NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[CogDiss 1188X]

Dr Jason Fung is a great recommendation. His book “The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting” is one of the best health related books I’ve read. A real eye-opener. Intermittent fasting in particular is a great approach to improved health, in that it is relatively easy to integrate into one’s life. I bought several copies of the book and gave them to people closest to me who I felt would be open to new approaches. They now use intermittent fasting (eat your daily calories in a compressed window to avoid extending insulin spikes through a long range of your day as well giving your body a nice break at night for recovery/repair).

He’s treated roughly a thousand patients for obesity and diabetes and has great success with the approach. Excellent patient stories in the book, as well as a very clear, mid-level discussion of the science behind it which I found convincing. The basic biological impacts are mapped out well but I found the arguments from evolution to be the most fascinating. (That is, how did Grog survive so well when his food supply was so variable and out of his control.)

I ended up trying an extended fast, just to see how I felt and if it matched his day-by-day description. To my great surprise, I ended up fasting for 5 days (was ready to bail out at the first sign of any issue or real discomfort). The evolution of my experience over those days matched almost exactly what he described. The one deviation was on day 4, when human growth hormone levels rise significantly to preserve muscle mass. I engaged in high intensity interval exercises (which I had been doing regularly for the preceding 6 months) and felt I was only at 80% of my capacity. In theory, I should have been unaffected because of generally increased adrenaline levels (that allow Grog to hunt for food effectively). I could have been holding back because I semi-consciously didn’t believe I could exercise after 4 days of no food at 100%.

I was no doubt more open to fasting than I would have otherwise been because of earlier research I had come across with regard to cancer treatments and caloric restriction (related but not the same as fasting) back in the early 2000’s. The data were very suggestive of positive impact but I never mentioned it to anyone I was consulting with because it was very early research and too far outside the paradigm to be considered for even a second. I was sure they would have looked at me as if I had a third eye and trying to explain the rationale was too involved when someone keeps staring at your third eye. However, I thought it was worthwhile then based on my understanding of cancer and would have tried to integrate it somehow if I had a cancer diagnosis.

Some ideas are too far ahead of the times.

Time has moved on. I just did a very quick google search. Here’s a couple of articles from UCSF and Medical News Today on insulin effects (especially important in cancer because of the Insulin-like growth factor receptor pathways that promote so many cancers), autophagy, immune system enhancement and amelioration of chemo side effects. There’s a lot more related to cancer impacts if you start digging around the area. Pay dirt, that seems to have a high number of nuggets.

https://osher.ucsf.edu/patient-care/integrative-medicine-resources/cancer-and-nutrition/faq/cancer-and-fasting-calorie-restriction

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324169.php

There’s also a lot more to the fasting in general than I touched on. Dr Fung’s book is a great place to start.

Obviously, one should only do stuff like this in consultation with medical professionals. This is not just a blanket CYA statement. Everyone’s health situation is unique and when it comes to cancer, looking at it through a single lens is suboptimal, to say the least.