Author: Albert Harrison

Helau! Do you already have a costume for the last two days of carnival? Yes? And I have seven unbeatable tips with which your skin is guaranteed not to take offense with the generous carnival make-up. The consumer advice center in North Rhine-Westphalia had a similar idea and published a press release on the subject in February 2015 (unfortunately the link no longer exists) . I took a closer look at them and added my own experiences.

1. Before the carnival make-up: do a skin test

Anyone who uses make-up regularly usually uses the same products and knows that the skin can take it, the make-up does not cause pimples, itching or redness. Carnival make-up usually has a different consistency and – in my experience – also of a less good quality. The skin can like that, but it doesn’t have to. People who are more sensitive to creams or make-up are cautious anyway, but less sensitive people should also test the carnival make-up beforehand. It doesn’t have to be directly in the face, in the crook of your arm is enough. The consumer advice center recommends products on an “aqua”, ie water basis – this has the advantage that they can be easily removed with water. However, the color may not last that long. Children’s make-up falls into the “water-based” category, you don’t always find them in the perfumery or drugstore – I only found them after a long search in the toy store. The range includes different colors in small pots that can be applied and mixed with a brush.

Keyword water-based: The consumer advice center also recommends these products because they would “paste up” the skin and its less than those based on fat, which then cause pimples and blackheads. I believe that the risk of greasy make-up is not so great if you only have it on for a few hours (and only a few times a year!) And then remove it properly.

2. Use natural cosmetics

Understandable if you prefer to avoid cheap products, even in the fifth season. One tip from the consumer advice center is to use certified natural cosmetics straight away – after all, they do not contain any preservatives such as parabens, silicone or paraffin that require declaration. That irritated me at first , I had never seen carnival make-up with a natural cosmetic seal (e.g. BDIH or Natrue ). But there is. At least from DM’s own brand “alverde” – namely the whole range from hair mascara in different colors to a make-up palette. Some beauty blogs have already praised the offer, for example here, here and here.

Keyword natural cosmetics: The manufacturers determine what may and may not be in natural cosmetics. If a product says “no preservatives”, it does not mean that it does not contain any preservatives, only those that must be declared according to the EU Cosmetics Directive.

3. Be careful with allergies

Especially when the make-up was cheap and of poor quality, the skin resents it more quickly. In the best case scenario, it then reacts with pimples, in the worst case with a contact allergy, also known as contact eczema. The part of the skin that came into contact with the allergen becomes inflamed. Itching, pustules, redness and swelling can result. In make-up, for example, fragrances (often imprecisely declared as “perfume”) can be the trigger. If the eyes become infected, it may be due to the rosin in the mascara – an adhesive that ensures that the mascara sticks to the lashes (although many mascaras now do without rosin). The nasty thing about contact allergies: the skin becomes sensitized the first time it comes into contact with the allergen, but the allergy only shows up on the second contact.

If the skin becomes inflamed, itchy or has pustules: Off to the dermatologist!

Keyword ingredients:  The so-called INCI list lists all ingredients of a cosmetic product, you can find them either on the tube or on the packaging, almost all manufacturers publish them on their website. The terms are mostly in Latin, so for laypeople it is often difficult to understand what is behind the long name, so I recommend the INCI database of the haut.de portal . The Personal Care and Detergent Industry Association ( ikw.org ) also provides an overview of contact allergies and fragrances . If you want to know more about contact allergies, read this article with the allergy expert Professor Axel Schnuch from the information network for dermatological clinics (IVDK) at the University of Göttingen.

4. Do not use old make-up

As a child I was incredibly happy to put on make-up for Mardi Gras, or to have my mother put on make-up. She had a huge makeup bag that contained pretty much all of the makeup and makeup she had accumulated since the early 1970s. A paradise. That makes me shudder today. On the one hand, because cosmetics at that time contained quite a few questionable ingredients. On the other hand, because cosmetics don’t last for decades either. Sure, you can probably use the carnival make-up from last year without any problems. But as soon as something looks strange, the fat and water phases have already separated or the whole thing smells strange (e.g. rancid) – away with it!

