Yes, I’m very interested in more info on this! I am also interested that the evidence for dietary antioxidants as being protective is weak yet oxidative damage is certainly real…thoughts?

Hi, also interested in anti inflammatory effects as have psoriatic arthritis and on methotrexate. Any information on this would be great.Ish

Yes please, I’m extremely interested in the science behind the Fast Diet. I think I may just have to buy your book! I won’t be following the diet myself but am in the third year of my Masters in Nutrition degree and would like to be able to understand it fully and see the evidence used, I find it fascinating and found your piece in the Mail on Sunday very interesting.

a simple question, re the anti-inflammatory effects, I am noticing good effects for colitis symptoms, is this due to the anti-inflammatory benefits or simply resting the stomach. Any IBS, colitis, Crohns sufferers would be interested. Week 1 completed tomorrow and looking good!

Yes please to as much information and advice as possible about inflammation especially chronic inflammation.

I had a great first day of fasting and felt ELATED! The only problem was that I could not sleep as a few people who have posted.
I find that having carbohydrates before going to be can help me sleep. Naturally on my first day of fasting I did not want to do that as I wanted to focus on the protein as suggested.
I have decided to factor in a later meal next time with say a bit of rice and see if that helps. Also a brisk walk, yoga or a bit of disco dancing around the bedroom! I will let you know if it helps!

I am 73 with a scientific background and have experienced all those well known diets which for years led to yo-yo weight loss and gain and frustration. Michael Mosley’s work and his book ring true. I have a huge sense of relief in living the 5:2 way. Thank you so much! I have given the book to family members who are happily putting it into practice and I know that our grandchildren will benefit in the long run. I myself feel a different person – positive and energetic (I teach nearly full time) and my husband has asked me to organise his fast days . That is a revolution!

I mentioned on another page that my IBS symptoms went away almost as soon as I began the 5:2. Could be a coincidence, but interesting to see if anyone shares this experience. Fasting is contrary to any current advice for the condition.

Also very interested in knowing if it may help with fibromyalgia ?

I have arthritis in my hip due to slight deformity of hip socket. Was begging for hip op call, but am suddenly not limping (after a year of pain on walking), and only explanation is 5:2 that i am only following because my husband is. and we aren’t doing it very carefully, just missing the biggest meal twice a week. also, drink very little alcohol (1 glass wine/week, in case it’s significant). not overweight, and no weight loss noted. but if i can walk painfree without operation – i want to tell everyone! can it be true? would like to understand & tell my surgeon.

This thread interests me most because I am more interested in reducing inflammation, high blood pressure, Cancer risk, and cholesterol, than in weight loss. I’m doing 2 consecutive full days of fasting (six meals) a week.
Will this suit my goals better than two separate fast days?

For five months, I suffered from a bad case of plantar fascitis which was not responding to any treatment. After starting the 5:2 program, there was marked improvement in the first two weeks and I was fully cured within six weeks. My regimen is fasting on consecutive days with only eating one meal in the evenings on the fasting days. I also reduced calories on the 5 eating days by skipping breakfast. Weight dropped from 104 kgs to 95 kgs, in the first 33 days. Brilliant.

Definitely more research, it’s too early to say but I’m on week 4 of 5.2 and yesterday stood for 15 minutes with no pain for the first time in months. I don’t know whether its a ‘feel good factor’ switching on and turning down pain signals or actually a repair. I’m holding my breathe – but research on impact of IF on chronic pain could be also revolutionary (and save the NHS millions)

Fantastic, laurna!! Both you and your husband must be so pleased, to say the least. May you both continue to thrive and be well.

Like others, the pain in a sore finger joints has disappeared. I would assume placebo except it’s happened gradually over the months I’ve been on 5:2, and the slight knee pain, which feels slightly different from inflammation, has not changed.

I was THRILLED to see someone comment (46oakfield) about a reduction in colitis symptoms. After seeing the SBS documentary and before coming to this forum, I independently wondered if this diet could be good for irritable bowel disease (IBD). It seemed like it would be a good way of resting the bowels for 1-2 days/week. Another poster, Skinny, mentions a reduction in IBS symptoms and although IBS is an altogether different disorder than IBD, it’s a malfunctioning of the bowel so it’s most interesting to see those posts!

