Fasting, or restricting your intake of solid foods, is often promoted as a means of losing weight.
Studies have suggested that intermittent fasting — alternating restricted food intake with usual eating patterns — may have several health benefits.
Now, a study in mice suggests that fasting and then refeeding boosts cell regeneration in the intestines.
However, the research found that this also increased the risk of intestinal tumors in the mice.
Fasting has long been part of many traditions and religions, but it is only in recent years that the health benefits of restricting food intake have been investigated. Most recently, many studies have researched the effects of intermittent fasting — short periods of no or limited food intake interspersed with periods of normal eating — on health.
Health benefits of intermittent fasting may include:
weight loss
lower risk of type 2 diabetes
improved heart and brain health
lower risk of cancer
reduced oxidative stress and inflammation
improved longevity
To date, intermittent fasting has only shown benefits for weight loss and type diabetes in humans with regards to weight loss. As a result, more research is needed to investigate whether the same effects might be seen in people.
Now, a study led by researchers from MIT has found out how fasting and then refeeding stimulates cell regeneration in the intestines but has also shown that it carries the risk of stimulating the formation of intestinal tumors.