REBOOTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.
Would you be willing to go without food for a few days to keep your immune system in tip-top shape? That is exactly what may happen if you’re willing to fast twice a year according to a new University of Southern California study featured in the June 5 edition of Cell Stem Cell. The study is the first to find that someone, through natural intervention by the person, can help trigger stem cells to regenerate. In other words, it appears fasting can help your immune system recycle itself to become stronger than it had been before you began to fast.
The fasting works in the following way. By not eating for two to four days in a row, the body significantly lowers the number of white blood cells. Those cells that die off tend to be those which are weak or have damage. When a person begins to eat again, new stem cells are created which end up being much healthier than the ones that died off. In other words, by fasting, a person can regenerate a completely new and healthy immune system.
The study could have huge implications for a variety of groups, especially in the area of healthier aging. As people get older, their immune system declines, which can lead to a bigger chance of getting a variety of diseases. If fasting can help regenerate a person’s immune system, their body may be able to better fight these diseases than they could before, without the need of any prescription drugs. As the authors note, “If you start with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or aging, fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system.”
And added benefit is that a healthier immune system could end up saving people a lot of money. Being able to fight off diseases without the help of pharmaceuticals can save a small fortune. Simply being in better health can save money in a large number of ways such as being more productive, having less sick days and having more energy. For those who think this would be a good idea for them and their health, don’t just jump right into it. Here are a few things you need to consider before you begin a fast:
Tell Your Doctor
Before you do anything, consult your doctor to get their opinion. Since they will best know your health issues, you want to make sure doing a fast will actually be a benefit, and not a detriment to your health. There may be reason you should not do this which you may not have considered. This is especially true if you are taking medication which might be affected by you not consuming food or calories.
Stay Hydrated
Once you get the go-ahead from your doctor, be sure that you drink plenty of water during the fast. Especially during the summer, the last thing you want to do is get dehydrated while fasting. Consult your doctor on the amount of water you should be drinking during the fast, and make sure you consume the recommended amount.
Don’t Strenuously Exercise
Trying to fast and keep your regular routine will be a challenge in itself when you aren’t able to take your normal food and coffee breaks throughout the day, but it will make the entire process even worse if you try to exercise as well. When you make the commitment to fast, give your body the best chance to complete it with the least amount of discomfort. Strenuously exercising while fasting will make the other hours all that more difficult as your body craves food even more.
Reduce Stress
Try to make the time you attempt the fast as stress-free as possible. Trying to not eat while you have major stresses will make fasting miserable, and make it much more likely you fail to succeed. Try to schedule the fast during a time when you have plenty of time to use the way you want, and you don’t have a huge number of commitments which have to be met.
Make Sure You’re Healthy
You want to make sure that you’re in the best health possible when doing this. That is, you don’t want to attempt this when you have the flu or some other type of illness. Again, make sure to consult your doctor and review your health before attempting to fast for 48 – 96 hours.
It’s Not a Diet
Be sure to remember why you’re doing this. You’re fasting to regenerate your stem cells and rebuild your immune system, not to lose weight. You should not care one bit about any weight you lose or don’t lose. It’s also important to note that this should be done twice a year, not on a regular basis. Doing it more often may have a number of negative affects which outweigh any benefit you get from the immune system regeneration. more
The fasting works in the following way. By not eating for two to four days in a row, the body significantly lowers the number of white blood cells. Those cells that die off tend to be those which are weak or have damage. When a person begins to eat again, new stem cells are created which end up being much healthier than the ones that died off. In other words, by fasting, a person can regenerate a completely new and healthy immune system.
The study could have huge implications for a variety of groups, especially in the area of healthier aging. As people get older, their immune system declines, which can lead to a bigger chance of getting a variety of diseases. If fasting can help regenerate a person’s immune system, their body may be able to better fight these diseases than they could before, without the need of any prescription drugs. As the authors note, “If you start with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or aging, fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system.”
