In 6th century B.C., a man by the name of Mahavira was said to have been born to a wealthy family and fortunate background.
Yet, he gave up everything when he turned 30 to begin the quest to obtain Kevala Jnana (omniscience). On this quest, he started by giving up all earthly possessions.
One of them, occasionally, was food.
“Start with the practice of self-control with some penance; begin with fasting,” Mahavira famously said.
However, what may have been traced back culturally to nearly 2,600 years ago may have clinical significance even today.
“Fasting, or caloric restriction, is done for many reasons: spiritual, mostly, sometimes weight control, and more recent studies have shown disease prevention,” says dietitian and New Albany resident Kristina Jenny.
Nowadays, fasting thankfully does not also include giving up all possessions in a quest to obtain eternal understanding. Instead, it is a cultural remnant of old religious attitudes toward self-control and sacrifice. Regardless of the modern reason for abstaining from food, there may actually be benefits.
Intermittent fasting, a term that is usually used interchangeably with the practice of fasting in general, means reduced meal frequency. It has been shown to have potential health benefits, though many of the alleged health benefits of fasting are still under scrutiny.
One of the most common types of intermittent fasting is called the 5:2 diet. This is usually utilized in scientific studies and has considerable anecdotal evidence that suggests fasting poses health benefits, though substantial clinical data is lacking. The diet consists of only eating 600 calories for men, or 500 calories for women, two days per week. The other five days of the week, diet is unregulated.
“Fasting, or caloric restriction, is done for many reasons: spiritual, mostly, sometimes weight control, and more recent studies have shown disease prevention,” says dietitian and New Albany resident Kristina Jenny.
An article in The Scientist explores the research behind intermittent fasting. The article poses a case of an overweight man who fasted for a year, losing 276 pounds. Five years later, he was still able to keep off 250 pounds. This report doesn’t recommend that anyone fast for a year, but suggests there is more that can be understood about fasting. The answer is complicated and not nearly elucidated enough for a consensus, but the science is worth reviewing.
Intermittent fasting has been shown to have positive impacts on the liver by decreasing insulin resistance and potentially reducing visceral fat stores. The practice has also been shown to reduce inflammation throughout the body. In rodents, intermittent fasting also reduces fatty lipid levels and has been shown to increase neurocognitive abilities such as memory and learning. The final aspect with which intermittent fasting has been shown to be healthy is the potential positive effect on cancer cells.
However, it is important to note that this research is not near completion, nor is it something recommended. Much of the research shows significant stipulations. Scientists also suggest a counterpoint to fasting, in which patients often overeat after a fast, eating more than they would have otherwise.
Some health disadvantages focus on different, more visceral effects. In a story in Spectator: Health, the writer explains that while intermittent fasting worked for him, it was painful and led to bad breath and some serious obsessions with food.
Regardless, many religious groups observe some form of fasting, and the practice continues on for spiritual reasons. For those who must fast, doing it in a health-conscious and aware way will make the experience a more positive one for the body. Jenny recommends drinking water – and lots of it – before, during and after the fast.
“The days that you are consuming foods, make sure your choices are nutrient-dense,” she says. “No matter what the reason for a fast, it is not what one eats on any given day – fasting or not – but what is consumed over time (that) counts.”
David Allen is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at adeperro@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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