Intermittent Fasting Protects Against Liver Inflammation, Cancer, Study Finds

We are starting to understand the direct benefits of fasting for a couple of days.

understand that when i proposed the arclein diet ,we had no real fasting protocol.  that has changed.  Also understand that my logic was based on the physical reality that seven days of eating provides nine days of food for a normal person.  thus supporting almost 140% of body mass.  And surprise, that is about most folks problem.

In my case, my DAD bod dropped from 220 down to 180 while still retaining too much viseral fat.  still a great result and dieting is not even at issue.

turns out the other benefits are huge as well.  And i do augment with a truly varied diet and my proto elixir.  so good to go and i am not doing this alone..

Intermittent Fasting Protects Against Liver Inflammation, Cancer, Study Finds

Healing the liver has emerged among the many benefits of intermittent fasting.

By Ayla Roberts

5/27/2024Updated:

https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/study-finds-intermittent-fasting-protects-against-liver-inflammation-and-cancer-5653749

Intermittent fasting may protect against liver inflammation and even liver cancer, a new study has found.

The study, conducted at the German Cancer Research Center and the University of Tübingen and published in the journal Cell Metabolism, aimed to understand more about how intermittent fasting can affect the liver. The researchers found that intermittent fasting can halt the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a precursor to chronic liver inflammation and liver cancer.

Study Findings ExplainedThe researchers conducted their experiment by implementing a fasting regimen on mice with preexisting liver inflammation. It was found that after four months of intermittent fasting, the mice had improved liver function tests, less fat in their livers, decreased fibrosis, and were less likely to develop liver cancer in the future.

The mice followed a 5:2 fasting diet, meaning they fasted for two days and then were allowed to consume an unlimited number of calories for five days. The cycle was then repeated for four months until the study was concluded.

The researchers also discovered two proteins (known as PPAR-alpha and PCK1) within liver cells that seem to have contributed to the protective effects of intermittent fasting. The study supports March research that suggests fasting can have a powerful effect on one’s overall health.

“In recent years, caloric restriction and fasting studies have stumbled upon many positive health benefits. Some of the benefits include cancer prevention. It is well established that metabolic factors such as high levels of insulin and blood sugar increase the risk of breast cancer.” Dr. Francisco Contreras, a board-certified oncologist who treats patients in California and Mexico, told The Epoch Times in an email.

“Intermittent fasting has proven to reduce the incidence of this malignancy and also to reduce the risk of recurrence after treatment. Patients that could do intermittent fasting during treatment experienced relief of chemotherapy-induced adverse effects and cytotoxicity with significant improvement of their quality of life.”

What Is Intermittent Fasting?Intermittent fasting is a type of eating pattern that involves alternating periods of eating and abstaining from food. Most people participate in intermittent fasting for health reasons, and research supports intermittent fasting as a way to manage weight and some forms of disease, at least in the short term.

“During fasting days, your body runs off ketones derived from stored fats (triglycerides) in your body. But these ketones work as more than just fuel. They regulate the expression of many proteins and signaling molecules.” Dr. Caroline Walker, a board-certified gastroenterologist based in Denton, Texas, told The Epoch Times in an email.

“It is through these molecules that it is thought that intermittent fasting may have effects on cell growth and plasticity, tissue remodeling, decreased insulin exposure and decreased insulin resistance, improved lipid profile, improved blood pressure, and even improved asthma symptoms.”

According to Dr. Contreras, other benefits of eating less, by either restricting the amount or fasting, include weight loss, increased insulin sensitivity, improved immunity, body detoxification, lower cholesterol, and improved heart health.

All of these benefits have the potential to prevent chronic disease, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer.

Although there are many different intermittent fasting schedules to choose from, it is generally recommended not to fast for longer than 24 hours, as doing so often does more harm than good. Research regarding the long-term efficacy of intermittent fasting has also garnered mixed results, with a January 2023 study finding no evidence that intermittent fasting affects long-term weight loss results.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that intermittent fasting is not the best dietary choice for everyone and can even have dangerous consequences for people with certain health conditions.

“Patients should always speak with their primary care doctor prior to beginning intermittent fasting. It may not be right for those with Type 1 diabetes, a history of an eating disorder, pregnant, or breastfeeding (or trying to get pregnant), or are taking warfarin,” Dr. Walker advises.

Who Is Most at Risk for Developing Liver Inflammation or Liver Cancer?The most common liver condition worldwide is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is estimated that 24 percent of all U.S. adults and nearly 10 percent of U.S. children have NAFLD, which results in excessive fat buildup within the liver, which in turn can lead to liver inflammation, also known as steatohepatitis, as Dr. Contreras explains:

“There is no question that the dietary habits of our generation are a major factor of metabolic disturbances caused by obesity, and the liver is the organ most affected. The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise worldwide. A very dangerous condition that can progress into steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, which can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma, one of the most aggressive malignancies and the fastest-rising cancer in the USA.”

According to Dr. Walker, certain people are more at risk for developing NAFLD, including those with the following conditions:Metabolic syndrome

Abdominal obesity (defined as waist circumference greater than or equal to 40 inches in males and greater than or equal to 35 inches in females)

High levels of triglycerides

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol

High blood pressure

High fasting blood sugar

Hepatitis B or C

Heavy alcohol useAside from preexisting medical conditions, genes and diet can also influence a person’s likelihood of developing NAFLD. Scientists are also studying how the gut biome may affect NAFLD and have discovered differences in the microbiomes between people with NAFLD and those without the condition.

Opportunities for Future ResearchAlthough the study is promising, the researchers acknowledge that because the study was conducted on mice, there is no way to know definitively whether the intermittent fasting regimen would produce the same results in humans. However, the results show significant promise regarding the potential efficacy of intermittent fasting as a preventative tool for humans.

Beyond this, Dr. Walker says there is a notable opportunity in the future to compare and contrast a study group following the 5:2 fasting regimen to another group following a different dietary pattern.

“I do believe that they could have added value to their work by having a control group of mice who had lost body weight by another form of dietary control. This would have added value, particularly to their hypothesis that it is specifically the fasting that is responsible for the changes in fibrosis,” Dr. Walker says.