Fasting shown to reduce inflammation: Research from Yale University
If you’ve ever done a fast before, you’ve seen for yourself how quickly inflammation is reduced. In just a matter of days, you can see rashes disappear, puffiness going down, joints moving easily without pain, brain fog clearing, eyes brighter and blood sugar levels stabilizing. Well, finally…scientists are proving it!
All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.
“Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that a compound produced by the body when dieting or fasting can block a part of the immune system involved in several inflammatory disorders such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
In their study, published in the Feb. 16 online issue of Nature Medicine, the researchers described how the compound β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) directly inhibits NLRP3, which is part of a complex set of proteins called the inflammasome. The inflammasome drives the inflammatory response in several disorders including autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, and autoinflammatory disorders.
“These findings are important because endogenous metabolites like BHB that block the NLRP3 inflammasome could be relevant against many inflammatory diseases, including those where there are mutations in the NLRP3 genes,” said Vishwa Deep Dixit, professor in the Section of Comparative Medicine at Yale School of Medicine.
BHB is a metabolite produced by the body in response to fasting, high-intensity exercise, caloric restriction, or consumption of the low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. Dixit said it is well known that fasting and calorie restriction reduces inflammation in the body, but it was unclear how immune cells adapt to reduced availability of glucose and if they can respond to metabolites produced from fat oxidation.”
(Source: Anti-inflammatory mechanism of dieting and fasting revealed, Yale School of Medicine)
When I did a 40-day water fast a few years back, I had the privilege to experience this phenomena first-hand. Water fasting means to drink only water, in the same way that juice fasting means to drink only fresh juice. Only water is consumed during the fast. No food is eaten. Natural Hygienists agree that having small amounts of fresh lemon or lime in the water is ok; however in that water fast, I didn’t do that. Two years later I did a 25-day water fast in Vilcabamba, Ecuador and in that fast, I did drink fresh herbal teas like mint, sage and parsley and also added lemon to the water for the first week. After that, I went straight to water. In both fasts, I experienced a profound reduction of inflammation and a deep sense of healing, both physical and spiritual.
Even 1 day per week of fasting can greatly help to reduce inflammation.
If you’re interested in learning more about water fasting, check out my eBook: A Comprehensive Guide to Water Fasting. This book is immediately downloadable in either .pdf or .epub format:
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Jennifer Betesh
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2019
Can you provide a link to the research paper or study that shows the connection between Fasting, β-hydroxybutyrate and inflammation? I’ve visited the schools page and have been unable to find and actual paper with the results that I can read. I only see ongoing clinical trials. Thanks
Hi, I dont have any skin problems. But on day 15 of my water fast my scalp got covered with itchy scabs overnight. Also, occipital lymph got very swollen and hurt so I tried massaging them. I hope the itchy scalp will go away soon, but its very very bad. 80% of my scalp is inflamed red and very itchy. I plan to go for 6 more days, so I can finish my 21 day goal.
Thank you for any input.
Dear Alexa,
Have you had a lot of perms, hair dye or other chemical treatments applied to your scalp in the past? I’m not a medical doctor and cannot give any medical advice, just to be clear. I did see a case once of someone getting a bad rash on their scalp and they had used hair dyes since the age of 14; I believe it was about 40 years of regular hair dye by the time she did a fast.
Thank you for your reply! Yes, I do color it blonde on a regular basis (for 20 years now) and infact it feels like a terrible bleach burn. I have to think about this one. Wow what if it is a reaction to all the chemicals Ive been putting on my head!?
Again thank you so much for your reply.
Dear Alexa,
If it were me, I would apply liquid bentonite clay a few times a day to help pull the toxins out. (and definitely use this as an opportunity to stop applying chemical treatments from now on..) I usually keep my bentonite clay in the fridge; that way if I do apply it on a hot spot of itchy skin, the coolness of the clay adds to further soothe the area.
To your health,
Jennifer
I’ve been suffering from achilles tendonitis for half a year. So painful i couldn’t walk sometimes. I’m now on the 7th day of a water fast. Im loving the weight loss, but even better, I woke up this morning and the achilles didnt even register. The pain from my tendonitis has all but GONE!!! I’m now limp free. Amazing! No more crappy NSAIDS for me!
Dear Alvin,
That’s fantastic, so happy to hear your results! The proof is in the pudding, or the water…!
If you have more inflammation in the future, try applying a castor oil pack directly to the affected area. They are simply amazing at reducing inflammation, directly through the skin.
To your health,
Jennifer
True, I did a 7 day water fast and on day 2 my achilles tendonitis disappeared and I could run again. The pain did however return upon resuming eating but I will now try the keto diet to see if I get a similar response.