FAD FASTING DRAWS DOCTORS' CONCERNS.Byline: Lisa Lytle Orange County Register For millions of people of various religions, fasting retains its centuries-old meaning: the emptying of the vessel - the human body - so that something else may fill the space. Faithful practitioners of fasting say they experience a feeling of enlightenment, a sense of closeness to the deity upon which they place their faith. Yet, fasting also has become a weight-loss fad. It is shamelessly hawked over the Internet and in self-help books as a way to physiologically cleanse or ``remove toxins from the body.'' And that's what concerns physicians. Detoxification Detoxification Definition Detoxification is one of the more widely used treatments and concepts in alternative medicine. It is based on the principle that illnesses can be caused by the accumulation of toxic substances (toxins) in the body. benefits remain unproven while, in fact, the opposite can happen, says Dr. C. Wayne Callaway, a specialist in endocrinology, metabolism and clinical nutrition Clinical nutrition The use of diet and nutritional supplements as a way to enhance health prevent disease. Mentioned in: Naturopathic Medicine at George Washington University George Washington University, at Washington, D.C.; coeducational; chartered 1821 as Columbian College (one of the first nonsectarian colleges), opened 1822, became a university in 1873, renamed 1904. Medical School. Ketosis ketosis /ke·to·sis/ (ke-to´sis) accumulation of excessive amounts of ketone bodies in body tissues and fluids, occurring when fatty acids are incompletely metabolized.ketot´ic ke·to·sis n. pl. sets in when you fast for more than 18 hours, says Dr. William Daughaday, clinical professor specializing in endocrinology and metabolism at the University of California The University of California has a combined student body of more than 191,000 students, over 1,340,000 living alumni, and a combined systemwide and campus endowment of just over $7.3 billion (8th largest in the United States). , Irvine. ``You're burning so much fat that your body can't handle effects of byproducts of fat oxidation.'' Fasting can exacerbate conditions, including Refsum's disease Ref·sum's disease n. A rare inherited metabolic disorder characterized by a buildup of phytanic acid in tissues and a manifestation of such conditions as retinitis pigmentosa, polyneuritis, deafness, and nystagmus. and Reye's syndrome, he said. Neurologic problems can result. ``The longer the fast, the greater the risk of gall bladder gall bladder, small pear-shaped sac that stores and concentrates bile. It is connected to the liver (which produces the bile) by the hepatic duct. When food containing fat reaches the small intestine, the hormone cholecystokinin is produced by cells in the intestinal disease,'' Callaway says. ``The risk goes up to about 67 percent. And if you've lost at least 22 pounds, the risk doubles.'' When you fast, your blood pressure, blood sugar and blood fats decrease, but these are transient effects, Callaway says. ``They go up as soon as you eat.'' Ditto for weight. Sure, a long period of fasting can make you lose about half a pound a day - and lessen your appetite, but you gain them back once you eat, Daughaday says. Worse, you also lose bone and muscle. But doctors don't dispute spiritual benefits. ``The spiritual side is quite valid,'' Callaway says. ``There are biochemical changes that occur in the body during fasting, and that may be part of the spiritual aspect. For example, in fasting, one would have a greater propensity to have visions.'' |
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