Keyword shelf life: If the make-up doesn’t come from my mother’s bag, but is clearly more recent, it has either a best-before date or a small open jar printed on it – the number on it indicates how long the product can be used after opening. Usually it’s nine or twelve months. But if nothing smells or looks weird, the make-up is very likely still ok. And lipsticks, for example, last for years. (I’d love to post a photo of this incredible makeup bag, of course, but she ditched it a few years ago …)

5. No make-up without a pad

Just start painting is not! Every make-up professional knows: Make-up needs a base. That means: a good cream that cares for the skin. With strong make-up, for example theater make-up, it can also be a slightly thicker cream than usual. Why all this? Make-up consists of many things, but what they usually do not have on offer are nourishing ingredients for the skin. Moisture, for example. To prevent the make-up from drying out the skin, you should simply rub it in well beforehand.

Keyword moisture : If your skin lacks it, you notice it very quickly. The face is tight and itchy, it may even form small scales, the make-up crumbles. So better take precautions and apply lotion.

6. Never go to bed without removing your make-up

Yes, you can do that with alcohol in your blood, just hold on to the sink. And it doesn’t take long either. Mardi Gras make-up must be removed because you don’t want to have all the color on your pillow. In addition, the skin gets really excited, pimples sprout, the complexion looks pale and you get wrinkles faster. Therefore: Put your make-up on, no matter what the conditions. All you need is a perfectly normal, inexpensive cleansing milk and a two-phase eye make-up remover (my choice). Cleaning cloths do the same, they fit in almost every handbag. Simply spread cleansing milk (or washing gel, soap if necessary) on your face. With a cotton pad or washcloth over it, done. What is left goes away with eye make-up remover. My personal recommendation: two-phase products. They are actually intended for waterproof mascara, but also remove kissable “long-lasting” lipstick and other residues. Consists of an oil and a water phase, please shake before use.

Keyword cleaning: water-based make-up (see point 1) is so easy to remove because it does not contain any grease. But normal make-up does, so you can’t just remove it with water. It needs a liposoluble cleaning. The consumer center recommends cooking oil (!) Or a fatty cream. Cooking oil. Maybe with too much residual alcohol you come up with ideas like this. I say: better not.

7. Pampering instead of fasting

Crazy carnival jesters probably have not only two great days behind them on Ash Wednesday, but a few weeks. A lot of alcohol, little sleep, smoky air = turbo skin aging = wrinkles. That is why the skin does not need a fasting cure, but a real pampering package. Also: drink a lot – of course no alcohol, but water or tea Sleep a lot. In the evening in the bathtub and then in bed.

And at the beginning of March you all look like princesses again.

Keyword pampering package : after the carnival hustle and bustle, bombarding your skin with an armada of masks and serums is rather counterproductive. My favorites are enzyme peeling (leave on for 10 minutes, wash off) and moisturizing mask. I just leave the latter on in the evening, as a night cream substitute, so to speak.

Caffeine is a psychoactive substance. Dependence, withdrawal symptoms or poisoning with caffeine should be possible – but what is fact and what is fake news? FOCUS Online asked a toxicologist whether caffeine actually works like a drug and how risky high consumption is.

No question, its slightly bitter taste is valued and, above all, its effect is desired – caffeine perks you up and stimulates. A morning without caffeine – as coffee, espresso or milk coffee – is unthinkable for most. Coffee is often refueled every hour, especially during work. And if you want to stimulate yourself even more, you can use energy drinks, caffeine chewing gum or corresponding pills.

The question then arises – what is the connection between caffeine and addiction? Florian Eyer, Chief Physician of the Department of Clinical Toxicology and Poison Emergency Call Munich , Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II at the University Clinic on the right of the Isar at the Technical University of Munich, answers the most important questions.

Florian Eyer: The stimulating effect is, so to speak, a side effect that is caused by the stimulation of certain areas in the central nervous system. Caffeine is an antagonist, in other words, an “opponent” of so-called adenosine receptors. This releases stimulating neurotransmitters, i.e. messenger substances. That’s an effect.

In addition, caffeine inhibits enzymes that break down certain molecules, which also causes the brain to be alert. These effects occur with a dose of around 150 milligrams of caffeine, which corresponds to about a large cup of filter coffee, with 150 to 200 milliliters.

So caffeine can cross the blood-brain barrier – like nicotine, alcohol, crystal meth, cocaine?

