Water fasting is a type of fasting that has gained popularity for promoting health and well-being. Simply put, it involves not eating or drinking anything except water for a specific period. While this might sound tough, water fasting is believed to offer several benefits for both physical and mental health. This article discusses the advantages of water fasting, particularly its use in weight management.
Benefits of Water Fasting
Water fasting benefits are as follows:
- Supports Detoxification
Water fasting diverts the body’s energy needed for absorbing the food and channels it towards the cleansing process. The digestive system gets some respite without the consumption of any solid food, allowing it to focus on ejecting unwanted compounds and toxic agents from the body. This change in energy direction could benefit liver function since the liver is essential in getting rid of toxins from the body. All in all, water fasting can be very helpful in improving the body’s natural detoxification process.
- Promotes Weight Loss
When it comes to water fasting, one of its most prominent advantages is its potential for supporting weight loss. The body falls into a calorie deficit when it does not receive food. If the body doesn’t receive any additional energy through food intake, then it will start using the fat stores as the new energy source. This causes gradual weight loss as the fasting progresses. However, keep in mind that the majority of the early weight loss, when one observes a water fast, is because of the loss of water weight, which may come back when you resume taking regular meals. Long-term lifestyle modifications should go beyond fasting for sustained water fasting weight loss.
- Improves Insulin Sensitivity
Water fasting has been proven to be beneficial in improving glucose tolerance and increasing insulin sensitivity. Insulin plays a key role in regulating blood sugar levels and poor insulin sensitivity is associated with health problems such as type 2 diabetes. Water fasting offers the body a chance to reset its insulin response by taking a break from constant food consumption. This aids in improving insulin sensitivity, which assists in the effective regulation of blood glucose and lowers the chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, people suffering from diabetes and other metabolic diseases should always consult a healthcare professional before attempting water fasting.
- Mental Clarity
When water fasting, people often find that their thinking is clearer and they experience increased concentration. The shift in the body’s energy allocation gives rise to this enhanced mental state. The lack of energy consumption stage of digestion allows the body to channel more energy towards repairing, restoration, and other significant activities. Some advocates of water fasting suggest that this diversion of energy allows the brain to operate better, increasing mental sharpness and cognition. However, more research is needed to fully comprehend this correlation.
Water Fasting for 3 Days
A 3 day water fasting can be beneficial in various ways despite being short-lived. Here is what happens during this fasting period:
- Autophagy
During the three days of water fasting, your body falls into a state of autophagy, which involves getting rid of damaged cells and waste products. This cellular repair process results in improved overall health and a longer life span.
- Reduces Inflammation
Studies have shown that water fasting helps in dampening the body’s inflammatory response. A typical 3-day water fast can reduce inflammatory markers that are associated with several chronic conditions.
- Enhances Energy
People often experience a boost in their energy levels while undergoing a 3-day water fast. This may be due to the fact that the body is able to utilise the stored glucose as fuel for energy production without undergoing the process of digestion.
Water Fasting for 7 Days
Starting a seven-day water fast can be extremely challenging. As such, you need to handle it with care and involve a healthcare expert in case you suffer from any existing health complication. Here are some potential benefits of water fasting for 7 days:
- Deeper Autophagy
A 7-day water fast creates a deeper state of autophagy. Prolonged water fasting allows the body to eliminate damaged cells and regenerate new, healthy ones.
- Resets the Gut
Seven days of water fasting enables the gut to rest and recover. It resets and rebalances the digestive system and may help restore gut health by relieving the symptoms of gastrointestinal problems.
- Strengthens Spiritual and Emotional Connection
Prolonged water fasting can be intense in its effect on the mind, resulting in better spiritual and emotional well-being. This could be a life-changing experience that can lad to the development of one’s character.
Things to Remember About Water Fasting
While it is crucial to be careful during any kind of water fasting and ensure the supervision of a healthcare professional, it becomes even more important when you attempt it for 7 days or longer. If people were not to eat for a while, then they could become malnourished or suffer from an electrolyte disorder. People with pre-existing illnesses, pregnant women, postnatal mothers and individuals who have a history of eating disorders should never try water fasting.
Conclusion
Although water fasting should be done with care and under proper supervision, it can be highly beneficial for your health and help in the detoxification process, shedding weight, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and improving your mental state. Prior to undertaking any fast, it is important to consult a healthcare provider in order to be sure that it suits you.
