- Elachi said fasting when sick is a good remedy to prevent the disease from spreading, adding that most diseases such as cancer thrive on the food that people eat.
- Makumi called on patients in the country to consult with their doctors before trying any other form of therapies
The Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Alliance Kenya has spoken after Dagoretti MP Beatrice Elachi encouraged the sick to fast.
Vice chairman of the NCD Alliance Kenya David Makumi on Monday called on patients in the country to consult with their doctors before trying any other form of therapy.
These include fasting or using supplements and other nutritional products.
Elachi said fasting when sick is a good remedy to prevent the disease from spreading, adding that most diseases such as cancer thrive on the food that people eat.
“If you feel you are very sick but you are able to fast even for five days do that because that is how you deny the disease to spread because diseases thrive on what we take in,” she added.
In a rejoinder, Makumi said even though the legislator means well, she should pass information that is accurate adding that Kenyans especially patients with cancer and other NCDs are so vulnerable to anything said.
He said attempts to make patients fast have proven to be very disastrous, saying fasting is not an approved standard of care in the medical field.
“For some of the patients undergoing cancer treatment, those treatments are very harsh on them if anything even without being told to fast they already have difficulties in feeding,” Makumi said.
“Sometimes they develop mouth sores, their appetite is really interfered with, and others experience nausea and vomiting even without anyone telling them to fast,” Makumi added.
He said such patients are already wasted because of the disease and treatment should avoid taking such kind of advice on face value.
“For instance for people with diabetes, you can’t just tell them to start fasting. Fasting has its place in the religious communities but I think even them they normally make provisions for people who are sick not to fast.”
Makumi noted that studies conducted previously and published in various journals remain inconclusive on the impact of fasting on quality of care and treatment outcomes.
Such studies cannot be adopted as standard of care since any treatment therapy should undergo serious scrutiny and approval from the World Health Organisation.
According to the online site Medical News Today, even though studies in animals suggest that fasting may help fight off bacterial infections, there is evidence from studies in humans to support the idea that fasting can help people recover from illness.
It however says that whether or not a person fasts, it is crucial to stay hydrated during illness and receive the right medical care.
“People with some chronic conditions or who take medications on an ongoing basis should consult a doctor before fasting,” the site advises.