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Fasting

g4macdad

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g4macdad
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Apr 5, 2007
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752
I saw someplace where fasting is widely used as a medical treatment. This subject seems pretty fascinating.

Does anyone here have any knowledge on the subject to share?
 
Mojo said:
It's probably better than the all-crow diet.
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Moderator please! Is this level of trolling really acceptable?

Troll

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In animals when they vomit repeatedly or have severe diarrhea we fast them temporarily till their upset tummies resolve.
 
g4macdad said:
I saw someplace where fasting is widely used as a medical treatment. This subject seems pretty fascinating.

Does anyone here have any knowledge on the subject to share?
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Got any links? To what extent are we talking about? Who is using fasting as what kind of a medical treatment for what kind(s) of condition(s)? (Links would answer all those questions.)

As for myself, I've only had to fast when preparing for a medical test of some kind; for example, I recently had to have a glucose test (to check for gestational diabetes). I fasted for about eight hours (if I recall correctly) then had to drink an extremely sweet drink, then about an hour after that the medical techs drew my blood to check my blood-sugar levels. The point of the fasting in that case was to ensure that erroneous readings didn't result.

I also understand that persons scheduled for surgery are supposed to fast so that the stomach is empty (I can't say for sure; I'm not a doctor, so hopefully one of our resident docs will show up and say something). I do know that at the local hospital, if you're in labor in the hospital, they don't want you to eat anything. Fluids, including light-colored fluids like lemon Gatorade, etc., are fine. And that's because they prefer your stomach to be empty if you end up needing a C-Section.

Again, what kind of fasting are you reading about, and what's it in relation to?
 
Jackalgirl said:
Got any links? To what extent are we talking about? Who is using fasting as what kind of a medical treatment for what kind(s) of condition(s)? (Links would answer all those questions.)

As for myself, I've only had to fast when preparing for a medical test of some kind; for example, I recently had to have a glucose test (to check for gestational diabetes). I fasted for about eight hours (if I recall correctly) then had to drink an extremely sweet drink, then about an hour after that the medical techs drew my blood to check my blood-sugar levels. The point of the fasting in that case was to ensure that erroneous readings didn't result.

I also understand that persons scheduled for surgery are supposed to fast so that the stomach is empty (I can't say for sure; I'm not a doctor, so hopefully one of our resident docs will show up and say something). I do know that at the local hospital, if you're in labor in the hospital, they don't want you to eat anything. Fluids, including light-colored fluids like lemon Gatorade, etc., are fine. And that's because they prefer your stomach to be empty if you end up needing a C-Section.

Again, what kind of fasting are you reading about, and what's it in relation to?
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Actually the real reason I was asking is, I forgot the URL of the place I read it.

I read some interesting and informative posts here about vegan diets, so I thought this might be a good place to ask.:D
 
g4macdad said:
Have you ever fasted?
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I have gone a couple of days without food on purpose a couple times. I used to live on a commune and they told me I would feel good after fasting. I think there is a sort of high that goes along with hypoglycemia or some other metabolic abnormality that occurs with fasting. It was not impressive to me but after 2 days there was little urge to eat and I felt fine. Once I ate again I did not feel better.
 
Dogdoctor said:
I have gone a couple of days without food on purpose a couple times. I used to live on a commune and they told me I would feel good after fasting. I think there is a sort of high that goes along with hypoglycemia or some other metabolic abnormality that occurs with fasting. It was not impressive to me but after 2 days there was little urge to eat and I felt fine. Once I ate again I did not feel better.
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What about ketosis? I think this is the key factor of the medical benifits, right?
 
@ g4md: Please do us the courtesy of doing your own research before posting here.

For example, Wikipedia has an extensive article on fasting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting

Check it out, educate yourself. If, after that, you have some salient point or issue that you feel merits examination by fellow skeptics, post your idea here.
 
TTLer said:
@ g4md: Please do us the courtesy of doing your own research before posting here.

For example, Wikipedia has an extensive article on fasting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting

Check it out, educate yourself. If, after that, you have some salient point or issue that you feel merits examination by fellow skeptics, post your idea here.
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Why would I do my own research and come back and respond to myself? I was asking for members to share their knowledge. What is your problem again? For a new guy you sure are cocky.
 
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g4macdad said:
What did your two posts in this thread contribute?
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They contributed plenty:

Provided a link to information on the very subject you raised.
Explained why it is valuable to do your own research.
Addressed two logical fallacies in your post.

What, exactly, do you want? Evidently not answers.
 
I imagine, also, that TTLer is trying to help you avoid the Tai Chi method, in which one puts up a post with extremely minimal information and says "Interesting."

It might help if you'd post a bit more -- such as, for example, links to what you've been reading that interested you so, WHY it interested you so, and any relationship to skepticism you think it might have.

I ask again: what type of fasting are we talking about here? Fasting done by whom as a medical treatment for what? Are you talking about the Atkins diet, or something like that?
 
Ketosis is not a benefit. Ketosis keeps you going while you're too sick to go out and hunt and gather. Some people enjoy the way it feels, and you can even have euphoria and hallucinations. The ability to go without food for a period of time and still feel good is itself a benefit. But just because it feels good doesn't mean that it's a valid medical treatment.

Like DogDoctor says, I too am unaware of any medical benefits of fasting per se.
 
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