Posted on 03/07/2023 10:32:24 AM PST by ConservativeMind
Intermittent fasting, especially when done over the course of decades, can have positive effects on metabolic and cardiovascular health. Now, a new study finds that it may also add an extra layer of protection from heart-related COVID-19 complications in people who had already sought cardiac care.
"We already know that regular fasting over long periods of time can lead to overall health improvements. Here we found that it may also lead to better outcomes in COVID-19 patients who required a cardiac catheterization," said Benjamin Horne, Ph.D. "Fasting won't necessarily stop a cardiac event from happening, but it may prevent someone from developing heart failure after."
Researchers found that those who practiced regular fasting had a lower rate of heart failure-related hospitalization, complications, and death than COVID-19 positive patients in the study who did not fast.
"These results show that long-term, low-frequency fasting can help prevent heart failure, even in patients who have both COVID-19 and heart problems already," Dr. Horne said.
Nearly 62 percent of Utah's population belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members typically fast the first Sunday of the month by going without food or drink for two consecutive meals.
Dr. Horne said that more research is needed to understand why intermittent fasting is associated with better COVID-19 outcomes in patients already being treated for heart conditions.
For example, fasting reduces inflammation, especially since hyperinflammation is associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes. In addition, after 12 to 14 hours of fasting, the body switches from using glucose in the blood to ketones, which can improve heart function.
Another potential benefit is that intermittent fasting promotes autophagy, which is "the body's recycling system that helps your body destroy and recycle damaged and infected cells," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
That works just fine
I actually tolerate a traditional fast better than regulating the fasting mimicking
diet
Both work and I think the key is to go through as many fasting-regeneration cycles as is practical or what your doc recommends - especially if you are doing it as an adjunct to chemo or some other treatment
Hi-
during your fast do you only consume water?
Oops - I posted before I saw you already answered that.
;))
Save for later.
"In addition, after 12 to 14 hours of fasting, the body switches from using glucose in the blood to ketones, which can improve heart function."
It's ridiculously easy to do. I just skip breakfast a couple days a week. Eat a light meal of spinach, and wild rice mushrooms onions fennel and beans at 5pm and don't eat lunch until 1 or 2pm the next day.
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