Florian Eyer: Right, it’s the same as with other drugs, caffeine works in the brain. And the faster a psychoactive substance – which includes caffeine – floods in the brain, the more relevant the “aha effect” after ingestion. This is very similar to caffeine as to nicotine or cocaine. Nicotine and cocaine work particularly quickly, with caffeine a central nervous effect can be expected around 15 to 20 minutes after drinking a cup of coffee.

There is also likely to be an activation of the reward receptors. This is a noticeable, pleasant effect that the body is looking for again, that is, it would like to experience it again. Dopamine receptors probably play a role in this. However, caffeine also has a number of by-products that come from the coffee bean, such as terpenes, phenols and others. It is therefore a complex, not easily manageable interplay of effects that come into play in the brain.

So similar areas of the brain are stimulated as with real drugs?

Florian Eyer: Yes, but caffeine mainly works in the sensory part of the cerebral cortex. This is probably why concentration and memory are increased. Numerous tests show that people who have consumed caffeine do better on cognitive tests. The ability to react is also increased. The effect of cocaine or opiates in the brain is somewhat different, it is more about adrenaline and noradrenaline or stimulation of opioid receptors.

The effect of caffeine is to a certain extent comparable to that of drugs – but it is much less pronounced. It depends on the dose: with the quantities still consumed normally, i.e. up to four cups per day, the effects are moderate. They are a bit more pronounced when more is drunk, i.e. more than this amount, then we speak of the “heavy users” by the way.

Is there any caffeine addiction in this context?

Florian Eyer: There are different opinions in science as to whether one should really count caffeine as an addictive substance. Most coffee drinkers are certainly also looking for this stimulating effect. As is well known, there are two reasons why you drink coffee – first because of the taste and second because caffeine has these stimulating effects. You start up faster in the morning and concentrate better. In other words, a substance is used very specifically to achieve a certain effect. Therefore, I believe, one can speak of a certain dependence. There are also certain habituation effects and the dose is increased. One cup in the morning is no longer enough.

The half-life of caffeine should be up to five hours – that means, if I consume caffeine every hour or simply several times a day, will a considerable blood concentration build up?

Florian Eyer: The half-life is two and a half to five hours, after about five half-lives a pharmacological effect can in principle no longer be demonstrated. But this also means that if you drink several cups in a row, the amount of caffeine will accumulate.

What are the signs of caffeine addiction, how do I know that I am affected?

Florian Eyer: For example, on the increase in dose, but also on criteria that also apply to other drugs – for example the irresistible desire to take the substance – or irritability when caffeine is not available.

Are there any real withdrawal symptoms when the caffeine supply stops?

Florian Eyer: If you drink a lot of coffee and suddenly stop, you feel it physically, so you develop a withdrawal syndrome. If a “heavy user” stops consuming caffeine from one day to the next, the first physical withdrawal symptoms appear after about eight to twelve hours. Withdrawal syndrome can last two to nine days. Restlessness, nervousness, irritability and headaches are typical in this context. Many patients report that they feel slightly numb and do not even wake up properly, others have insomnia.

You talk about patients in the clinic, but they probably don’t include caffeine addicts?

Florian Eyer: No, but codependencies are actually very common. Caffeine is often consumed with nicotine. There are also many among our alcohol-dependent patients who also drink a lot of coffee.

What are the risks of this “addiction”, how dangerous is caffeine?

Florian Eyer: I would rather describe caffeine as a harmless addictive substance, as long as you don’t completely overdo it. Collateral damage, such as job loss or partnership problems, as is often observed with other addictions, does not exist with caffeine addiction.

In addition, caffeine is a tolerable substance that also has positive health effects. Certain types of tumors are less common among coffee drinkers. Our own studies have shown that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver.

How should those affected deal with it if they suspect they are caffeine-dependent – withdrawal with controlled caffeine consumption such as controlled drinking of alcohol or a total stop for a certain time?

Florian Eyer: If you have the impression that you have a problem with this substance, the most sensible thing would be to refrain from using it for two to four weeks. You have to accept the moderate side effects. After that, nothing speaks against consuming moderate caffeine again, i.e. 300 to 400 milligrams per day.

