🌱🔬 Natural Painkillers Activated by Fasting 🧠⚡ Hunger and Pain Relief Explained

Discover how hunger activates brain circuits that suppress pain signals, releases endorphins, and helps the body prioritize survival,

New research in Nature (2025) found a way hunger (and other survival needs) can turn down the feeling of ongoing pain.

Here's the science:

🔬 The Main Point: A Pain Shut-Off Switch

The Parabrachial Nucleus (PBN) as a Pain Center

Scientists found that certain nerve cells in the lateral parabrachial nucleus (lPBN)—mainly those with the Neuropeptide Y receptor Y1 (Y1R)—are key for handling lasting pain signals.

What's important about Y1R neurons:

They're always on when you have long-term pain, not just when you get hurt.

How active they are matches how much long-term pain you feel, not just quick pain.

They get signals from brain areas that deal with staying alive.

How Hunger Turns Off Pain: What Happens in the Brain

1. Stomach/gut → Sends out Ghrelin & starts NPY neurons

2. Hypothalamus (Arcuate Nucleus) → Turns on NPY/AgRP neurons

3. NPY goes into lPBN → Attaches to Y1 receptors on pain-handling neurons

4. Y1R neuron action slows down → Pain messages don't get through as much

5. Result: Lasting pain is lessened for a while

Hunger, thirst, or signs of danger turned down lasting pain, no matter the injury, by stopping parabrachial Y1R neurons through NPY release.

— Goldstein et al., Nature 647, 689–697 (2025)

🧠 The Chemical Messengers

Component

Neuropeptide Y (NPY)

Main blocker; attaches to Y1 receptors to quiet pain neurons in lPBN

Very sure (Nature 2025)

AgRP Neurons

Turn on when hungry; connect to PBN and change pain paths

Very sure (Cell 2018)

Ghrelin

Hunger hormone; wakes up NPY neurons in the hypothalamus; may turn on natural pain relievers

Y1 Receptors (Npy1r)

When NPY attaches, they make nerve cells less sensitive and slow down pain messages

Very sure (Nature 2025)

β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB)

A ketone made when fasting; stops NLRP3 inflammasome, which lowers joint swelling

New

🔍 Important Note: NPY does different things in different places.

In the brain, it eases pain; in joint tissue (osteocytes), it might slow down bone breakdown and nerve-related swelling. Where it is matters.

🦴 Does This Work for Joint and Back Pain?

Maybe, but not directly.

Most studies look at swelling or nerve pain.

For muscle and bone pain, it might work like this:

✅ Possible Ways It Helps:

How It Might Help Joints/Back

Less swelling

Ghrelin, NPY, and BHB can lower swelling chemicals (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) that make joint pain worse

Less central sensitization

By quieting lPBN action, hunger might lower the volume of pain signals, which is common in long-term back/joint problems

Brain focus

The brain puts chronic pain on the back burner when you need to survive—it's how we evolved

Weight loss (indirect)

Cutting calories → losing weight → less stress on knees/spine

⚠️ What Hunger Does NOT Do:

❌ Fix broken cartilage or spinal discs

❌ Cure arthritis, spinal issues, or structure problems

❌ Give lasting pain relief after you eat again

❌ Take the place of therapy, meds, or doctor visits

📊 What's Proven vs. What's Possible

Protects cartilage, starts cell cleanup, makes pain harder to feel through the NPY-Y1R

Okay (human studies)

Eases symptoms and lowers need for painkillers in arthritis patients who eat at certain times

Not Sure (human, direct)

Fixes cartilage, regrows discs, or changes the disease long-term with just fasting

There's a big difference between animal results and real changes in people.

We need more research.

⚠️ Important Things to Know

Pain relief only lasts while you're hungry; pain comes back when you eat

Not for everyone

Some studies say fasting can make pain worse in healthy people; everyone's different

Don't do it if...

You have diabetes, eating issues, are pregnant, underweight, or have a long-term illness

Muscle loss risk

Fasting too long without enough protein can weaken muscles, making back pain worse

Not a treatment

This is science—not health advice.

Long-term pain needs a doctor

💡 What to Do Based on Facts

✅ What the science says:

Pain is always changing and is affected by your brain state, stress, sleep, and food.

Drugs that target the NPY-Y1R-PBN pathway could be pain treatments soon.

Short, watched fasting might help (not replace) regular treatment for swollen joints.

