Some scientists recommend eating 3 meals and 3 snacks a day, and others recommend eating nothing. Before you panic, hear us out: this is not a starvation mission. In fact, fasting is one of the oldest practices in human history.
For example, the therapeutic use of fasting dates back to at least the 5th century BC when the Greek doctor Hippocrates recommended it for patients who presented certain symptoms of the disease.
There are many diets that advertise abstaining from eating and drinking anything other than water for a period of time. We wanted to investigate what happens to the body after a 3-day fast.
Fasting for your health: what you need to know
Your Cells Can Self-Renew Faster
Adult skin covers approximately 2 square meters of surface and represents approximately 20% of the total body weight. Water fasting triggers self-renewal of skin cells.
researchers suggest that the process begins after 18 to 20 hours of fasting and peaks after 48 to 72 hours. In addition, the cell renewal process can also protect against Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
can lower your blood pressure
Fasting on water alone can help lower blood pressure, which is one of the most serious diseases in the modern world.
Fasting shows promising results, even for people with borderline high blood pressure when fasting under medical supervision.
can increase your metabolism
The hormones insulin and leptin play a crucial role in the body’s metabolism. Insulin helps store nutrients in the bloodstream, while leptin acts as a satiety hormone. Research shows that water fasting can make your body more sensitive to these hormones.
A higher level of sensitivity increases the effectiveness of these hormones, which means your body will be able to lower blood sugar and prevent obesity.
Can prevent some chronic diseases
Water fasting is believed to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, animal research suggests that a lack of water may suppress genes involved in the growth of cancer cells. This can also make chemotherapy more effective.
May increase brain function
Fasting was first prescribed as a treatment for epilepsy more than 2,000 years ago. Additionally, research indicates that fasting helps clear the mind and recharge the senses while stimulating brain function.
Additionally, fasting can improve cognitive function, arrest age-related cognitive decline, reduce neurodegeneration, reduce brain damage, and improve functional recovery after stroke.
You can lose a few kilos
The benefit most commonly associated with fasting is weight loss. Weight loss occurs when your body goes from a fed state to a fasted state.
Without food to burn for energy, your body begins to burn body fat (stored fuel) to keep going. In a 24-hour fast day, you’ll lose about a pound of fat, not water.
Have you tried water fasting before? Would you consider following such a strict diet? If so, how long do you think it would last? And what food or drink would you miss the most?