CLAIM: 72 hours of fasting causes the body to eat up tumors

FACT: Insufficient conclusive evidence. There is no conclusive evidence that 72 hours of fasting can make the body “eat up” or eliminate tumors. While fasting may trigger autophagy — a process of recycling damaged cells — tumors are complex and generally require medical treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Experts warn that prolonged fasting without supervision can carry health risks.

First Check received a WhatsApp tipline request to verify a facebook post which claims that fasting for 72 hours causes your body to consume diseased tissues, tumors, Inflammation, and toxins that are not conducive to your health. The post was made by David Wolfe, an American author and conspiracy theorist. He promotes a variety of pseudoscientific ideas such as raw foodism, alternative medicine, and anti-vaccine sentiment.

We fact-checked his claim

Fasting for 72 hours may initiate a biological process called autophagy, where the body breaks down and recycles damaged or dysfunctional cells.

“This process can help clean out old or malfunctioning cells, reduce inflammation, and support overall cellular health,” Dr Chaitra Deshpande, a consultant radiation oncologist at Onco Life Cancer Centre in Satara, Maharashtra, told First Check.

She added that research suggests autophagy may offer protective effects against certain diseases and support the immune system during early stages of tumors. However, once a tumor is established, autophagy can also promote cancer cell survival by providing nutrients and energy and enabling resistance to therapies. 

“Autophagy has dual roles in cancer, acting as both a tumor suppressor by preventing the accumulation of damaged proteins and organelles and as a mechanism of cell survival that can promote the growth of established tumours,” notes a 2011 study titled “The Role of Autophagy in Cancer: Therapeutic Implications”

Tumors, according to Dr Deshpande, are complex, and their treatment usually requires timely medical intervention like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. 

“Toxins are primarily removed by the liver and kidneys, not solely through fasting,” she said..

First Check also spoke to Dt. Suhyla Manzoor, Senior Dietitian at Fitelo, a healthtech company who cautioned against exaggerated claims. 

“Long fasting can cause health issues. It may help reduce inflammation, but I don’t think it will help in tumors or removing toxins,” she said. “There’s need for caution, as prolonged fasting can pose health risks if not done under medical supervision.”

Also read: Breakthrough in CAR T-Cell Therapy in fighting solid tumours