• Question: there is a person in this world that has not eaten or drunk for 70 years...how is this possible? and can we harness the capabilities for the greater good?

    Asked by wozjaztim to Andrew, Emma, Marianne on 18 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Marianne Baker

      Marianne Baker answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Hey wozjaztim.

      I heard that Indian yogi story was a hoax.

      If it were true, we’d have to rewrite much that we know of human biology!
      I’d love to find a comphrehensive, accurate story but it’s difficult to do so.

      If it were true, it’d be very useful for people who cannot access enough food and water. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure it’s just one of those urban-legend type stories.

    • Photo: anon

      anon answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Hello wozjaztim. I read that too. I’m afraid I don’t believe that the chap in question has neither eaten nor drunk for decades. Things that seem too incredible to be true usually are. If I am wrong and he has achieved this I suppose I would be interested in performing a large number of tests on him. I’d want to know his hormonal profiles, his kidney, liver functions and his blood count.

      The medical applications that spring to mind include fighting the weight loss due to cancer (cancer cachexia) because presumably this chap would have to have some kind of amazing metabolic adaptation that allows him to survive like this.

      My assessment of this claim however is that it is complete fraud. The only way you could survive without eating or drinking for that long was if you had a tube place into your stomach through which food and drink was poured. Then you would technically not have eaten/drunk

    • Photo: Andrew Maynard

      Andrew Maynard answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Hi there wozjaztim,

      As a general rule, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Based on what we know of science and how the body works, I’m afraid this story is impossible – cells need fuel to operate and the body needs to loose and gain water to live.

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