FASTING?!: Hello everyone, I was wondering if any... - Ataxia UK

Ataxia UK

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FASTING?!

Kpgi profile image
Kpgi
15 Replies

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if any of you have tried fasting? I have been doing some research and listening to some podcasts about the benefits of fasting and how it the potential to eliminate misfolded proteins.

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Kpgi profile image
Kpgi
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15 Replies
sunvox profile image
sunvox

Count me as a fasting advocate. My wife and I started many years ago with calorie restriction and as part of that routine we would occasionally fast. We don't follow calorie restriction right now (although research in humans shows many benefits), but I have read recent research as you did that indicates fasting may help neurological disorders so I have begun to eat one meal a day intentionally. Not every day, but perhaps 1/3 of the days I eat only one meal.

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I would add two additional bits of information. First (and I will need to come back with the research when I find it as I didn't book mark it when I first uncovered it) but first there is evidence that the reason fasting helps people with neurological disorders is because it boosts the body's production of something call NAD+. NAD+ is key to keeping our cells healthy. As we age and when we have neurological diseases our body's production of NAD+ falls dramatically so researchers are learning that increases in NAD+ can help the body slow or even stop damage to cells whether from aging or disease.

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Second, this forum has a wealth of information if you use the search function. People in the PD forum have been discussing fasting for over 5 years, but more importantly if you click on my name or avatar you will be taken to a long list of posts I have made. Perhaps something there may be helpful. :) Joe in NY

sunvox profile image
sunvox in reply to sunvox

Found it:

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Fasting promotes the expression of SIRT1, an NAD+ -dependent protein deacetylase, via activation of PPARalpha in mice.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/201...

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and, with that in mind, here is another way to increase NAD+ and enhance Sirt 1 in your body:

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healthunlocked.com/parkinso...

Hi Kpgi, my understanding is that there is a benefit in fasting or at least reducing food intake. This has come from 2 sources,, a research team in Holland working on nice and a French neurologist.

My simple understanding is that it slows down oxidative damage caused by the need of cells to metabolise foods and decreases intake of any toxic/chemical body/liver/kidneys have to deal with.

Hard to implement at extreme level but we have also reduced the size and number of meals and portions. For the same reason I don't give my son high doses of any supplements.

Definitely worth trying, when you think about it, food and air are the main factors affecting our body on a regular basis so it's worth giving it a lot of thought.

Happyfacexx profile image
Happyfacexx

Hi kpgi I’m really excited about the affects of intermittent fasting after someone posted on another forum how it has benefited her so much that she is thinking about getting a job again. Apparently if you don’t eat for at least 16 hours a day something called atophagy happens, which I think is what they try to reproduce in some of the drugs they are working on. I’m not very good at looking at all the research but I know Joe/sunvox will have that covered:) I have been eating for only about 7 hours a day ( not continuously!) now for just over two weeks, so it’s a bit early to report back with how it’s going ( I also eat about 90% raw vegan which I have heard very good reports about, but still early days). I would be very interested in how you and others get on with fasting, good luck 💫

benning profile image
benning

I was thinking about doing it but(there's always a but) I love my FOOD to much ,so I have cut down and exercise more.

Jgwilk profile image
Jgwilk

YES YES YES it has done wonders for my balance, clarity, handwriting, speech in a short time too! Do the research but I highly recommend it! Just give it a try for a month and see if you don’t see improvement.

Poppy214 profile image
Poppy214 in reply to Jgwilk

Is that intermittent fasting or water fasting for a month?

Jgwilk profile image
Jgwilk in reply to Poppy214

Intermittent fasting. Clean fast (only water, black coffee/tea) 16 hours/eat over 8 hours.

Kpgi profile image
Kpgi

Thank you guys! I tested positive about two weeks ago. I don’t have any symptoms yet, but I wanted to to get tested for my own personal knowledge. Especially for family planning with my wife. Luckily, I am not exhibiting symptoms yet (30 yrs old). I am just trying to get on ahead of the curve. I workout five times a week with cardio and weight lifting. What type of fasting do you all do? Intermittent?

Jgwilk profile image
Jgwilk in reply to Kpgi

Yes, intermittent. Brave of you to test before showing symptoms! I refused to test for a while though I knew there was a 50/50 chance I would have it. I figured i’d Always be waiting for the day that I would start showing symptoms and that would be too depressing. What number do you have?

Kpgi profile image
Kpgi

Unfortunately, I have between 71-77. Not a great number to have. My grandmother was in the same range and didn’t start having symptoms until she was in her fifties. If I can make it till my fifties than I’m happy. And hopeful for some sort of medical breakthrough within the next twenty years.

sunvox profile image
sunvox

What type of Ataxia do you have?

Kpgi profile image
Kpgi in reply to sunvox

I have SCA3.

sunvox profile image
sunvox

I am 52, have SCA1, and have a CAG count that equates to about what your count is (CAG count thresholds differ by SCA). I had early symptoms including poor balance, speech troubles, poor handwriting, fatigue, and inability to use exercise to gain strength. I am 100% symptom free today as are a couple of people across the world (including some with SCA3). Here is what we are doing that I believe can help you:

healthunlocked.com/ataxia-u....

Everything I am doing has a precise scientific reason including and especially the type and duration of exercise.

Kpgi profile image
Kpgi in reply to sunvox

Wow! Thank you so much for this information Joe! I am going to get on this right away. My health is my number one priority. I have a baby boy that is counting on me.

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