As obesity rates continue to rise in the U.S., some people turn to fasting diets, thinking it will cleanse the body and help them lose weight rapidly. Unfortunately, these diets can be extremely dangerous, especially when undertaken without medical supervision. Never make any dietary changes without first consulting your doctor.
Description
While the term "fasting" implies complete food deprivation, fasting diets may involve not eating at certain times of day, a practice that is sometimes called intermittent fasting, or they may involve eating very few calories each day. Many fasting diets allow for some intake of fruit or vegetable juices and water to prevent dehydration.
Function
Fasting diets are undertaken for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the purpose of the diet may be spiritual, but most prolonged fasting diets involve caloric restriction to "cleanse the liver," trigger weight loss or "flush toxins" from the body. While there is some evidence that short-term, partial fasts may assist with weight loss, the National Council Against Health Fraud warns that no fasting diet is able to cleanse the liver or remove toxins from the bloodstream.
Purported Benefits
Some fasting diets may trigger weight loss, thereby prolonging life by reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and other diseases. This is because fasting for short periods is not likely to negatively affect metabolism and work against weight-loss efforts. Mark P. Mattson of the National Institute on Aging states in an interview with the "Los Angeles Times" that intermittent fasting that limits caloric intake one or two days each week offers health benefits for nearly everyone.
Side Effects and Dangers
In addition to potentially slowing metabolism and interfering with weight loss attempts, strict fasting can cause irritability, fatigue and other side effects, according to Ruth Frechman, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association in an interview with the "Los Angeles Times." Fasting also causes the blood sugar to drop, and when prolonged, can trigger a breakdown of muscle tissue and a potentially fatal depletion of potassium from the body, warns the National Council Against Health Fraud. Moreover, long-term fasting can compromise the immune system and lead to anemia, kidney damage, liver damage, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal problems and a plethora of other medical disorders.
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