Fasting or Calorie Restriction - CancerChoices



Calorie restriction and fasting, whether for 12 or more hours every night or occasionally for longer periods, can contribute to lower body weight, blood sugar, and insulin resistance, plus fewer unpleasant chemotherapy-related side effects.

Fasting or calorie restriction at a glance

Calorie restriction simply means eating fewer calories and is a common approach for weight loss. Fasting, also called time-restricted eating, is an extreme form of calorie restriction in which no calories are eaten for a certain time period. The time period may be a few hours—such as fasting 12 hours every night—or fasting may be for longer periods—usually 24 hours to a few days. Some calorie-restricted diets can mimic the metabolic effects of fasting and are called “fasting-mimicking diets.” We consider these diets to be calorie restriction rather than true fasting.

In cancer care, calorie restriction—especially fasting—can alter the metabolism of cancer cells and may improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reduce some side effects. Fasting and calorie restriction are effective for managing excess body weight, high blood sugar, and insulin resistancea condition in which cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to insulin and can’t efficiently take up glucose from your blood for energy. They may also help manage imbalances in metabolic hormones linked to cancer risk and outcomes.

CancerChoices ratings for fasting or calorie restriction

We rate fasting or calorie restriction on seven attributes, with 0 the lowest rating and 5 the highest. We rate the strength of the evidence supporting the use of fasting or calorie restriction for a medical benefit, such as improving treatment outcomes or managing side effects.

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2

Improving treatment outcomes

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5

Optimizing your body terrain

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3

Managing side effects and promoting wellness

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3

Reducing cancer risk

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3

Use by integrative oncology experts

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4

Safety

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5

Affordability and access

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Keep reading about fasting or calorie restriction

Author

Nancy Hepp, MS

Lead Researcher
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Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher and writer for CancerChoices and also served as the first program manager. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.

Nancy Hepp, MS Lead Researcher

Reviewer

Susan Yaguda, MSN, RN

Manager at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute and CancerChoices Clinical Consultant
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Susan Yaguda, MSN, RN, has been a nurse for nearly 40 years, working in a variety of healthcare settings. She currently works in Charlotte, North Carolina, at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute as the manager for Integrative Oncology and Cancer Survivorship. She works with a multidisciplinary team to deliver holistic, evidence-based support and education for patients and care partners at any point along the trajectory of cancer care. She completed the Integrative Oncology Scholars Program through the University of Michigan in 2020, is certified as an Integrative Health Coach through Duke Integrative Medicine and has a post-graduate certificate in Nursing Education from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Susan also was awarded the Planetree International Scholar’s Award in 2018 and was recognized by the Daisy Foundation for Nurse Leadership in 2021. Susan has a particular interest in empowering patients and care partners with knowledge to help drive informed decision making and educating nurses on the benefits of integrative care for patients and self-care. She has presented nationally and internationally on integrative oncology and nursing education.

She and her husband, Mark, have two adult children and a very spoiled foxhound. She enjoys hiking, knitting, cooking, and pickleball.

“As a frequent consumer of Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies, and now CancerChoices, for both professional education and patient support, it is an honor to have the opportunity to engage with the dedicated team at CancerChoices to serve those impacted by this disease.”  

 

Susan Yaguda, MSN, RN Manager at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute and CancerChoices Clinical Consultant

Last update: May 9, 2024

Last full literature review: April 2023

We are grateful for research support from Dr. Irfan Siddique and Adriana Gutierrez Galvis.

CancerChoices provides information about integrativein cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care, and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocialtherapy, and acupuncture therapies and self carelifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.

Our staff have no financial conflicts of interest to declare. We receive no funds from any manufacturers or retailers gaining financial profit by promoting or discouraging therapies mentioned on this site.

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