2023-11-28 16:01:47
November 28, 2023
It can be complete, partial, continuous or even intermittent… Fasting for preventive or therapeutic purposes is a fashionable practice. But is it beneficial for our health? Answer.
Fasting consists of a complete cessation of food. From a few hours to a few days, it is practiced with the aim of improving one’s health. Whether to reduce the symptoms of illness or prevent them. “Certain types of fasts, called partial, propose integrating an extremely low caloric intake (less than 300 kcal per day) through the consumption of broths, fruit or vegetable juices, but without solid food intake”, details the Ministry of Health, in a fact sheet produced on this subject.
In certain countries (Germany, Russia, United States, etc.), medical structures offer the practice of fasting under medical supervision. For example in the management of certain chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. But “its practice is not without risk”describe the authors Najate Achamrah, Yves M. Dupertuis and Claude Pichard in an article in the journal Diabetes. “Weight loss is often associated with a loss of lean mass, a poor prognosis factor.”
Serious risks
“Abroad, fasting for therapeutic purposes under medical supervision is the subject of research into the fight against joint diseases or pain, certain cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the digestive tract or even on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy anticancer drugs”, expands the ministry. However, it appears very premature to rule on a possible beneficial effect: “concerning the practice of fasting under medical supervision, there are to date no sufficiently numerous and rigorous scientific studies allowing us to conclude as to its therapeutic or preventive effectiveness.”
On the other hand, the risks are known: “in addition to the feeling of hunger, (fasting) can cause severe headaches, dizziness, or even discomfort,” it is noted. “Beyond two weeks, it can cause anemia (iron deficiency), inflammation and fibrosis in the liver and deterioration of bone stock. The most serious risk associated with fasting is that of the occurrence of heart rhythm disturbances which in certain cases can lead to death.
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Source : Update on… Fasting for preventive or therapeutic purposes. Ministry of Health – Inserm, Evaluation of the effectiveness of the practice of fasting as a preventive or therapeutic practice – 2014 – Achamrah, N., Dupertuis, Y., M., Pichard, C., Fasting in health and during illness, Rev Med Suisse, 2018/609 (Vol.4), p. 1128–1132.
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Written by : David Picot – Edited by: Emmanuel Ducreuzet
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