Intermitent Fasting

[Mindysooty]

jeccr.biomedcentral.com/art...

For anyone interested, this is a bit wordy but an interesting read.

[LouisaMay]

Hi Mindysooty, interesting read, although as with most medical stuff I kind of skimmed through and focused on the conclusion. I have looked into this before and do try and have a late breakfast and reasonably early dinner as a nod towards IF. I clean my teeth after dinner so I'm not tempted to graze through the evening! I think it can only be a good thing not to tax our bodies with constant digestion, it is a heavy task! Thanks for posting. x

[Mindysooty in reply to LouisaMay]

oh me too, there's always long words that I have no idea how to pronounce so I skim past and I end up losing track. There's always some sort of summary so I do the same as you otherwise I end up tying myself up in knots trying to understand. I have diverticular disease which can make me feel very bloated and sluggish so the fasting really helps with that too. xx

[Hidden]

Thanks Josie

I will give it a read on this rainy day.

I know you fast and feel the benefits of it physically as well.

Clare xx

[Hidden]

Hi Mindysooty!

Thanks for sharing the study...

I'm definitely an intermittent faster based on studies I've read.

This study seems to evaluate it from a slightly different perspective, which is helpful.

I think it's pretty well documented at this point that fasting reduces side effects (=toxicity?) of treatments, which is great, but what I'm really seeking is a weakening of the cancer....I think it does that, too, and this study does seem to indicate this, e.g. "apotisis", which I've read about before.

I've discussed my IF with both of my oncs...they both support it, but in a non-committal way, but the one who is the head of clinical trials at an NIH/NCI (?) "comprehensive cancer center" said "16/8 (16 hour fast/8 hour consume) is good, but a 48 hour fast would be better." So I found it interesting that the study included this:

"...growth clearly slows down in response to chemotherapy combined with a 24–60 h fast as compared to treatment with chemotherapy alone...".

I know I need to get my act together and do a 48 hour fast during my "break week" from Ibrance. I'm still on the capsules, which apparently work best if taken with food. The tablet form can be taken on an empty stomach. I just don't do well with discomfort! But this study will hopefully fuel some motivation on my part...

....Thanks for sharing...

Lynn

[Mindysooty in reply to Hidden]

Hi Lynn, yes, it's really interesting isn't it. I've read quite a few things about fasting - an interesting fact I read was that we're the only animal species that feeds when we're ill - other animals will apparently go off and not eat for days to boost their immune system.

I find I've been able to do 16/8 fasting quite easily - occasionally slips to 14/10 but often can go longer than 16 hours. I've found that the more I've done it, the easier it's become. My routine now is that I don't tend to eat until I finish work at 4 p.m. although I do usually eat quite late the night before - can't seem to get out of that habit so I've stopped trying. Usually have tea around 9pm and then fruit and yogurt and maybe a hot drink and a couple of ginger biscuits finishing between 10 and 10.30pm. (or more recently my neighbour has started baking a lot and I seem to have become the chief taster!!). I don't really force myself to fast and if I get too hungry I'll eat but I just don't seem to get too hungry. I'm trying to do the 24 hour fast once a month and yes, as you say, during the week off is the best time to do it so it doesn't interfere with any meds. I suffer with diverticular disease so it also helps alleviate symptoms from that too. I'm not sure if I could manager a 48 hour fast but I've never tried so who knows.

When I've been reading up about it all, it seems that quite a few oncologists seem to believe there are benefits although as you say, most are more non-committal - I think they worry about singing the virtues of anything other than the drugs they give us for fear of any potential repercussions.

Take care.

Josie

[Hidden in reply to Mindysooty]

I couldn't agree more!

I, too, found the fasting to be relatively easy, especially after the first few days.

Like you, a night time snack is essential to me...e.g. sweets or this highly-addictive ramen from Indonesia (I'd give the name, but then I'd be afraid you'd try it and get hooked, too! I've already made that mistake with several others who, like me, now order it in packs of 30! .

But without the late night snack I wake up hungry and can't get back to sleep. Which doesn't bode well for a 24-48 hour fast!

And re: docs being non-committal...Yeah, the way I look at it is that there's no "fasting" lobby so we don't hear much about it!

Take care!

Lynn

[Hidden]

Hi Josie,

Thanks for sharing this study. I will have a read of it. I try to finish eating by 6:00pm most days and then have breakfast at around 8:00am, but I could do better than that!

I used to 24 hour fasts as a child to raise money for charity, but I don't know if I could handle fasting for up to 48 hours. I'd be keeled out on the floor. It would be hard to fast for even 24 hours (unless it's on a weekend when I am not as active) as I need to have lots of energy while I am out dog walking all week. Do you have any suggestions on how to do it?

Sophie

[Mindysooty in reply to Hidden]

Yes its important to balance what activity is involved so as not to cause fatigue. You do lots of doggie walking sonyou have to find right balance. Maybe try expand for another hour but I read its important to eat good amount of good caleries during eating window. Hope it works for you. take care. X

[Hidden in reply to Mindysooty]

Hi Josie,

That's good to keep in mind. Thanks for the suggestions!

Sophie x

[viennagirl]

Thank you so much for this information Mindy. I have been doing some fasting so it has been wonderful to know that it has benefits. Hugs Marlene

[Mindysooty in reply to viennagirl]

Excellent. thats the beauty of this site isnt, sharing useful info. Glad its helped. best wishes x