Pros and cons of 36 hour fast as graphic simulation shows what happens to body

Trying a 36 hour fast will certainly have an impact on your body, though whether it will be a good one is a matter of some debate.

In general, the health advice is to eat nutritious meals regularly, but there are those who think taking a break from eating for a day-and-a-half is very beneficial to their weekly routine.

During this time, drinking water or coffee is allowed but actual solid meals are paused for a decent amount of time and the idea is that it's meant to kick your body into a 'healthier' state.

On the other hand, not eating for a significant period of time is not supposed to be good for you and Healthline has warned that prolonged fasting 'should only be conducted under medical supervision'.

36 hours is a long time to go without food and it may not have the impact you were hoping for (Getty Stock Images)

This is definitely something you should speak to a doctor about beforehand and keep a close eye on your health over.

The pros

The claimed benefits of fasting for 36 hours include the idea that it will trigger a 'full body reset' which will make your body start burning fat instead of carbs.

Another supposed benefit is 'autophagy', a regeneration process in the cells which repairs and restores them from old and damaged parts.

A fairly graphic simulation from a YouTube channel claims your body will start burning glucose for energy after four hours without food, and blood sugar levels will drop after eight hours.

It goes on to claim that the more hours you fast, the more autophagy there is until you hit 36 hours and you can once again eat after feeling better than before.

According to the Independent, Genetic Engineer Sebnem Unluisler said that autophagy is 'believed to have potential benefits for overall cellular health'.

Nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert told the outlet that 'fasting may reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease through the improvement of weight control, hypertension and insulin sensitivity'.

However, before you start any of this, be aware of the significant concerns raised by the experts.

The cons

Unluisler warned that many of the studies do not point towards this supposed benefit of fasting, saying that 'other research concluded that there are actually no significant differences in weight loss between people following their normal dietary patterns and those choosing to do intermittent fasting'.

She said: "So, although there is some evidence that it can be healthy, people in my field would always recommend that people eat a balanced diet and stay active to stay healthy."

Lambert warned that fasting could deprive your body of nutrients it needs, and that getting fasting wrong ran the risk of 'leading to fatigue, weakened immune function, and impaired overall health'.

She noted that fasting could actually be counterproductive for those hoping to lose some weight, explaining that the body can go into energy conservation mode without enough food which lowers the rate at which you burn calories.

You may end up gaining weight as your body thinks it needs to conserve energy because it's not getting more food.

There are also few studies on the impact of 36 hour fasts on the human body.

Dietitian Fareeha Jay said anyone with an eating disorder should stay well away from fasting, so beware of anyone who tells you they've got the definitive answer.