Fasting, or abstaining from some or all food and drink for a certain period of time, has been used for centuries among religious groups looking to gain a greater sense of spirituality.
Fasting, or abstaining from some or all food and drink for a certain period of time, has been used for centuries among religious groups looking to gain a greater sense of spirituality.
The Risks of Fasting
The major risk of fasting is that you may accidentally put your body into starvation mode. In other words, if you fast for too long, your body may start to cannibalize muscle and organs, which is what happens when you starve and is definitely not healthy.
There is also a risk of becoming dehydrated (if you abstain from fluids) and of altering your electrolyte levels, which can trigger heart problems suddenly. Long-term pure water fasts (which are the most extreme fasts, and are less common than juice fasts) are especially risky when it comes to your electrolyte levels.
You may even feel slightly sick during a fast, as you could be exposed to toxins that are being released from your fat stores (ultimately, proponents say, this is a good thing because it means the toxins will soon be eliminated from your system).
Fasting is particularly dangerous for people with diabetes (who may experience dangerous swings in blood sugar), children and teenagers (who are still developing), pregnant and nursing women, the elderly, and anyone who is frail.
Meanwhile, according to Dr. Raymond Gibbons of the Mayo Clinic, fasting may not actually help you to lose weight.
"Fasting resets the metabolic rate," she says in USA Today, "slowing it down to adjust to less food and forcing the body to store calories as soon as people resume eating."
So if you decide to try the ancient practice of fasting, you may very well enjoy some benefits. But there are definitely risks involved, and you should always seek the advice of your health care practitioner before you dive right in.
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