Please comment if you’ve heard anything in relation to IBD – Crohn’s Disease and Colitis – related to this diet.

I have only started the 5:2 diet today and I’m really pleased to read that it may help with inflammatory conditions. I have psoriatic arthritis and the condition makes me feel very fatigued. I want energy again! I reckon that if I lose weight, try to exercise more my energy levels will increase along with a reduction in inflamation of my feet and ankles.

Hi There, Personally I think the Fast Diet works because people are giving their bodies a chance to rejuvenate, a chance to repair damage done by eating acidic foods, the human body was born alkaline and needs to stay that way but so many people overload their bodies with acidic food that their bodies cannot handle it thus succumbing to disease.
I am not a doctor so please take this information with professional advice, I have personally studied human illness as a “hobby” for approx. 10 years.
If you have inflammation/arthritis of the joints it’s because your not taking enough essential minerals, minerals are important to keep your organs healthy, if you don’t consume these minerals your blood takes it from the joints, usually the furthest away such as toes and fingers thus causing arthritis. The Fast Diet helps reduce inflammation by encouraging more greens, pulses etc thus increasing mineral intake=less inflammation. You also consume less acidic foods and drinks which in turn helps your body to dispose of acidic deposits ie:Fat.
I would also add that sugar would be the main cause of many diseases in the human body because mostly all parasites, viruses, bacteria thrive and activate when sugar intake is great, you should consume very little sugar and simple and complex carbohydrates. Sugar causes acidity in the body and parasites thrive on acidity so you should aim to be eating and drinking more alkaline forming foods.
I would also encourage people to use alkaline drops in their water which will increase alkalinity of the water ingested, I personally use Alkalife drops, I am not endorsing this product but seem to work for me.
Basically keep following the Fast Diet, it gives your body a much needed break, smile often, feel hungry often and you will live longer.
Yours in Good Health.
P.S If you want to know more about alkalinity and health please ask and I will answer as soon as possible, and please seek further advice as I am not a doctor.

In 2002 was also diagnosed with SLE-lupus and then in late 2012 was diagnosed with inflammed thyroid just before we moved. Haven’t been to doctor for mere yet as insurance hasn’t kicked in (July -thank God) but really hoping this diet will help eliminate some of the pain and fatigue. Tomorrow will be first fast day.

I am 45 and I have suffered from Psoriatic Arthritis for 13 years now. I am on prednisone, methotrexate and Celebrex. Started fasting almost three months ago and my rheumatologist just told me on Friday that my blood results are better than they have ever been. Every single function is within the normal range. Also, due to my psoriasis, my nails had been really ugly and pitted for the past 13 years and they are absolutely clear now.

I definitely noticed a great improvement regarding inflammation. I always used to take my Celebrex as soon as I got up in the morning as I was in so much discomfort but now I sometimes forget and only take it later in the morning as there is hardly any stiffness and pain due to inflammation. I don’t believe in coincidence so all these improvements can only be down to 5:2.

Thank you Michael!

Hi to Skinny in particular, I suffered with diarrhoea based IBS that would be really bad in the morning within the first hour of rising; this whole episode which lasted four years seemed to be related to the peri-menopause but who knows? I would like to let you know that my symptoms did reduce over the last 3 years but within a week of starting this diet the problem had improved so much that I completely forgot I had had the condition previously. As long as I keep to a reasonably healthy diet on the five food days and don’t overindulge then I seem to be OK. This restriction does seem to have some amazing effects.
I do also have some knee trouble and that hasn’t gone away so I think it is more mechanical than chemical.
Good luck to everyone who is in a similar position; I’m certainly keeping this up as a way of life now.

Hi, Johnny – The disappearance of your symptoms is great good news! I wish you continuing good health.
I’m a big fan of the Internet – the Wondrous www – and I would encourage people with acute or chronic health issues to explore what’s ‘out there’, to experiment and discover potential new solutions to their problems.
There are websites and forums available online about every condition and subject known to mankind – with a lot of accumulated knowledge and shared experience available as a resource to anyone looking to be proactive in their own well-being. As we see in various posts here, some simple dietary changes seem to be having major positive results – ‘miraculous’, as you say. Be well and happy.