Does it matter in what form I consume caffeine – as coffee, tea, guarana, cola, energy drink, chewing gum or tablet?

Florian Eyer: Yes, because the rate of absorption is completely different. In addition, the caffeine content often differs considerably – tea has a lot less than coffee. In no case should one overlook the fact that there are preparations that are not entirely harmless, for example in some energy drinks. They can contain up to 500 milligrams of caffeine per can. If you consume two or three doses, you get into an area where caffeine can be toxic.

So can you poison yourself with caffeine?

Florian Eyer: Life -threatening poisoning is definitely possible with very large quantities. For example, we recently had a patient with severe caffeine poisoning. The substance had led to serious cardiac arrhythmias, it even had to be dialyzed to quickly eliminate the caffeine. The same applies to caffeine: the dose makes the poison. Therefore, energy drinks with a high caffeine content should be viewed critically. Teens often combine these drinks with alcohol to counteract the sedative effects of alcohol. But that can have very unpleasant consequences.

What does sensible use of the “drug” look like? The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has classified 200 milligrams of caffeine as a single dose and 400 milligrams per day as safe for healthy adults? You also mentioned this number. And what about children and young people?

Florian Eyer: 300 to 400 milligrams are a good guideline. With this amount, the positive health effects of caffeine unfold. The positive health effect corresponds to a J-shaped curve. There are hardly any positive effects with small amounts, but strong with the recommended 300 to 400 milligrams. But it shouldn’t be more caffeine, otherwise there will be negative effects.

And on the subject of children: I really think they shouldn’t consume caffeine at all. Experts assume that up to 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of caffeine per day are not yet associated with harmful effects. Young people should be careful with energy drinks, even if they promise good performance.

 

Back pain? “You need fascia training,” blogger colleague Annett said to me a few months ago. “I have no idea what that is,” I said. Annett knew. She was enthusiastic. I was skeptical but interested. I know fascia from my studies as connective tissue strands, preferably of the “coarse” variety. After that I didn’t hear the word again until all of a sudden the fascia classes popped up in all kinds of fitness studios. Sporty hypes are not my thing. I stayed away.

Fascia: Unimagined importance in pain

After the discussion with Annett – she is a biologist like me – I wanted to know more about it. What do fasciae have to do with back pain? Are they the key to freedom from pain? An impression that has occasionally emerged recently. The magazine Geo, for example, devoted a cover story to connective tissue in February 2015 and raved about its “undreamt-of importance for health and well-being” – especially in relation to chronic (often recurring or permanent) pain.

What is the state of science? I asked one of the internationally best known researchers about this topic: Dr. Werner Klingler dedicates himself to gaining knowledge about the fascia at the district hospital in Günzburg and treats patients on a daily basis who have had problems with their backs for many years.

Sometimes, he says, he is amazed at the hype about “fasciae” and “fascia training” that comes from gyms in particular. In an interview with Healthandthecity, he explains what everyone – whether athletic or not – can do themselves to avoid (back) pain.

Here is the interview:

Mr. Klingler, a lack of exercise is considered to be the main cause of back pain. It causes weak muscles, muscular imbalances, muscle tension and, as a result, pain – according to the popular theory. Now reports are increasing that the fasciae are to blame for the pain, and targeted training and special fascia therapies bring healing. What is it?

Klingler: Only a small part of back pain can be traced back to a single cause – a pinched nerve, for example. Many factors play a role, especially with chronic back pain. Including bad posture, lack of exercise, stress or obesity. All of this affects the muscles – and the fasciae. That is why the therapy for persistent pain also includes work on the fascia, but mostly as part of a comprehensive treatment concept. Treating the fascia only: This would not help most of our patients.

What do patients with severe chronic back pain really need?

Klingler : The patients who come to us have piles of reports with them. X-rays, and, and, and. You have been in pain for a long time and have had many different therapies. What they lack is a holistic view that records, brings together and evaluates all possible influencing factors and adapts the treatment accordingly. With us, these back pain patients fill out long questionnaires. In addition to the physical examination, we create a profile of how you are mentally. We record your lifestyle and do a complementary medical evaluation. In this way we create an image that includes the whole person.

So dealing with the fascia alone is not enough to understand and treat back pain. But what part do they have now?