🎯 Ways to Use This Safely:

Good food: Eat healthy (Mediterranean, Omega-3) to help joints without being too strict

Stay in shape: Losing a bit of weight (5-10%) really helps knees and backs

Eat at certain times: A 12–16 hour eating break might help, but ask your doctor first

Treat pain in many ways: Use therapy, reduce stress, sleep well, and see a doctor

❌ What NOT to do:

Don't just be hungry to manage pain.

Don't ignore pain and hope food fixes it.

Don't treat yourself without help.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. So, if I hurt, should I just not eat?

No, definitely not.

This is key.

Studies show hunger can hide pain by changing how your brain sees it.

It doesn't fix the problem in your back, joints, or injury.

The pain comes back when you eat.

Fasting for pain is unsafe and can cause poor nutrition, muscle loss, and more issues.

2. If hunger stops pain, why do I ache more when hungry?

Great question!

As said before, people react differently.

Some find fasting worsens pain. Here's why:

Stress: Hunger stresses some out.

Stress tightens muscles and causes swelling, worsening pain.

Low Energy: Low blood sugar makes you tired and weak, making you more sensitive to pain.

It Depends: The brain's pain shut-off is for survival, like finding food.

A tummy rumble before lunch won't start that process.

3. Could this mean a new painkiller without opioid problems?

Yes, this is what's exciting.

Scientists can now try to make a drug that acts like Neuropeptide Y (NPY) on those Y1 receptors in the lateral parabrachial nucleus.

It would quiet the brain's pain signals without making you hungry or addicted like opioids.

But it's a long shot and far off.

4. I have arthritis. Will fasting lower joint swelling?

The study suggests two effects:

Pain (Short-term): Hunger might make you feel less arthritis pain, because of the NPY thing.

Swelling (Long-term): Ghrelin and NPY can lower swelling chemicals.

Some fasting studies show less body-wide swelling. So, a healthy diet (like a Mediterranean one) or watched fasting might help lower arthritis swelling in general.

It's about what you eat, not starving.

Talk to your doctor before changing your diet for arthritis.

5. Is this like an 'adrenaline rush' hiding pain, like a soldier in battle?

Similar idea, different way.

Adrenaline (the fight or flight thing) hides pain through a different brain path, using endorphins and natural opioids.

This new find is a feed or flee path, using hunger and NPY.

Both show the brain can put survival before pain.

6. What about cell cleanup? Will fasting fix my joints?

It's a popular idea, but overblown.

As said before:

The Truth: Cleaning out damaged cell parts (autophagy) is real.

Fasting does start it.

The Exaggeration: There's no solid proof fasting fixes arthritis or discs.

It's just a theory for now.

Doubt claims that fasting will clean out your joints.

7. I have chronic back pain. What's one safe thing I can learn from this?

Safest takeaway: Your pain isn't just from your back; your brain changes it based on hunger, stress, and sleep.

This shows you need a many-sided approach to pain.

Don't look for a quick fix (like fasting).

Work with your doctor to deal with brain factors:

Food: Eat an anti-swelling diet.

Weight: Lessen stress on your spine.

Sleep: Get better sleep, as bad sleep makes pain worse.

Stress: Lower stress with meditation, therapy, or light exercise.

Therapy: Strengthen back muscles.

Q: Does hunger really lower pain, or is it a story?

It's true, but only for lasting swelling pain through the AgRP→NPY→Y1R brain path.

Not quick, protective pain like touching something hot.

Q: How long does pain relief last?

Only while you're hungry/fasting.

When you eat and insulin rises, it stops.

It's not a fix — just a short brain trick.

Q: Can fasting help arthritis or back pain?

It might help reduce body swelling, lower insulin, start cell cleanup, and help with weight.

It won't fix cartilage or spine structure.

Q: Is fasting safe for all joint pain?

No.

Don't do it if you have diabetes, eating issues, or are pregnant.

Fasting too long without enough protein can weaken muscles and worsen back pain.

Q: What's the safest fasting for joint pain?

A 12–16 hour eating break (including sleep) has the best results.

Always ask a doctor first.

Q: Will there be drugs for this brain path?

Researchers are trying to make drugs that target Y1R, but it's hard to avoid stimulating appetite (through Y5R) and get the drug into the brain. Nothing is close yet.

Q: Does fasting take the place of pain treatment?

No — it's extra help, not a replacement. Therapy, meds, and doctor visits are still key.

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🌱🔬 Natural Painkillers Activated by Fasting 🧠⚡ Hunger and Pain Relief Explained

https://www.h-k-e-m.com/-natural-painkillers-activated-by-fasting-hunger-and-pain-relief-explained

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