Re: Gut Flora During Fast

faster84,
Re' Intestinal flora whilst fasting.............

Fasting Research Update.

"Mediterranean diet and extended fasting's influence on changing the intestinal microflora, immunoglobulin A secretion and clinical outcome in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and fibromyalgia: an observational study.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2005 Dec 22;5(1):22

Alterations in the intestinal bacterial flora are believed to be contributing factors to many chronic inflammatory and degenerative diseases including rheumatic diseases. While microbiological fecal culture analysis is now increasingly used, little is known about the relationship of changes in intestinal flora, dietary patterns and clinical outcome in specific diseases. To clarify the role of microbiological culture analysis we aimed to evaluate whether in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) or fibromyalgia (FM) a Mediterranean diet or an 8-day fasting period are associated with changes in fecal flora and whether changes in fecal flora are associated with clinical outcome. RESULTS: We found no significant changes in the fecal bacterial counts following the two dietary interventions within and between groups, nor were significant differences found in the analysis of sIgA and stool ph. Clinical improvement at the end of the hospital stay tended to be greater in fasting vs. non- fasting patients with RA (p=0.09). Clinical outcome was not related to alterations in the intestinal flora. CONCLUSIONS: Neither Mediterranean diet nor fasting treatments affect the microbiologically assessed intestinal flora and sIgA levels in patients with RA and FM. The impact of dietary interventions on the human intestinal flora and the role of the fecal flora in rheumatic diseases have to be clarified with newer molecular analysis techniques. The potential benefit of fasting treatment in RA and FM should be further tested in randomised trials".

In other words, the fasting state does not have any negative impact on intestinal flora even for extended fasts of up to 30 days and beyond.
What fasting does afford though is the sterilization of harmful bacteria, and the removal of both pathogens (which are the cause of much disease and inflammation), along with metabolic toxemia either of an endogenous or exogenous origin.
I have had two extended fasts with no necessity to replenish any bacteria, as the enzymes within raw foods will accomplish this unaided.

Hope this has been of some help.

Chrisb1.