From brain fog, to histamine intolerance, food allergies, worsening of ADHD, fatigue, hypotension, breathlessness and chest pains, inexplicable hunger / cravings, joint pains / inflammation, long Covid has knocked on my door a few months after catching it.
I had to stay carnivore for a while because I couldn't handle anything else without going into a lot of pain for weeks.
I've decided to fast for 4 days, which is the longest I've gone without food (not a fan of longer fasts). Since then, I've been eating just about anything and I feel great! Hypotension is gone, histamine intolerance / food allergies are gone, back pain / inflammation is gone. Even my eyesight got better now to the point I no longer need my glasses! I will be repeating these extended fasts once in a while as I think I still need a bit more for my ADHD symptoms.
Important notes:
- Depending on one's body, a 48h fast is enough for autophagy, but 72h+ is more appropriate for immune cell repairs (which is what you need to treat long Covid).
- On the first day of the fast, use a mild laxative (I used a suppository) to empty your stomach. The last thing you need is your body trying to re-absorb fecal matter and toxins back into your bloodstream 3 days into your fast. Clean yourself up from the inside for better results from the fast (just like the ancient Greeks did it).
- Breaking the fast is just as important as the fast itself, as the nutrients (from the right foods obviously) will be used for the regeneration of new cells (brain cells, immune cells, protein synthesis etc).
- Which is why I suggest frequent 2-3 day fasts instead of one long 10-20 day fast. These shorter fasts are also more manageable for most folks and you don't have to worry about refeeding syndrome or malnutrition.
- Don't forget that during this time, depletion of sodium, potassium and magnesium may occur, so take care of your electrolytes if you feel shaky, weak.
- I've also used half a teaspoon a day of MCT oil + 1 cup of turmeric tea (golden mix, with ginger, black pepper, cinnamon etc) daily during both the fasts and refeeds. Both of these bring inflammation down, help you get into ketosis and autophagy faster respectively, and even reduce the histamine intolerance.
- If you've never fasted this long before, please start slow. Go on a low carb / ketogenic diet beforehand for a couple of weeks, then eat only once a day (24h+ fasts) for a while, THEN attempt a longer fast. If something feels off, even after replenishing your electrolytes, stop. Refeed and try again next week.
Based on how weak your immune system was to begin with, you may need to repeat these extended fasts for a couple of weeks / months. But just from my first 4-day one, the results were amazing! I should also note that intermittent fasting of let's say 16:8 daily is generally not enough to treat something like long Covid. It's a good starting point to build yourself up for longer fasts, but the real repairs can only happen after abstaining from food for more than 2 days.
Of course, I remind that this is just my experience with long Covid and extended fasts. I'm not a doctor, so please do your research before engaging in any treatments.
Disclaimer
I am NOT a doctor, personal trainer, registered dietician, nutritionist, athlete, influencer, nor at the end of my fitness journey. The content of this blog is based on what worked for me and is for informational purposes only, not a replacement for medical advice from a professional. Furthermore, we and our bodies are unique, so everybody is different. My results may not reflect your own. Any action you take upon the information provided by ZenGainz is strictly at your own risk.