Benefits of Fasting

Fasting does not necessarily suggest depriving the body of all food. Sometimes a fast includes a short period of abstinence from eating just certain foods. Fasting does not mean starving yourself. What it does mean to some people is timing when you eat, and then eating specific foods in moderation. However, consuming enough fluids throughout any fast is important to prevent dehydration. Although fasting can be a controversial issue, the value of physiological fasting as a treatment for many chronic health conditions continues to be studied.

Benefits

The possible health benefits of fasting are thought to be many and include improved immune system function, increased energy, and an overall sense of well-being. The physiological benefits of fasting have been known to lower systolic blood pressure, body temperature, and cholesterol, in addition to lowering glucose levels in the blood. The body's metabolic rate also slows during a fast, allowing it to conserve energy, thereby contributing to the healing process.

Potential

Many advocates of regular fasting maintain that it contributes to a longer life by cleaning the body of harmful toxins. They believe that chemicals absorbed into the body from the environment are stored in the body's fat. When a person fasts, the body must rely on these reserves, as an energy source. As the body breaks down fat, toxins are released and eliminated through the function of organs like the liver, kidneys, colon, lungs, and skin. Some people believe that fasting can be used to manage weight and achieve safe weight loss and therefore may be an option to treat obesity and related hypertension.

Theories/Speculation

When the body has no new sources of fuel coming in, it must use excess sugar and carbohydrates stored as fat to produce the energy it needs. Digesting food takes a lot of the body's energy. Fasting works by redirecting energy away from the digestive process to the immune system. Advocates believe that fasting benefits the body in much the same way as do rest and sleep. The assumption is that careful, regulated periods of fasting may actually aid individuals in recovering faster from illness or injury. Healing occurs, as the body is able to use more energy to repair damaged bone, tissue or organs.

Time Frame

Fasting actually begins within the first 12 -- 24 hours of not eating, when the body begins to chemically break down fat to use as energy. Some people fast for only one day each week, during which time they might go without eating just certain foods like prepared or junk foods. Other people go on a longer fast at least once or twice each year. The general consensus seems to be that long fasts are more beneficial for healing than short fasts. Individuals who fast for more than a day say that they usually stop feeling hungry after about the third day. Yet those who fast report having more energy than normal despite not feeling hungry. However, even people who fast several times each year say that when hunger returns, it's time to break the fast. They recommend eating lightly at first, adding solid food back into the diet gradually.

Warning

During a fast, a person needs to consume adequate calories for health in order to avoid becoming malnourished. However, if not done correctly, doctors warn that fasting may be dangerous to one's health. Some people experience headaches or joint pain during the first few days. Other adverse effects of fasting may include fatigue, dizziness, and weakness. If you feel tired or weak during a fast, you should rest. A juice fast is considered to be a safer alternative because the body gets enough nutrients. Fruit and vegetable juices are also easy to digest.

Expert Insight

Health experts say that most healthy individuals have enough fat stored in the body to live without food for several weeks, as long as they keep themselves well hydrated. Starvation only occurs when the body has exhausted its fat reserves and must use tissue from vital organs as a source of energy to survive. Yet because of the many potential benefits, the medical community continues to study the effects of fasting for enhancing immune function. Since even animals instinctively fast when they are sick or injured, a person's loss of appetite may well be a normal, as well as an effective response to illness.