As of: February 16, 2024, 2:00 p.m
By: Natalie Hull-Deichsel
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If you regularly go without food at certain times, you relieve the strain on your body and also lose weight.
Even chronic inflammation should be alleviated.
Therapeutic fasting, interval fasting, intermittent fasting, religious fasting - there seem to be many terms and forms of fasting and yet they all have one thing in common: abstinence from food for a certain period of time.
There can be various reasons and motivators why someone decides to fast - the desire to lose weight and lose weight is just one.
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For many people, the original fast marks a phase of abstinence and spiritual contemplation.
During this time, which traditionally begins 40 days before Easter, abstinence from food is often practiced as a way of inner cleansing.
The benefits of fasting can be many.
In addition to potential weight loss, fasting can also help boost metabolism, improve digestion and thereby prevent bloating.
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Scientists have known for some time that high-calorie diets in particular can also increase the risk of diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which are linked to chronic inflammation in the body.
Study results from the
University of Cambridge
and the
National Institute for Health
in the USA indicate that intermittent fasting in particular can help reduce inflammation in the body.
Fasting can reduce chronic inflammation
Inflammation is the body's natural response to injury or infection.
However, this process can also be triggered by other mechanisms, including so-called inflammasomes - multiprotein complexes of the innate immune system that are responsible for activating inflammatory reactions.
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Professor Clare Bryant from the
Department of Medicine
at the
University of Cambridge
explains in a press release: “We are very interested in understanding the causes of chronic inflammation associated with many human diseases and in particular the role of the inflammasome.
In recent years it has been shown that one inflammasome in particular - the NLRP3 inflammasome - plays an important role in a number of serious diseases such as obesity and arteriosclerosis, but also Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, for example.
The research team now found that restricting calorie intake - such as when fasting - increased the level of a lipid called arachidonic acid.
At the same time, arachidonic acid is able to reduce the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
“This provides a possible explanation for how dietary changes – such as fasting – protect us from inflammation, particularly the harmful form that underlies many diseases.
Patients who eat a high-fat diet actually show increased inflammasome activity.
It is not yet certain whether fasting protects against diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as the effects of arachidonic acid are short-lived.
“But our findings once again point to the health benefits of reducing calories,” explains Professor Clare Bryant.
Regular fasting over a longer period of time can help reduce chronic inflammation that is associated with illnesses.
Fasting is not suitable for everyone
Despite the positive effects, fasting is not recommended for everyone.
People with serious heart and kidney diseases, cancer, gout or gallbladder problems should not fast, nor should pregnant or breastfeeding women.
All people with metabolic disorders or chronic illnesses should consult a doctor before engaging in any type of fasting.
The same applies to low blood pressure, underweight and old age, as stated by
Norddeutscher Rundfunk
.
Fasting also carries risks
However, fasting also has potential risks and disadvantages.
Abruptly abstaining from food can lead to deficiency symptoms, an imbalance in the electrolyte balance and a drop in blood sugar levels.
People with certain health problems such as diabetes, eating disorders or gastrointestinal diseases should therefore approach fasting with caution and, ideally, under medical supervision.
It is important to carry out fasting responsibly and taking your own physical and mental health into account.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.