Scientists have hypothesized that an intermittent fasting diet can be beneficial to human health. Nowadays, diets, sugar substitutes, and nutritional regimes are all over the place. Most of the diets promise some enchanted recipe for unrealistic goals, and other diets are a complete hoax scamming you for money. But, recent studies on this new theory have optimistic outcomes concerning overall health.
Promising results with mice
This intermittent fasting diet, the researchers say, shows promise in allowing patients to recover from diabetes. But so far, the idea has been tested on laboratory mice only.
While conducting the experiment, they detected an improvement in Blood Sugar Levels after they set these mice on the diet for 3 months. The fasting diet requires putting the individual in a near famine situation for five days. During these five days, they stay on a low-protein, low-carb, vegan-like regime only eating soup, nutritional bars, and drinking tea. Then, after 5 days of starvation, they resume a normal diet for the next 25 days.
Intermittent fasting regenerated pancreatic cells
While Professor Valter Longo and his team of researchers at the University of Southern California were testing the effects of near starvation on diabetic mice, they noted that blood sugar was decreasing. With further research, they discovered that pancreatic beta cells were somehow being reprogrammed and regenerating the organ.
The underlying cause of diabetes is a malfunctioning pancreas, especially beta cells. These beta cells detect blood sugar levels and secrete insulin to control it in the case of a spike. Consequently, the destroyed pancreas makes diabetes a chronic, incurable disease.
Human trials already started
Fortunately, the results that were published in the journal "Cell" seem like a light at the end of the diabetes tunnel.
Although this intermittent fasting seems harmless, it is recommended that no one try it without first consulting with their physician. The medical community is excited by the results and is eager to test this new theory on humans. "Fast-mimicking diet” trials are now being conducted on small groups of diabetic patients, both type 1 and type 2 -- Type 1 being an immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic cells, and type 2 related to lifestyle and diet.
The outcome looks promising.
Also, the fasting diet can have quite an impact on other conditions like cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and even aging, There have also been reports of lower cholesterol and inflammation marker levels. Could this intermittent fasting diet be a cure for diabetes?