Klingler: In the fascia there are many receptors with connections to so-called wide dynamic range neurons in the spinal cord. This allows a wide variety of stimuli to be registered, for example in response to pressure or vibrations and with every movement. But they also transmit pain signals to the brain when something is wrong in the fine network of fascia tissue. In the lower back, for example, there is a large layer of connective tissue between muscles and skin, the lumbar fascia. A small amount of inflammation in this area can cause pain. This is particularly problematic because the interconnection of the nerves involved is rearranged very quickly. As a result, the area becomes more sensitive to pain until at some point it hurts for no cause. A so-called pain memory has arisen.

What can be wrong in the fascia tissue? Physiotherapists often speak of adhesions. What is happening there?

Klingler: We fascia researchers are still in the middle of the learning process with this question. What we can observe is the following: Movement causes a pull on the collagen fibers in the fascia. Controlled by the water content in the tissue, they align, and weak connections are formed – via hydrogen bonds – between strands that are close together. This creates orderly but very flexible networks. The connective tissue and the underlying muscles can slide smoothly. If there is no movement, a jumble of differently oriented connective tissue fibers grows. This restricts freedom of movement. For example, if a leg is in a cast for some time, this disorder can be detected in the fascia tissue.

How does it cause pain?

Klingler: Everyday movements can produce the finest cracks in glued fasciae. Tiny injuries that pain sensors jump on. Since fascia and muscles are closely interwoven, this can presumably also lead to tension and pain in the muscles.

Can such tangles be removed again?

Klingler: Yes, at least very often. The following applies: the earlier, the better, and fascia therapy comes into play. It is based on slow, pushing movements that are apparently particularly good for the connective tissue. We are gradually beginning to understand at the molecular level how this works. Among other things, it is related to the hydrogen bonds already mentioned. Training on a fascia roll also starts with pain memory: Rolling hurts. But afterwards the pain subsides because the deep movement suppresses the transmission of pain to the brain. On the conscious level, the patient experiences that pain can also improve again.

Of course, it’s even better not to get any back pain in the first place. What do you advise? What is the best way to prevent it?

Klingler: If you lack movement, every additional step counts. Cycling, dancing, gardening: everything is profitable. But there are also many people who are athletic and fit. Nevertheless, they can do a lot more for their backs by adding variety to their often worn-out sequences of movements.
Ultimately, we do the same movements over and over again in everyday life, but also in routine recreational sports. Unusual movements such as stretching, stretching, jumping with both legs… are missing. Children are a good source of inspiration. For example, how they shimmy from rung to rung with their arms on the climbing frame at the playground. You should try a lot more as an adult. Among other things, this keeps the fascia supple and can help avoid pain.

Conclusion: For scientists, muscle training is by no means out, and fascia training is not solely beneficial. It is a useful addition.

Muscles have long been considered more exciting

The new findings about fascia contribute their part to many research topics – among other things to the understanding of the origin of pain. There is still a lot to do in this area. The hype surrounding the fascia is partly explained by the fact that for a long time researchers paid little attention to connective tissue. For many decades, muscles and nerves were considered to be much more exciting than the white fiber bundles that enclose and run through organs and muscles. Connective tissue. When we eat meat we generously cut away the sinewy stuff.

“In many old surgical textbooks,” reports fascia expert Klingler, “the connective tissue is described in detail. For example, 100 years ago it was still considered a pathway system for infections. ”With the discovery of antibiotics, it was no longer so important to deal with connective tissue. It was considered a rather irrelevant filler material.

Fascia hold our body together

Research has only been focusing on the fascia for a few years. Fasciae, like muscles, can contract and are very important for our ability to move. They act as a sense organ. In addition to their role in the development of pain, they play a key role in our body perception: how we move around in space, whether we are bringing a hand close to the body or stretching a leg far away, we sense this via sensory cells in the fascia – without that we have to look in the mirror for that.

Last but not least, fasciae form a kind of inner suit that holds the whole body together elastically, gives it shape and contour: In a three-dimensional network, the fibrous collagen tissue runs through the body in every conceivable direction, forms tendons and ligaments, encases muscles, organs, joints and even individual blood vessels and nerve cords. Which connective tissue structures scientists summarize under the term fascia is currently being reassessed.
Healthy fascia adapt to the respective requirements: in some places fascia form a network that is as delicate as cobwebs, in others – for example on the lower back – the fasciae run in dense, strictly ordered layers.

