From: suhre@meltami.dsd.trw.com
Newsgroups: alt.recovery
Subject: Fasting Comments
Date: 20 Nov 92 22:03:36 GMT
Reply-To: suhre@meltami.dsd.trw.com ()
Distribution: alt
Organization: TRW Space & Defense
Originator: suhre@meltami.dsd.trw.com


=====Begin post for Diane=====
I need to post about the dangers of fasting since I've seen these (in my
opinion) crazy diets being posted here.  I am quoting from an article from
_Cooperative Extension of California Orange County_ June 1986, _From your
home advisor_.  If anyone wants a copy of the entire article - email me
and we'll work something out.  I got this information from my mother, a
registered dietitian and nutritionist.

	"The average adult now carries over five pounds or chemical
	 toxins in his/her precious body, often along with unwanted
	 weight.  End unneccessary suffering. . .Lose one pound daily,
	 permanently, safely. . .Personally monitored juice fasts also
	 detoxify, rejuvenate, break addictions."

So says a prominent newspaper advertisement for a "fasting center" in 
California.  And many people are rising to the bait because they are
unable to distinguish between the body's warning signs of starvation
and the promised miracle of "detoxification" and weight loss, says Helene 
Swenerton, PhD, Extension Nutrition Specialist.

Fasting is nothing new; it's been used for thousands of years by people who
believe that it leads to physical and spiritual cleansing.  Today there are
a variety of self-proclaimed experts who tout endless benefits from fasting
such as "elimination of metabolic wastes, allowing the body to normalize
its biochemistry and restore a youthful condition to the cells and tissues."

Prolonged fasting is unsafe, says Dr. Swenerton.  It neither cleanses nor 
rests the body.  Instead, it mobilizes homeostatic mechanisms designed to
go into gear when emergencies such as sickness or accident prevent normal
eating.  Under these conditions, some body tissues are "cannibalized" in an
attempt to keep other essential body tissues alive until the emergency is
over.  Thus, for some individuals, even short-term fasting can carry 
significant health risks.

During the initial phase of a fast, liver glycogen stores are depleted. 
Proteins in muscles and organs are broken down to insure that glucose
is available to the brain.  Fat reserves are mobilized, flooding the blood
with free fatty acids that the liver converts to ketones.

As the fast continues, large amounts of water and minerals, such as sodium
and potassium are lost. The liver and kidneys are forced to work harder to
perform their normal functions as well as to take part in the utilization and
elimination of the by-products of increased breakdown of body protein and
fat."

The article goes on to describe the symptoms that appear that something has
gone wrong with the body: bad breath, dizziness, nausea, weakness.  "All
are signals that something is wrong!"

Fasting promoters claim these symptoms are evidence of all these toxins the
body is getting rid of, when they are indeed warning signs that something
is wrong.  People have been misled.

The article ends: "In other words, the difference between fasting and
starvation exists only in the mind of the person fasting."

I thought this was a good article.  I have another list of concerns about
fasting that Mom mailed me also - I will post these separately.

Have a great weekend everyone!

=====End post for Diane=======

Diane's e-mail address (not available from my headers) is

	OMAN@ASTRO.CS.HH.AB.COM
-- 
Maurice Suhre
suhre@trwrb.dsd.trw.com