# Will fasting clear out your arteries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434 "2005-05-18T16:56:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lancando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lancando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancando)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/41 "2013-08-17T21:34:22Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > This is a myth. There is no accumulation of “undigested food” or poop in your colon, nor a dread pileup of toxins that require fasting to eliminate. What a great advertisement for fasting and “detoxification”.You might “feel like you are 18 again”, but if your body and breath stink and there are stains all over your underwear, the women will run in the other direction.Listen to your body - don’t fast. Well, maybe not _all_ women run away. But look what you’re left with.We don’t need no steenking facts. We’ve got the steenking breath and B.O. This could explain a lot about **lekatt**. 🙂 One more point. My friend was inthe hospital for colon cancer. A sack arounf the colon was nicked releasing deadly toxins that almost killed him. Convince him there are no deadly toxins stored in the body. Interestly enough one of his favorite quotes is " Ignorance is bliss". Well who is this guy anyways you ask? He drag raced Fords against Glideen in the 70’s and 80’s. Designed cams for Teddy King in Portland who built NASCAR engines for Bill Elliot. Now builds custom built Nitro Harley engine for drag racing all over the US of A. If you never heard of any of these I apologize for my lack of suitable references. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/42 "2013-08-17T21:37:28Z")
> [@Lancando](#): > > One more point. My friend was inthe hospital for colon cancer. A sack arounf the colon was nicked releasing deadly toxins that almost killed him. Convince him there are no deadly toxins stored in the body. Interestly enough one of his favorite quotes is " Ignorance is bliss". Well who is this guy anyways you ask? He drag raced Fords against Glideen in the 70’s and 80’s. Designed cams for Teddy King in Portland who built NASCAR engines for Bill Elliot. Now builds custom built Nitro Harley engine for drag racing all over the US of A. If you never heard of any of these I apologize for my lack of suitable references. The colon contains shit. Guess what happens when that gets into the abdominal cavity? There is no sack full of toxins around the intestines. Whoever claims that is a major liar. Look at any anatomy book. ---
**Author:** ![Lancando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lancando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancando)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/43 "2013-08-17T21:43:15Z")
:mad: > [@Ethilrist](#): > > The OP (eight years ago) was wondering about the effects of a fast that lasted after the body had burned most, if not all, of its stored fat. This would take longer than a day or two for most of us, I would wager. good point. Being new to this forum and it’s format I mis-posted my comment. I was replying to: “silenus I’m not sure how the body would scavange arterial deposits. AFAIK there is no substance naturally produced that would kick in to scour your arteries of usable stuff.” Please accept my apologies as I humbly bow out. I have made a staement based on my reading, research and experience. A lot of what I have learned came to light after reading an incredibly controversial book: The Four Hour Body bMe Ferriss as an Ivy League graduate in Physiology anf Best Selling author is better equiped to defend some of the information I referenced. None of it in regards to fasting but he certainly covers some forms that would be helpful to the original poster. Protein Power refernces the best paper there is on the most mis-understood topic there ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/44 "2013-08-17T21:45:37Z")
> [@Lancando](#): > > When you see a guy with a great big bulging gut but not a lot of body fat what do you think that is? A clogged intestine. You have been misinformed. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/45 "2013-08-17T21:49:47Z")
> [@Lancando](#): > > The intesinal tract is a long tube that is lined with fibers that absorb nutrients from food that is paasing through it. When you see a guy with a great big bulging gut but not a lot of body fat what do you think that is? A clogged intestine. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You have been misinformed. It’s also a medical emergency. ---
**Author:** ![Lancando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lancando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancando)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/46 "2013-08-17T21:52:21Z")
:mad: > [@Ethilrist](#): > > The OP (eight years ago) was wondering about the effects of a fast that lasted after the body had burned most, if not all, of its stored fat. This would take longer than a day or two for most of us, I would wager. good point. Being new to this forum and it’s format I mis-posted my comment. I was replying to: “silenus I’m not sure how the body would scavange arterial deposits. AFAIK there is no substance naturally produced that would kick in to scour your arteries of usable stuff.” Please accept my apologies as I humbly bow out. I have made a staement based on my reading, research and experience. A lot of what I have learned came to light after reading an incredibly controversial book: The Four Hour Body bMe Ferriss as an Ivy League graduate in Physiology anf Best Selling author is better equiped to defend some of the information I referenced. None of it in regards to fasting but he certainly covers some forms that would be helpful to the original poster. Protein Power refernces the best paper there is on the most mis-understood topic there is: “Cholesterol”. 