A study published in the June 5 issue of Cell Stem Cell by researchers from the University of Southern California showed that:
Cycles of prolonged fasting protect against immune system damage.
If you want to follow along with a plan: One recommended way of doing it — which was tested by the BBC’s Michael Mosley in order to reverse his diabetes, high cholesterol, and other problems that were associated with his obesity — is what is known as the “5:2 Diet.” It works on calorie consumption, not a plan I would suggest following if you’re not into counting calories.
On the 5:2 plan, you cut your food down to one-fourth of your normal daily calories on fasting days, while consuming plenty of water and tea. On the other five days of the week, you eat normally.
Fasting kills off old and damaged immune cells, and when the body rebounds, it uses stem cells to create brand new, completely healthy cells. And it’s why John Ioannidis, an epidemiologist at the Stanford University School of Medicine, published an article titled “Why Most Published Research Findings Are False” which subsequently became the most widely accessed article in the history of the Public Library of Science (PLoS).
Mattson and his team have published several papers that discuss how fasting twice a week could significantly lower the risk of developing both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
Fasting is a challenge to your brain, and your brain responds to that challenge by adapting stress response pathways which help your brain cope with stress and risk for disease.
Why fasting bolsters brain power:
Mark Mattson at TEDxJohnsHopkinsUniversity
And Finally… a wonderful side effect of eating like this is addressing the emotion associated with eating. By choosing to limit your access to food, you will discover the areas of your emotion that are connected to a pattern of self-soothing, and notice when you are tempted to reach for a comfort meal.
Source: http://www.ewao.com/a/neuroscientist-shows-what-fasting-does-to-your-brain-why-big-pharma-wont-study-it/