Yes Cal, back in September after watching BBC 2’s Horizon documentary, that you recommended (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3l2yexm2W0), I contacted my GP and asked if he would check my KSI’s (Key Risk Indicators):
1. Bloods glucose
2. LDL (
Low density lipid)
3. BP (
Blood pressure)
4. IGF1 (
Insulin-like growth factor 1)
I already knew my own weight and BMI (Body Mass Index).
Whilst I was aware of the value of tests 1-3, I had not heard of 4, and now understand the value of the IGF signaling pathway in its pathogenic role in cancer, many studies having demonstrasted that increased levels of IGF lead to increased growth of existing cancer cells
I was interested in trialling the 5/2 regime (
5 days’ normal eating, two days ultra-low carbohydrate days per week) as discussed in the documentary, and wanted empirical data to substantiate its efficacy, or otherwise, on myself.
His reply to me was pathetic, whinging about costs and that as a mountaineer he knew I was fit anyway. This answer exemplifies general medicine’s poor approach to primary healthcare and preventive medicine in this country. So I found a private clinic in Edinburgh who conducted the tests, after which I initiated the 3˝ day fast then went onto the 5/2 regime; I found it a remarkably easy diet to follow.
After 5 weeks I returned to the clinic and had the same tests repeated,
the results were startling, so much so that I decided to make this diet a permanent lifestyle change. Even the physician at the clinic was amazed at the dramatic improvement of my KSI’s.
My last trip to the USA, for various reasons, threw my regime, and now back home I decided to kick start the process again. Having now read a great deal more about fasting, and personally experienced the wellbeing effect, in addition to the aforementioned clinical changes, it made sense.