Fasting – you hear this tip over and over again. It not only melts fat deposits, but also works against high blood pressure, diabetes and other common diseases. Why fasting can do a lot for one day, how it rejuvenates every cell and how to fast properly, for example when taking medication: you can find out here.

Fasting is not a diet developed by nutritionists that excludes certain nutrients, such as carbohydrates or fat. “Nobody invented fasting and it is firmly anchored in our genes,” explains Eva Lischka, chairwoman of the medical association for therapeutic fasting and nutrition and chief physician at the Buchinger-Wilhemi-Klinik on Lake Constance.

Fasting has ensured survival for thousands of years by the body switching to a different metabolic mode during times of starvation.

What is fasting?

Today, fasting is defined in the guidelines of the ÄGHE as the voluntary renunciation of solid food and luxury foods for a limited time. Classic fasting programs are primarily therapeutic fasting in variations according to Otto Buchinger or periodic fasting, whereby individual days are fasted for up to 16 hours.

The rules for therapeutic fasting:

• A total of at least 2.5 liters of calorie-free liquid per day, such as herbal tea with a little honey, as well
• Vegetable broth
• Fruit juices
• Vegetable juices

250 to 300 kcal per day are useful.

“Promotion of all elimination routes, moderate exercise, such as going for a walk in the fresh air, and relaxation exercises round off the program”, adds Eva Lischka. If you are fasting for the first time, it is best to fast in a group when off work or according to a good fasting book.

Fasting is not starving

Ultimately, fasting must be differentiated from starvation. Only drinking tea and water and avoiding the other components, i.e. not consuming any calories at all, is definitely not recommended.

“Starvation is a forced foregoing of food and therefore triggers much stronger stress reactions in the body than voluntary fasting,” the expert explains the difference.

Take vitamins while fasting?

“Additional vitamins are usually not necessary because there is no digestive work,” says the expert. For patients who take medication, vitamin level monitoring and appropriate supplements may be indicated, for example vitamin B12 when taking acid blockers.

Fasting effect after 24 hours

Anyone who deals with fasting for the first time is happy to try it for a day, of course with the right drinks in the right amount. Even 24-hour fasting has measurable, positive effects. The usual metabolism changes because there is no food.

“The body first uses up the stored carbohydrates, ie glycogen, these reserves last for one to one and a half days,” explains the chief doctor. Autophagy also comes into play. This is a sophisticated recycling system in the body that removes defects from the cells.

Eva Lischka: “You can imagine that cell waste (aged, functionless or incorrectly assembled cell components) is surrounded by a shell. In it, enzymes break up these parts. ”The individual components are returned to the cell and help to rebuild healthy cell components.

The body starts this autophagy program after a break from eating for 14 to 18 hours, which is definitely after a day of fasting. Incidentally, there was a Nobel Prize for work on autophagy in 2016 for the Japanese researcher Yoshinori Ohsumi.

… after two weeks

Periodic fasting such as therapeutic fasting for one to three weeks not only sets these processes in motion over a longer period of time – a corrective for the entire body, comparable and simplified to a “major cleaning”. In addition, the entire metabolism changes.

What this means: If the food break lasts longer, glycogen, i.e. sugar, which is urgently needed by the brain, has been used up. Now the body can produce sugar from certain protein. He succeeds above all from the support protein (connective tissue) in overweight people and to a lesser extent from muscle protein.

However, the sources are limited and not all protein may be used up. Therefore, the organism falls back on fat reserves. “Fat consists of glycerine, which can also be converted into sugar, as well as fatty acids,” explains the expert, explaining the underlying mechanism. The fatty acids are broken down into ketones, with which the brain can operate its energy metabolism – instead of sugar.

“First, the inner belly fat is broken down,” says Eva Lischka. This is particularly beneficial because this fat depot produces, among other things, more than 600 messenger substances that can be linked to metabolic disorders such as diabetes, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases.

