Fasting
What is fasting? Fasting is simply the act of abstaining from food and/or drink for a period of time. Basically, you stop eating. A person can either not eat, but drink only water, which is called “Water Fasting”; or not eat and also not drink anything at all, which is called, “Dry Fasting”. Both forms of fasting are very beneficial, however dry fasting is significantly more potent than water fasting because the body is forced to generate its own water through the breaking down of fat cells. Because of this, dry fasting forces the body into a state of ketosis much faster than water fasting, and torches through body fat at a significantly accelerated rate. As you can tell, due to the fact that there is no water intake, dry fasting can only be done for very short periods. There is evidence online of people who have gone for as long as two weeks dry fasting. However, I personally do not see any significance in doing this, because let’s face it, even though a human can survive for a very long time without food depending on the amount of fat stored, we cannot survive very long without water at all. Water is absolutely essential for proper metabolic function. On the other hand, I find that it is much easier to do a dry fast than it is to water fast. It seems to me like the body craves what it is denied the most. When I dry fast, because I am not ingesting anything at all, my digestive tract is not stimulated, and I feel absolutely no hunger. I do get thirsty by the second day of a dry fast, but for some reason, it is much easier for me to abstain from drinking than it is to abstain from eating. On a water fast however, the act of constantly drinking water, causes it to take longer for my digestive tract to quiet down, and I find myself not being able to stop thinking about food. Therefore basically, if you take away only food, then you will crave food. But, if you take away both food and water, then you will crave water only. At least that is how it is for me.
What are the benefits of fasting? Many religions practice different variations of fasting as a means of gaining heightened spiritual awareness, and drawing closer to God so to speak. Spirituality aside, fasting is used as a means of detoxification, healing and weight loss. Fasting is based on the premise that the body has the ability to heal and regenerate its self once given the ideal environment. Due to no food being ingested, there is no need for the body to direct resources towards the act of digestion. This allows for the gut to rest, and for resources to be freed up to be utilized in other ways such as healing. Energy is still needed for general metabolic functions; therefore, carbohydrate stores are first utilized for this purpose. Carbohydrates stored in the form of glycogen is very limited, and usually depletes within the first 1 to 3 days of a fast, depending on the individual’s activity level. If fasting persists beyond the point of glycogen depletion, fat stores are next utilized for energy. It is at this point that the body goes into a state of ketosis, in which ketones, a byproduct of the breakdown of fat, becomes the main metabolic fuel. Ketosis is not the same as ketoacidosis, which is a problem common in type 1 diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis is the result of being in ketosis with simultaneously high blood glucose due to the absence or lack of insulin. It is during ketosis that any true detoxification begins. Toxins are stored in the body’s fat cells, so fat breakdown results not only in energy release, but the release of any stored toxins as well. These toxins circulate freely throughout the body and are then excreted via urine, but may also cause unwanted symptoms before leaving the body. This is one of the main benefits of fasting, and explains why some people experience “detoxification symptoms” at different stages into a prolonged fast.
One of the claims used to discourage people from fasting is that it causes muscle breakdown to provide protein for energy. This then leads to muscle wasting and eventual organ failure. This is absolutely absurd, and has never been proven. Don’t get me wrong, the body can eventually reach the point where it has no choice but to utilize structural protein for energy, but this only happens when all forms of glycogen and fat stores have absolutely been depleted and the individual has progressed to true starvation.
Fasting is very challenging, and is definitely not for the faint of heart. However, the hardest time during a fast is within the first few days. While the body is going through stored glycogen, hunger persists. It is almost as if the body is crying out,
“Wait a minute, where is the food? I need food. GIVE ME FOOD NOW!”
It then ramps up hunger signals, and we get HANGRY; hungry and angry at the same time. If one can persist past this point allowing ketosis to eventually kick in, hunger then disappears because fat provides sufficient energy for the body to run on. It is akin to breaking through a storm, or experiencing the serenity that lies within the eye of the storm. Notice I said hunger disappears; cravings though…………. that is actually a totally different mental beast all together.
What people don’t realize is that not eating for a short period of time does not equate to starving. It simply means, “YOU ARE NOT EATING”. All metabolic needs are still being met thanks to ketosis and the utilization of stored nutrients. Remember I said that hunger disappears? Well, if a person persists in fasting to the point where all fat stores have been fully utilized, hunger then returns with a vengeance. When hunger returns, this monster should not be ignored, because it is at this point that true starvation begins. If the individual neglects to provide and alternative source of energy, then the body will be forced to start breaking down structural protein for energy which will lead to a horrible death. The body does not want to use its main structural material, muscle protein, as its main source of energy. This is true starvation, and the return of unbearable hunger is there to warn that we are treading in dangerous territory. Fasting has been proven to be muscle sparing. Yes, it has been shown that there is some level of protein consumption during the initial days of fasting, but this is due to consumption of excess/useless forms of stored protein such as tumors, scars or even excess skin or other tissue, and not from muscle tissue. Quite frankly, I am very happy to rid my body of those forms of protein any day.
Also, even the slimmest person has enough body fat to survive for 1 to 3 months in the absence of food. This is good to know if you ever find yourself stranded on a deserted island or something. It’s the benefits of a little something I like to call evolutionary adaptation. We need to give our bodies a little more credit. We are designed to withstand short periods of famine. Thinking that the body would target structural protein for energy in the presence of glycogen and fat stores is like burning down your concrete house instead of wooden furniture or books in order to provide heat during a power outage in a blizzard. Doesn’t make much sense, does it? So, let’s just put the nonsensical notion to rest once and for all in 2019 okay? Okay.
I will end by saying that fasting is a great weapon to have in your arsenal for health, wellness and weight loss. Don’t be afraid to try it, but ensure you are both well informed and prepared.
Follow me if you would like to get more info on fasting, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. I will do my best to answer.
