Just one day a month
Intermittent (interval) fasting seems to someone to be another fashion trend, but the practice of regularly refusing to eat and drink for short periods of time can lead to improved health.
In a new study conducted by scientists at the Intermountain Healthcare Institute in Salt Lake City, researchers found that patients who underwent a cardiac catheterization procedure and adhered to intermittent fasting lived longer than patients who did not follow this diet. In addition, the study showed that patients who practice intermittent fasting are less likely to suffer from heart failure.
The results of this study were presented at the scientific sessions of the American Heart Association in Philadelphia on November 16, 2019.
During the study, scientists asked a number of questions about the lifestyle from 2013 to 2015 to two thousand patients who underwent cardiac catheterization, including whether they practiced regular intermittent fasting. The researchers then followed these patients for 4.5 years and found that intermittently fasting patients showed greater survival than those who did not adhere to this diet.
A group of researchers led by Benjamin Horn had the opportunity to carefully study the aspects of intermittent fasting, because most of the patients regularly fasted, as they belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the so-called Mormons), whose members traditionally fast on the first Sunday of the month, refusing to eat and drink for two consecutive meals, and therefore, do not eat for about one day.
Since Mormons, in addition to regular fasting, adhere to other principles of a healthy lifestyle, the study also assessed other parameters (demographic, socio-economic factors, heart risk factors, concomitant diseases, medication and treatment methods, as well as bad habits).
Taking into account statistical adjustments for these factors, long-term monthly fasting remained a reliable predictor of higher survival and reduced risk of heart failure.
The study does not prove that fasting is a causal factor for better survival, but these results obtained in a large population suggest that refusing to eat still has a positive effect on health.
Horn has previously conducted research on the causes of diabetes and coronary heart disease and found that their risks are lower in patients who practice intermittent fasting. These studies were published in 2008 and 2012 and showed that the development of chronic diseases for decades can be delayed by following this diet.
Why prolonged adherence to intermittent fasting leads to improved health is still unknown, although Horn and his colleagues believe that the reason lies in more than one factor. Diet affects the level of hemoglobin, the number of red blood cells, the level of growth hormone, reduces the level of sodium and sodium bicarbonate, and activates ketosis and autophagy – all these factors lead to improved heart health and, in particular, reduce the risk of heart failure and coronary heart disease.
Researchers suggest that intermittent fasting for several years and even decades causes the body to activate defense mechanisms in a shorter period of time than usual.
Research in this area continues in search of an answer to the question of possible mechanisms of influence on the development of chronic diseases and survival. It is also planned to study the potential psychological consequences of intermittent fasting and the potential impact on appetite and hunger perception.
Fasting is not suitable for everyone. Researchers warn that pregnant and lactating women, as well as young children and the elderly, intermittent fasting can harm. Patients after organ transplantation receive treatment that suppresses the immune system, so they are more susceptible to acute or severe chronic infections, suffer from eating disorders, and they also should not starve.
In addition, people with chronic diseases, especially those receiving medications for diabetes, blood pressure or heart disease, should not starve because of the serious side effects that medications can cause in combination with fasting.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Intermountain Healthcare: Intermittent Fasting Increases Longevity in Cardiac Catheterization Patients, New Intermountain Study Finds.