Fasting encourages body to replace old and damage cells, especially if the immune system has been damaged by aging or cancer treatment, researchers have said.

 “When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged” explained Valter Longo, a longevity expert form the university of Southern California. During the study, the researchers found fasting for two to four days every six months forced the body into survival mode using up stores of fat and sugar and breaking down old cells.

 The body sends a signal telling stem cells to regenerate and rebuild the entire system, with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or aging, fasting cycles can generate new immune system.

 [Source: TOI]