20% of ours’ is from our diet, the other 80%? INSULIN!!! As a 100% cured Type II Diabetic I can testify that long term water fasting restores cellular insulin sensivity. Uncureble? NOT! Obviously this does not apply to type I Diabetics that sadly have had their insulin producing pancreases destroyed by our American food manufacturers poducts. Glucose as a food filler, extremely common, un-reported on Nutritional Content Labels or Ingredient labels and as deadly as white flour or sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Lancando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lancando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancando)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/47 "2013-08-17T21:58:43Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > What I’d like to know is how one suffers total insomnia _and_ nightmares. Oops. Total, meaning complete nights without sleep. Nightmares, when you do mange to get a little shut eye. Sure fudged that didn’t I? It being such an old post I regrettably didn’t put the effort to proof read it or edit it well. Was really just trying to puts some thoughts together on the suject of fasting and arterial plaque as I let it slide. Angina=fasing time. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/48 "2013-08-17T21:59:23Z")
> [@Lancando](#): > > The intesinal tract is a long tube that is lined with fibers that absorb nutrients from food that is paasing through it. When you see a guy with a great big bulging gut but not a lot of body fat what do you think that is? A clogged intestine. Undigested food clogs these fibers preventing the effecient absorbtion of nutrients causing the person to still feel hungry they continue to over eat thus exasperating the problem. The body has three cycles or functions each day. Injestion, absorbtion and elimination. If the body is interupted during elimnation with more injestion, which then requires more absorbtion then the body loses the opportunity to effectively eliminate the food waste. So, are you suggesting that a bowel prep that is used prior to a colonoscopy is going to get rid of a “great big bulging gut”? It certainly gets rid of everything in your large and small intestines. ---
**Author:** ![Lancando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/71c47a/32.png) [@Lancando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancando)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/49 "2013-08-17T22:07:02Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You have been misinformed. By my own gut. That LIAR! What do guys that run health food stores know anyways. We certain they “mis-inform” us just to make money, right? Look up an autopsy report and read about the findings in the intestinal tract. Look up pictures of a healthy colon and an unhealthy colon. Visible evidence. I am not hear to debate. I’ve stated my experience long term water fasting and enjoys the benifits. I’m out, peace y’all. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/50 "2013-08-17T22:08:28Z")
> [@Lancando](#): > > :mad: good point. Being new to this forum and it’s format I mis-posted my comment. I was replying to: “silenus I’m not sure how the body would scavange arterial deposits. AFAIK there is no substance naturally produced that would kick in to scour your arteries of usable stuff.” Please accept my apologies as I humbly bow out. I have made a staement based on my reading, research and experience. A lot of what I have learned came to light after reading an incredibly controversial book: The Four Hour Body bMe Ferriss as an Ivy League graduate in Physiology anf Best Selling author is better equiped to defend some of the information I referenced. None of it in regards to fasting but he certainly covers some forms that would be helpful to the original poster. Protein Power refernces the best paper there is on the most mis-understood topic there is: “Cholesterol”. 20% of ours’ is from our diet, the other 80%? INSULIN!!! As a 100% cured Type II Diabetic I can testify that long term water fasting restores cellular insulin sensivity. Uncureble? NOT! Obviously this does not apply to type I Diabetics that sadly have had their insulin producing pancreases destroyed by our American food manufacturers poducts. Glucose as a food filler, extremely common, un-reported on Nutritional Content Labels or Ingredient labels and as deadly as white flour or sugar. Glucose is not a common food filler. It is the only sugar the body can use directly, all other carbohydrates must be converted into glucose. And it’s bullshit that it’s unreported. That would be found out very quickly. Proof the American diet destroys the pancreas? No one really knows what causes it but it’s thought to be an autoimmune disease. You are not cured of diabetes but type 2 can be controlled with diet and exercise. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/51 "2013-08-17T22:11:19Z")
> [@Lancando](#): > > By my own gut. That LIAR! What do guys that run health food stores know anyways. We certain they “mis-inform” us just to make money, right? Look up an autopsy report and read about the findings in the intestinal tract. Look up pictures of a healthy colon and an unhealthy colon. Visible evidence. I am not hear to debate. I’ve stated my experience long term water fasting and enjoys the benifits. I’m out, peace y’all. You won’t convince anyone by running away. Give us some reliable studies. Double blind, run under strict conditions. You know, the stuff that proves or disproves. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/52 "2013-08-18T00:42:03Z")
