TG and insulin increased as well, but remained below baseline values, and LDL cholesterol normalized. After 8 days juice fasting significant changes (p < 0.05) compared to the baseline were found only for free cholesterol (-10%), phospholipids (-14%), apo AI (-9%), apo AII (-11%), insulin (-42%), C-peptide (-57%), and NEFA (+535%, p = 0.0001). Total cholesterol decreased by 9% (n.s.) after 8 days. One week after the ending of fasting all parameters returned to normal. CONCLUSION: Contrary to total fasting and fasting with limited physical activity, 8 days juice fasting without limitation of physical activity results in a decrease of free cholesterol and an only initial increase of LDL cholesterol. After 8 days insulin, TG, and VLDL are still lower than at baseline, however, they have increased compared to the initial phase, probably counterregulatory to a further increase of NEFA. Copyright 2003 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg
PMID: 12624474 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Medically supervised water-only fasting in the treatment of borderline hypertension.

TrueNorth Health Center, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA. dracg@att.net
BACKGROUND: Hypertension-related diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in industrially developed societies. Surprisingly, 68% of all mortality attributed to high blood pressure (BP) occurs with systolic BP between 120 and 140 mm Hg and diastolic BP below 90 mm Hg. Dietary and lifestyle modifications are effective in the treatment of borderline hypertension. One such lifestyle intervention is the use of medically supervised water-only fasting as a safe and effective means of normalizing BP and initiating health-promoting behavioral changes. METHODS: Sixty-eight (68) consecutive patients with borderline hypertension with systolic BP in excess of 119 mm Hg and diastolic BP less than 91 mm Hg were treated in an inpatient setting under medical supervision. The treatment program consisted of a short prefasting period (approximately 1-2 days on average) during which food consumption was limited to fruits and vegetables followed by medically supervised water-only fasting (approximately 13.6 days on average). Fasting was followed by a refeeding period (approximately 6.0 days on average). The refeeding program consisted of a low-fat, low-sodium, plant-based, vegan diet. RESULTS: Approximately 82% of the subjects achieved BP at or below 120/80 mm Hg by the end of the treatment program. The mean BP reduction was 20/7 mm Hg, with the greatest decrease being observed for subjects with the highest baseline BP. A linear regression of BP decrease against baseline BP showed that the estimated BP below which no further decrease would be expected was 96.0/67.0 mm Hg at the end of the fast and 99.2/67.3 mm Hg at the end of refeeding. These levels are in agreement with other estimates of the BP below which stroke events are eliminated, thus suggesting that these levels could be regarded as the "ideal" BP values. CONCLUSION: Medically supervised water-only fasting appears to be a safe and effective means of normalizing BP and may assist in motivating health-promoting diet and lifestyle changes.
PMID: 12470446 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Medically supervised water-only fasting in the treatment of hypertension.

Center for Conservative Therapy, Penngrove, Calif, USA. dracg@att.net
BACKGROUND: Hypertension-related diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrially developed societies. Although antihypertensive drugs are extensively used, dietary and lifestyle modifications also are effective in the treatment of patients with hypertension. One such lifestyle intervention is the use of medically supervised, water-only fasting as a safe and effective means of normalizing blood pressure and initiating health-promoting behavioral changes. METHODS: One hundred seventy-four consecutive hypertensive patients with blood pressure in excess of 140 mm Hg systolic, 90 mm Hg diastolic (140/90 mm Hg), or both were treated in an inpatient setting under medical supervision. The treatment program consisted of a short prefasting period (approximately 2 to 3 days on average) during which food consumption was limited to fruits and vegetables, followed by medically supervised water-only fasting (approximately 10 to 11 days on average) and a refeeding period (approximately 6 to 7 days on average) introducing a low-fat, low-sodium, vegan diet. RESULTS: Almost 90% of the subjects achieved blood pressure less than 140/90 mm Hg by the end of the treatment program. The average reduction in blood pressure was 37/13 mm Hg, with the greatest decrease being observed for subjects with the most severe hypertension. Patients with stage 3 hypertension (those with systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mg Hg, diastolic blood pressure greater than 110 mg Hg, or both) had an average reduction of 60/17 mm Hg at the conclusion of treatment. All of the subjects who were taking antihypertensive medication at entry (6.3% of the total sample) successfully discontinued the use of medication. CONCLUSION: Medically supervised water-only fasting appears to be a safe and effective means of normalizing blood pressure and may assist in motivating health-promoting diet and lifestyle changes.