Experts issue warning about 36-hour fast as step-by-step simulation shows what actually happens to body
Forgoing food for 36 hours may not sound like the best or healthiest idea, but some people have sworn by the benefits of fasting for that period of time. Now experts have warned of the hidden dangers of the trend.
A simulation showing the impact undertaking a fast has on your body suggested that fasting switched your body into a mode where it started burning fat which would help you slim down.
It also claims that going without food for this length of time triggers a 'full body reset' which helps your cells refresh and repair, but if this all sounds too good to be true, then you're right to be suspicious.
Health experts over at OrganiClinic have described 'what really happens to your body when fasting goes too far' as they warned that the simulation 'highlights serious dangers' with fasting.
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They said they'd seen people 'adopt trends without fully understanding their impact', as they explained what happened in the 36 hours you were fasting.
12 - 16 hours
They explained that within the first day your body's glycogen stores start running low, which mean the quick reserves of energy it can draw on are gone.
While the simulation claims your body will enter ketosis at around this time where it burns fat for energy instead, the experts warn that it also sets the stage for another problem coming in just a few hours which can make you feel worse.
Once your glycogen stores are gone your body starts breaking down amino acids from your muscle tissue to keep your brain supplied with glucose, and while your body is burning fat the experts have warned that losing lean muscle mass is 'an often-overlooked consequence' of fasting.
24 hours
A day into your fast and the experts are warning that 'blood sugar can dip significantly' which leaves a person 'lightheaded, irritable and fatigued'.
The stress hormone cortisol also 'rises sharply' at this point, which can shore up your lack of blood sugar for a while, but it also leads to an increase in anxiety, disrupts your sleep and sets off cravings for various foods.
Fasting for a length of time makes your brain send signals to your guts getting them to 'pause' what they're doing, which can lead to constipation and bloating once you start eating again and if you fast frequently then it can lead to a long-term digestive imbalance.
36 hours
Once you've reached the end of your fasting period the experts warn that your body is relying almost exclusively on breaking down fat and protein for energy, which they say is 'risking dangerous hypoglycaemia in vulnerable individuals'.
In addition, the imbalance of electrolytes could mean you're losing out on sodium and potassium you need which they say can result in muscle cramps, dizziness and in extreme cases cardiac arrhythmia.
The risks
The experts want to stress that for most people the risks of a 36 hour fast outweigh any potential benefits as people's lives may be impacted by fatigue and irritability.
People with diabetes are more at risk of severe hypoglycaemia, the young may suffer from a disruption to growth hormones while the elderly are more likely to fall foul of the problems that come with a lack of electrolytes.
They warned that when 38-year-old mum Anna tried a 36 hour fast she'd heard about she was left 'dizzy, anxious and unable to focus', and when she finally ate she 'binged on processed foods' that resulted in her getting 'bloated and exhausted'.
On top of these risks, they warned about cognitive decline from the lack of 'steady brain fuel', advising people who wanted to get healthier to have a healthy diet and get enough sleep.
Topics: Health, Food And Drink, Science
Joe Harker