… after 40 days

The body’s fat reserves last for many weeks in most people. “A healthy man who weighs 70 kilograms and is 1.70 meters tall can fast for 40 days without any problems, that is scientifically proven,” reports the therapeutic fasting expert. If the man weighed 90 kilograms, he would even have reserves for 100 days. During this time, the whole body is fundamentally cleaned, so to speak.

Dangerous side effects usually do not occur even during this “biblically” long fasting period. To be on the safe side, however, in patients who have been fasting for several weeks in the clinic, sodium and potassium are checked by blood test after three weeks so that no mineral deficiency stresses the organ functions. An EKG is also written to check the heart rhythm.

The fear that muscles (protein) will be broken down through therapeutic fasting is usually unfounded. The organism has, so to speak, a natural brake that protects muscle protein resources. Speaking of muscles. Many fasters report that their physical performance increases and muscles even continue to build. Studies at the beginning of the millennium have already proven this effect.

Fasting has many effects – weight loss is not a priority

With a week of therapeutic fasting, an average of two kilograms can be lost. The expert emphasizes, however, that the waist size is more decisive for health, because it provides information about the risky inner belly fat. A single day of fasting can produce one to two centimeters here. The limit for unhealthy waist circumference is 80 centimeters for women and 94 centimeters for men. It is ideal to lie underneath.

Fasting is anti-aging for the body

Further effects on the organism:

• Blood pressure that is too high drops because table salt is excreted and only supplied in very small quantities (e.g. through vegetable juice). Sodium chloride plays an important role in hypertensive patients. In addition, relaxation and rest, as recommended for therapeutic fasting, also regulate blood pressure.

• Blood sugar and blood lipids (triglycerides) decrease due to the lack of food, which benefits blood vessels
• Liver recovers , gamma GT values ​​have been shown to decrease.

“A very special effect, however, is that new stem cells are formed during fasting ,” reports Eva Lischka. In addition, new mitochondria, i.e. cells’ power centers, are created. This biochemical process is called mitohormesis. When fasting, old mitochondria are discarded and this deficiency triggers mitohormesis.

Therefore, fasting and reducing calories prolong life, which numerous studies have already proven.

Fasting brightens the psyche – but not always the euphoria of fasting

In the beginning, fasting means a certain stress for the body, the sympathetic system is activated because it is about survival. But after two or three days the parasympathetic nerve comes into play. That means mental calm, relaxation, balance. In addition, dopamine and serotonin are now more effective, which makes us happy and slows our appetite. This is also the reason why hunger is usually only a problem on the first day during the fast – but this can be remedied with a lot of drinking and a spoonful of honey.

Last but not least, the body’s own endocannabinoids are strengthened, which also balances and improves mood.

The often cited fasting euphoria is supposed to be triggered by all these factors – but it does not have to be clearly pronounced in every fasting person.

Fasting as a therapy with an amazing effect

So foregoing food means much more for mental and physical health than expected. Fasting is therefore recognized as a therapy or supplement to a treatment for many different diseases. A recent study has only recently shown how well therapeutic fasting works: “Safety, health improvement and well-being during a 4 to 21-day fasting period in an observational study including 1422 subjectsim” was published in the specialist journal “ Plos One ” .

Diabetes improves permanently – sometimes without medication

Accordingly, diabetes improves significantly during fasting. “Fasting makes receptors important in diabetes sensitive again,” explains the expert. In diabetics, the insulin receptors are often blocked by fatty acids (insulin resistance), and the sugar can no longer get into the cells. The pancreas therefore produces even more insulin, the insulin level rises, and diabetes develops.

“Many diabetics do not need medication during fasting and even less after fasting because the receptors work better again – and because after the cure the patients are more open to a lifestyle change with exercise and a more conscious diet,” explains Eva Lischka.

High blood pressure decreases

It has also been proven that hypertensive sufferers benefit from therapeutic fasting. Fasting affects certain substances called natriuretic peptides. They ensure that water is excreted and fat is burned. “Here researchers were able to show that fasting improves these activities,” explains Eva Lischka. Especially at the beginning of the fast, a lot of water and table salt are excreted, which lowers blood pressure.

Incidentally, this effect has been shown to persist somewhat even after the fast. It also plays a role here that the patients do not weigh as much after the treatment as they did at the beginning. Every kilogram less can lower the blood pressure in overweight hypertensive patients.

