A Man Claims to Have Not Eaten or Drank Any Liquids For 70 Years. Science Examines Him
Is
it possible for us to survive with no food and water? Doctors are
trying to determine that as they are baffled by an Indian man who claims
not to have eaten or drank anything for the last 70 years. What is even
more shocking? He is in perfect health.
Prahlad Jani is a local to the Indian
city of Ahmedabad and is claiming he has not consumed any food or
liquids since he was 8-years old. He also claims to have been blessed at
the age of 8 by a goddess. This allows him to survive
without sustenance except for that which he derives from the practice of
meditation.
From April 22nd until May 6th 2010 in the private hospital Sterling Hospital, Prahlad
Jani was observed and tested by Sudhir Shah and a team of 35
researchers all from the Indian Defence Institute of Physiology and
Allied Sciences (DIPAS) and other organizations.
The large team studied Jani daily using
clinical examinations, blood tests, and scans. 24 hour CCTV surveillance
was used to ensure the maximum observation of Jani’s actions during the
testing period. According to researchers, the only time Jani was taken
out of his sealed room was for tests and exposure to sun. During these
times, continuous video recording was done to ensure authenticity of
results. Jani only had contact with any form of liquid when he had
an occasional bathing session, which first took place on day 5, and when
he would gargle some water. It is important to note that his toilet was
sealed to test his claims that he did not urinate or defecate.
After the fifteen days of intensive
observation during which Jani did not eat, drink or go to the toilet,
all medical test results came back as normal and doctors described his
health as being better than someone half his age. Interestingly, doctors
reported that although the amount of liquid in Jani’s bladder
fluctuated and that Jani appeared “able to generate urine in his
bladder”, he did not pass any urine. The reported levels of
Jani’ leptin and ghrelin, two appetite-related hormones, suggested that
Jani may be demonstrating an extreme form of adaptation to starvation
and water restriction.
Even after the 15 day examination, DIPAS
is still interested in running tests on Jani to determine how metabolic
waste material is eliminated from his body, where he gets his energy
for sustenance, and how he maintains his hydration status.
The director of DIPAS believes that the
results of Jani’s observations could “tremendously benefit
mankind.” Professor Anil Gupta of SRISTI, involved in monitoring the
tests, described the team as being “intrigued” by
Jani’s kriyas apparently allowing him to control his body’s
physiological functions.
Most people can live without food for
several weeks, with the body drawing on its fat and protein stores. But
the average human can survive for only three to four days without water.
How is Jani able to achieve what he is achieving? Some believe that his
access to bathing allowed him to store liquid in the body. Since the
observation did not go on for longer than 15 days, some believe he might
have eaten or drank after.
But Jani is not the first person to be
tested with such claims. HRM, another Indian man, was tested for 411
days intensively after he claimed that he did not eat any food. While
HRM did consume boiled water, during his 411 day observation it was
confirmed that he did not eat during the period and yet his health was
perfect.
To me this is exciting because
regardless of the current science we accept when it comes to the
physiology of the body, we are seeing that we may not have it all
correct and that it is possible to change the consciousness of our body
to operate differently. Having tried sungazing for several long periods
myself, I can attest to the fact that you certainly get energy, and what
feels like nutrient energy, from the sun alone. While sungazing, I
found I could perform physical activity with much more energy than I
could while eating healthy meals. Of course I cannot say my results are
conclusive as I did not do them for long enough, but it’s my experience
on the matter.
Here is more on Jani’s tests.