Andreas Michalsen
April 2010
Diet, Fasting & Detox
Andreas Michalsen from Immanuel Hospital Berlin investigated fasting as a method of improving mood in chronic pain. Studies have already shown that medically supervised fasting over a period of 7-21 days can be effective in the treatment of rheumatic diseases and chronic pain syndromes.
Michalsen was able to prove through experimental research that fasting increases the concentration of serotonin, endogenous opioids and endocannabinoids in the brain, which correlates with increased alertness and improved mood. Fasting-induced neuroendocrine activation and increased production of neurotrophic substances may also contribute to improved mood.
The study showed that therapeutic fasting can usefully complement conventional therapy for chronic pain patients as a possible treatment method due to its pain-relieving and mood-enhancing effects.
B. D. Horne et al.
December 2012
The study shows that a one-day water fast improves biomarkers of metabolic and cardiovascular health in the short term.
S. Steven, R. Taylor
February 2015
The study shows that a very low-calorie diet can lead to normoglycemia in type 2 diabetes.