With fasting for joint pain and migraines

Diseases that are kept going by silent inflammation, such as rheumatism, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, but also migraines, respond well to fasting. “Fasting is anti-inflammatory,” says the expert. Because every meal is foreign contact for the body, it triggers inflammatory reactions (postprandial leukocytosis and start of the Nuclear Factor kappa B ( NF-kB ) inflammation signaling pathway. This in turn can support existing inflammation. If the foreign contact with food disappears, the body is spared and additionally relieved of digestive work.

The question remains whether therapeutic fasting could also reduce the risk of cancer or improve the prognosis in the event of illness. “The studies are still ongoing here,” says the expert, curbing expectations that are too high. However, it is now considered certain that it is beneficial not to feed the tumor with sugar during chemo. Then the tumor is more sensitive to chemotherapy and the patient can also tolerate the treatment better.

Fasting works – and has hardly any yo-yo effects

This therapeutic effect of fasting lasts for months for many patients. This also applies to weight maintenance. On the subject of the yo-yo effect, the nutritionist Françoise Wilhelmi de Toledo carried out a study at the clinic with 400 patients who performed around ten fasts over a period of ten years. The result:

• a third had held the weight
• a third had lost even more
• a third had increased slightly

So two thirds were quite successful. “At our clinic, we have found that these effects persist for around six months in our severely overweight patients, then it makes sense to fast again for at least ten days – this includes days off and slowly returning to normal food,” reports the Chief physician.

For some people, however, it has also proven useful to fast one day a week afterwards or to do 16: 8 intermittent fasting, i.e. either without breakfast or without dinner. In this way obesity and metabolic changes can be prevented and obesity can be prevented.

Who is allowed to fast and who is not, or only with the doctor

In principle, almost anyone can practice fasting as a prevention and therapy, but there are exceptions. The following are contraindications for fasting:

• Breastfeeding and pregnancy
• eating disorder
• Underweight
• mental illnesses such as psychosis
• (advanced liver or kidney failure)

Women who use birth control pills should use additional contraception during and after fasting, for example with condoms, depending on the type of pill. The effect of the pill is not certain during fasting because the absorption, as with diarrhea, may not be complete

“Anyone who takes medication is only allowed to fast under medical supervision,” adds Eva Lischka. There are trained fasting doctors and fasting leaders at:

• Medical Association Fasting and Diet
• German fasting academy
• Association for independent health advice

Problem toxins in adipose tissue

So almost everyone can fast and everyone can benefit from it. However, there may be a downside to fasting. Many toxins from our environment are stored in adipose tissue. When you lose weight, they are dissolved and get into the blood and could put strain on the liver and kidneys. “It’s true, studies show that toxins from adipose tissue get into the blood during fasting, but you don’t know whether this will finally dispose of them and rid the body of these substances,” reports Eva Lischka. This has not been adequately investigated.

On the other hand, we know for sure that losing weight frees you from dangerous visceral fat. Three quarters of men and more than half of women have too much of it. This belly fat is so risky because it sets off silent inflammation. These silent inflammations are significantly involved in the main causes of death, heart attacks, strokes and, in some cases, cancer. Without belly fat, the risk of these causes of death also decreases. This is another reason why fasting can be life-extending.

“As long as studies have not proven otherwise, we should therefore rely on our experience,” emphasizes the chief doctor. She treats many patients who have been fasting for decades and have been able to improve their chronic illnesses, and who often appear biologically much younger. If the toxin exposure from fasting were really pronounced, it would definitely have been noticed.

And what must not be forgotten: “Eating and drinking unhealthily puts a lot more strain on the liver and kidneys than fasting.” Every ingestion of food is contact with foreign substances and triggers a slight inflammatory reaction, not to mention the harmful substances and toxins in our diet – Pesticides, pollutants, microplastics and more.

Conclusion

Fasting is undisputedly a tried and tested and simple method not only to get rid of dangerous belly fat, but also to regenerate and, so to speak, rejuvenate the organism as a whole. It is not only recommended for healthy people, but can also complement or perhaps even replace a therapy for many diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, but in any case relieve and prevent the common diseases of obesity, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and joint inflammation.