Fasting, or going without food for an extended period of time, is a method for losing weight. There is straight fasting as well as modified forms of fasting, which spare your body from starvation but still are risky to your health. While effective in the short term, fasting can be very dangerous and is not recommended as a healthy, sound method for weight loss.
Identification and Purpose
Fasting is, by definition, voluntarily not eating food for varying lengths of time. Modified fasting may include the consumption of juices; however, true fasting involves abstaining from all food and taking in nothing but water. According to the Health and Yoga website, abstaining from food is an effective method for losing a significant amount of weight, as it allows you to gain control over your body and your appetite.
Effectiveness and Simplicity
Fasting does work in the short term for quick weight loss. Many celebrities have lost weight for acting roles this way. Fasting takes willpower but, in truth, is easier than counting calories and measuring out portions of healthy foods. In addition, the results are dramatic. Depending upon the duration and intensity, you can expect to lose more than 20 lb. in one week. According to registered dietitian Beth Reardon, of Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, "It simplifies the confusing diet world down to one thing: Just drink this."
Detoxification Dangers
Fasting diets also often include a detoxification element, in the form of colonics or enemas. These treatments are often dangerous, especially if done without the supervision of a doctor. They can leach essential electrolytes, such as potassium, from your body, resulting in heart problems and organ damage, according to ABC News. If performed regularly, colonics and enemas kill the "good" bacteria in your intestinal tract that help protect against infection, compromising the immune system and disrupting the bowel's nerve and muscle function. This can lead to dependence on these treatments or an inability to eliminate without them. Furthermore, colonics do not aid in long-term weight loss, notes ABC News.
Other Risks
According to the United Kingdom National Health Service, or NHS, fasting can lead to other health problems and complications. First and foremost, going from food to fasting shocks the system. It puts stress on the body and may exacerbate heartburn, since thoughts of food or food aromas send a signal from the brain to the stomach to produce more acid. In addition, fasting may lead to blood sugar swings, particularly in individuals with diabetes, headaches, dehydration and constipation.
Considerations
During fasting, your body adjusts by reducing its appetite. Once you have stopped fasting, you may actually feel hungrier and be more likely to binge. Most often, the dramatic results of fasting are not permanent. For long-term weight management, most experts agree that you need to learn how to choose healthy foods in the right proportion and engage in regular exercise. Eating healthy, well-balanced meals and adopting behavior modification techniques to control less desirable behaviors is the best way to effectively lose weight and keep it off.
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