I strongly believe that fasting is beneficial to good health. The year 2005 was a bad one for me healthwise, it was when following years of badly controlled diabetes things finally came to a head, I suffered - apart from other complications - electrolyte imbalance, kidney function deteriorated stage 3 - 4, I was on temporary dialysis and spent 8 days in the ICU.
A naturopath friend and doctor urged to really cut out carbs as much as possible, helped me to devise a eating plan to keep protein, calcium and potassium intake low, I needed to do this at the time. He also advised to do a 24 hour fast twice a week.
My hospital consultants were horrified, they told my husband that nobody in my condition should be doing any fasting, apparently its only for healthy, cranky people and Yogis!!
At the time I was fed up to the hilt with doctors conventional advice, for years I asked for help to lower my bg levels, bp and cholesterol, I was prescribed medication, Metformin, Avandia (!!) and Gliclazide, maximum doses, 4 different bp meds, one of them was Irbesartan which raised potassium to danger level, Furosemide, antiemetics, Omeprazole, sleeping pills and anti-depressants, nothing worked to help me feel healthy, the opposite in fact.
I had nothing to lose, I tried the naturopath approach, I cut the carbs immediately, surprise, surprise my bg levels dropped almost instantly, within a week I showed single figures, I was eating sparsely, still in hospital, it was difficult to dodge the carbs, I wanted the fasting day, so had to pretend that I was off my food, when really I was quite hungry, liquids still restricted, I fasted two days, somehow I felt confident, empowered doing so, the consultant smiled said kidney function is improving.
Medication was reviewed, Metformin taken off me, it caused lactic acidosis, mustnt be taken by people with reduced kidney function, so only Gliclazide and Avandia, maximum dose, bp meds changed but not reduced, still on diuretics, Omeprazole and antiemetics but stopped sleeping pills and antidepressants.
At home I started low carb with a vengeance, my ever so supportive husband joined me fasting every Friday and Saturday, a vegetable broth fast, drinking home made ginger and lemon tea.
Kidney function improved to level 3A, remained stable at this level for 2 years, I continued with the new regime, still fasting but only one 24hr period a week.
My health continued to improve, over the years I have been able to reduce and finally do away with all prescribed medication, every single one of them (<<under medical supervision!!)
Best of all, much to the amazement of my nephrologist, kidney function is at level 2 and stable, whether it can improve any further or not, I have no idea, but I am convinced that the fasting has helped, I still do a 24hr fast every week, it helps me clear the mind and makes me feel fresher.