A new simulation has revealed the effects that a 36-hour fast could have on your body.
Going without food for one-and-a-half days sounds like something most people wouldn't ever want to experience, but some claim that there can be some fascinating effects.
Some people have traditionally chosen to fast for religious reasons, though now fasting is as likely to be the result of a social media fad than an act of solidarity to one's faith.
Effects of cutting food out for 24 hours have been outlined before, but today it's about going the extra step and swearing off food for 36 hours.
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Normally, drinking some water or coffee is allowed as part of the fast - but it won't be able to replace the food-shaped hole you'll experience in your stomach.
YouTube channel 'The Limitless Emperor' is known for sharing health-related short-form content for people to understand, though they warn to 'always consult a qualified expert before making changes to your health'.
And Healthline warns that prolonged fasting 'should only be conducted under medical supervision', adding: "Long-term fasts are not recommended for most people."
Intermittent fasting may be popular online due to its supposed health benefits, but it's said that missing all three meals in a day can make a difference without killing you, as our ancestors once lived on irregular meals due to the need to hunt and harvest produce all year round.
While the benefits are disputed, scientific studies claim that a number of things happen to your body in a 36-hour fasting period, with the video in question saying your body undergoes some 'incredible transformations'.
Four hours
At this stage, digestion shuts down and insulin drops fast, meaning that your body starts to burn stored glucose for energy, instead of breaking down incoming carbohydrates into glucose.
Eight hours
Your blood sugar levels will start to dip around this point, with your system beginning to 'dig into its backup reserves', using glycogen, another form of stored glucose, for energy, with functionality getting slightly difficult.
12 hours
The simulation suggests that 'the real transformation begins' at this point, as your body starts to burn fat as insulin hits rock-bottom.
Your body then enters ketosis, according to the video, meaning your body becomes a 'fatmelting furnace', producing and using ketone bodies to turn fat into fuel.
Healthline notes that this process can result in decreased appetite and weight loss, as well as fatigue.
16 hours
Described as 'your body's built-in detox mode', autophagy starts to take effect as your body begins to recycle and break down damaged cells, flushing out waste as it repairs you 'from the inside out'.
Your body will start to consume its own tissue this way, as Cleveland Clinic explains that the process includes getting rid of nonfunctional cell parts and removing bacteria.
They add: "Autophagy isn’t a clear-cut harmful or beneficial process concerning disease prevention or treatment.
"There’s not enough research to support inducing autophagy as a wellness strategy."
Cleveland Clinic advises you to reach out to a professional if you're considering any lifestyle changes which could be detrimental to your bodily processes.
24 hours
This is where 'cellular repair' speeds up, according to the video - meaning that the body starts burning pure fat, with all the cells in the body working overtime in what is also known as a 'deep repair'.
Inflammation in the body also decreases as sensitivity to insulin improves.
30 hours
At this point, the video claims, growth hormone skyrockets, which could help to protect muscles and boost recovery from exercise or workouts.
36 hours
After a day and a half, it's claimed that the body will hit peak autophagy, with dead cells discarded and tissues regenerating efficiently while the metabolism starts to 'fire on all cylinder' in what the simulation describes as a 'full body reset'.
In the end
It's vital to remember that health experts urged those considering fasting diets of any sort to consult a medical professional beforehand, to avoid any issues or complications.
Healthline writes: "Fasting always has medical impacts and should not be taken lightly."
It goes on to advise you to talk to a professional before trying intermittent fasting - and adds that prolonged fasting should always be medically supervised.
Topics: Health, YouTube, Food And Drink, Science
Joshua Nair