And added benefit is that a healthier immune system could end up saving people a lot of money. Being able to fight off diseases without the help of pharmaceuticals can save a small fortune. Simply being in better health can save money in a large number of ways such as being more productive, having less sick days and having more energy. For those who think this would be a good idea for them and their health, don’t just jump right into it. Here are a few things you need to consider before you begin a fast:
Tell Your Doctor
Before you do anything, consult your doctor to get their opinion. Since they will best know your health issues, you want to make sure doing a fast will actually be a benefit, and not a detriment to your health. There may be reason you should not do this which you may not have considered. This is especially true if you are taking medication which might be affected by you not consuming food or calories.
Stay Hydrated
Once you get the go-ahead from your doctor, be sure that you drink plenty of water during the fast. Especially during the summer, the last thing you want to do is get dehydrated while fasting. Consult your doctor on the amount of water you should be drinking during the fast, and make sure you consume the recommended amount.
Don’t Strenuously Exercise
Trying to fast and keep your regular routine will be a challenge in itself when you aren’t able to take your normal food and coffee breaks throughout the day, but it will make the entire process even worse if you try to exercise as well. When you make the commitment to fast, give your body the best chance to complete it with the least amount of discomfort. Strenuously exercising while fasting will make the other hours all that more difficult as your body craves food even more.
Reduce Stress
Try to make the time you attempt the fast as stress-free as possible. Trying to not eat while you have major stresses will make fasting miserable, and make it much more likely you fail to succeed. Try to schedule the fast during a time when you have plenty of time to use the way you want, and you don’t have a huge number of commitments which have to be met.
Make Sure You’re Healthy
You want to make sure that you’re in the best health possible when doing this. That is, you don’t want to attempt this when you have the flu or some other type of illness. Again, make sure to consult your doctor and review your health before attempting to fast for 48 – 96 hours.
It’s Not a Diet
Be sure to remember why you’re doing this. You’re fasting to regenerate your stem cells and rebuild your immune system, not to lose weight. You should not care one bit about any weight you lose or don’t lose. It’s also important to note that this should be done twice a year, not on a regular basis. Doing it more often may have a number of negative affects which outweigh any benefit you get from the immune system regeneration. more
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Detoxing method suggested by Dr. Chandra seems to be better for senior citizens and week constitutions. Skipping dinner/supper even more than once a week is certainly helpful provided persons fasting should not be having acidic problems. more
Aug 13
Nice idea and true also; but difficult to follow by the majority of people who are not used to prolonged fasting. I prefer daily detox by drinking water with lemon juice, ginger juice,honey and apple cedar vinegar along with two cloves of garlic early morning on empty stomach. For better result skip supper once a week. more
Aug 12
West has done some 're-search' of our centuries old customs which were incorporated into our culture and daily life. Our Sanatan Dharm has always advocated regular fasting on at least twice a week, fortnightly on Ekadashi and several other auspicious days. Where as in most parts of Southern part of India, a fast is kept on Saturdays or Tuesdays and more recently on Thursdays (each day represented by different Gods and Godesses), most of Northern parts of India fast on Mondays or Tuesdays. Navratras are celebrated in every part of India with fasting and prayers. The problem is that most of us tend to relax and bend the rule according to our likes and dislikes and our Dharam doesn't stop anyone from doing anything their own way. This has negatively impacted the basic idea of fasting. The real fast should end with a light ' phal-ahara' . Interpreted as an alternative to normal food, many people have started having different varieties of foods after fast ! Muslims keep fast in the month of Ramadan, though their fast is only during the course of the day. I have not known any Christian keeping a fast on any occasion. Above post by Raja Saheb educates and gives us an explanation and benefits of fasting done by some 'Re-search' abroad. The West, in fact, constantly brings back our own forgotten customs on which research is done and only then we understand the significance of our own customs ! Many thanks to Raja Saheb for his very informative post. more
Aug 12