> [@Lancando](#): > > Please reference any decent material on Natural Hygeine. Fit for Life - Harvey Diamond as my recommendation. It’s easier to crack “wise” than to crack a book. Since you like to read, I have a book recommendation for you too: [Gray’s Anatomy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray%27s_Anatomy) by Henry Gray. Please read the part about the intestines carefully because whoever told you their physiology was full of crap. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/53 "2013-08-18T01:24:31Z")
It’s easier to crack a book then be medically trained for 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/54 "2013-08-18T03:07:52Z")
[QUOTE=Lancando] The intesinal tract is a long tube that is lined with fibers [/quote] Any good histology text will disabuse you of this notion, just as an anatomy text should convince you there is no “sack around the colon”. > [@](#): > > When you see a guy with a great big bulging gut but not a lot of body fat what do you think that is? A guy with a big fatty belly that dwarfs his excess of body fat elsewhere. It’s a common condition. > [@](#): > > Look up an autopsy report and read about the findings in the intestinal tract. I’ve done plenty of autopsies and written reports on them. I’ve never found 30 pounds of poop in the colon (or whatever ridiculous amount is said to reside there, releasing “toxins”). Nor have I found mercury, Teflon, antifreeze, old car parts, toaster ovens or whatever the toxin crowd thinks gets stuck in there. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/55 "2013-08-18T03:40:06Z")
> [@Lancando](#): > > I stand corrected, “rotting in the intestines”. I’m still waiting for the difference between ‘fermenting’ and ‘rotting’. Fermenting in the outside world usuallyt means digested by yeast. Are you saying that eating fruit gives you a big yeast infection? > [@Lancando](#): > > . . . If your theory is correct then could you please explain to me why my blood glucose levels remained at 72 mg/dl? This . . . Well, in the post above this one you talked about this juice diet that you were on. In some of your posts you seem to be talking about a water fast, but in others you seem to be talking about just juicing your food, and cutting out meat and dairy. It would be cool if you were specific. ---
**Author:** ![Plumpudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Plumpudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumpudding)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/56 "2013-08-19T22:02:17Z")
Colon Farrell releasing toxins in my body? Better start fastin’ fast. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/57 "2013-08-20T14:36:02Z")
> [@Lancando](#): > > … If I wasn’t “strving” after 45 days I don’t believe you are going to starve over 5 days. You will discover a food addiction I suspect… Are you saying that if you’re hungry after a 5 day fast that you have a food addiction?!! Jeez, the desire to eat isn’t an addiction, any more than the desire to breathe is an air addiction. We’re alive, dude, and we need food. Sheesh. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/58 "2013-08-20T15:45:16Z")
Visceral fat is the fat that causes the bloated “pregnant” look. It’s thought to be be related to insulin sensitivity. As you become diabetic, the body starts losing the ability to deposit fat in the extremities and instead deposits it around the organs. This is very undesirable as it is thought to contribute to heart disease. ---
**Author:** ![Grotron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Grotron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotron)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/59 "2018-08-20T20:07:57Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > Unless you are very unusual, you body has a source of food for use during short fasting periods–fat. How bout 9 months of severe starvation, would that clear out your arteries and veins? That’s real, it happened… so this question is directly targeted for the unusual… Any answers on that one? I’ve always wondered about this… Based on the level of pain I felt for that entire 9 months… I would imagine everything that could get burned out got burned out… it was down to the part where I could feel my muscles being burned up… my gums had gone past the vibration tingling stage and arrived at the completely dry, plastic 3D printed feeling stage… where you are waiting for your teeth to fall out, but get your shit together right before that begins to happen… My guess is, that might of cleaned out some pipes… if anyone knows for sure, I would be very curious to hear it… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434/60 "2018-08-20T20:22:39Z")
> [@Grotron](#): > > How bout 9 months of severe starvation, would that clear out your arteries and veins? > > That’s real, it happened… so this question is directly targeted for the unusual… > > Any answers on that one? > > I’ve always wondered about this… > > Based on the level of pain I felt for that entire 9 months… I would imagine everything that could get burned out got burned out… it was down to the part where I could feel my muscles being burned up… my gums had gone past the vibration tingling stage and arrived at the completely dry, plastic 3D printed feeling stage… where you are waiting for your teeth to fall out, but get your shit together right before that begins to happen… > > My guess is, that might of cleaned out some pipes… if anyone knows for sure, I would be very curious to hear it… Why did you undergo severe starvation, and what exactly was your caloric intake per day? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-fasting-clear-out-your-arteries/304434.md?page=4)