What Happens to Your Body If You Practice Fasting

Health
year ago

Our bodies’ cells disintegrate and then recycle their own parts constantly. In 2016, Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi, from Japan, received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering the mechanisms behind this process known as autophagy. Most of the tissues in our bodies replace their cells with new ones on a regular basis. Each organ needs its own time to renew itself completely. However, other tissues never replace their cells.

We at Bright Side are amazed by Dr. Ohsumi’s discovery, and now we’ll tell you how to put it into practice.

An investigation with a revealing result

Dr. Ohsumi, a Japanese cell biologist, spent years studying how human cells recycle their trash. This process is scientifically known as autophagy. It is composed of the Greek words auto, which means “self,” and phagein, which can be translated as “eating.” It sounds a bit disturbing, but this process helps to keep you stable. With the help of lysosomes (organelles responsible for degrading intracellular material), your body can break down different protein structures and transform them into amino acids. Later, it uses this to create more cells.

Our body can use its own protein supply stored in the form of damaged cells and bacteria. The average person consumes approximately 70 g of protein daily, which is not enough to create new cells. When using the “protein waste,” your body is nourished with the necessary amount. When the natural recycling mechanism doesn’t work, the damaged cells and their components accumulate in the body. Thus, it’s impossible to neutralize cancer cells and cells infected with dangerous bacteria and viruses. That’s why you can end up with many serious diseases.

How to induce autophagy

In all his studies, Dr. Ohsumi used fasting to stimulate the body to break down toxic cells and get rid of all the waste. When you fast, your cells live longer and produce more energy. Your body has less inflammation. In addition, if you choose to restrict the number of calories you consume, nitric oxide levels in your body will increase — this is a molecule that helps detoxify and rejuvenate the body. Intermittent fasting, which consists of alternating periods of food and fasting, can help the body cleanse itself. In addition, it helps to lose weight and speed up metabolism. The benefits of this method for your health are numerous and include a decreased risk of heart disease, neurological problems, and diabetes, as well as a reduction in inflammation, oxidative stress, and blood pressure. There are many types of fasting, so you can choose the strategy that you like or that suits your lifestyle best.

24-hour fasting

If you lean toward this method, you should choose one day of the week when you don’t eat. On the other hand, it is also possible to have breakfast at 8 AM on Monday and not eat until 8 AM on Tuesday.

Intermittent fasting

If you have chosen this option, you should eat as you usually do for one day and fast the next day. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t eat at all on fasting days. If you consume 2,000 calories on a regular day, you should reduce the number to 500 calories on a fasting day.

Skip your meals

If you’re new to the world of fasting and it seems a bit intimidating, start skipping your meals. In general, just avoid one meal a day to boost your metabolism and activate cleansing processes in your body. Remember that if you’ve skipped a meal, you should not overeat during the next one.

Limited fasting

Limited fasting is a type of intermittent fasting. To follow it, you should eat only for 8 hours a day, every day. Another name for this method is “fasting 16/8” because you don’t eat during the remaining 16 hours. If you are new to this method, try a less strict scheme. You can have breakfast at 8 AM and have dinner at 6 PM. Thus, you will only spend 14 hours without food. Once you get used to this, reduce the time you are allowed to eat.

Water fasting

If you decide to follow this strategy, you must choose one day of the week and only drink water or fresh juices without sugar. The best time for this is spring, but you can also follow this diet throughout the year.

What do you think of this discovery? Do you practice fasting or would like to try it after reading this article? Tell us in the comments!

Please note: This article was updated in May 2022 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.
Preview photo credit Kyodo / East News

Comments

Get notifications
Aditya
5 years ago

As for me, the best time to start fasting is to get a lot of projects and start working on them! can get so concentrated that I simply forget to eat, sometimes even for the whole day!

-
-
Reply
Bilal
5 years ago
Aditya

And I get exactly the opposite. As more I work at my computer, as more hungry I become! Sometimes I end up having a lot of snack around me, while I work. Fasting isn't for me, I guess :D

1
-
Reply
Deleted User
5 years ago

Intermittent fasting: 16hours fasting with only water. 8 hours free eating. It works for me. From 96KG last year September. And 88KG Early this year. Now 82KG. I know it is not a lot of lost since I eat a lot on that 8 hours free eating but it certainly works on me.

-
-
Reply
Vinod Kamath
5 years ago

The best way is to follow ekadashi as told in our scriptures like the vedas. Coincidentally today (March 17 2019)happens to be one. Ekadashi though followed by many Hindus religiously, has lot of scientific benefits as mentioned in this article and can be followed by anyone who wants to maintain a good health. And is followed from many centuries by devout Vaishnavas. And the good reason to fast on ekadashi (literally means 11th day of the 15 days cycle of a hindu lunar calendar with 2 pakshas a month ie. Shukla paksha the waning period & Krishna paksha waxing period of the moon. Which means there are 2 ekadashis every month ) is the environment on this day does not allow the stomach to perform at its best.

-
-
Reply
Bill Cornell
5 years ago

This is really great info!
I have been using a lot of fruits and lost 25 lbs.
Also using cbc oil and milk nettle.
Seems to be working.

TX Bill Cornell

-
-
Reply
Vijay Kumar
5 years ago

In India fasting is known as religious ritual since ages.there are hundreds of Hindu festivals where we fast ,almost all types of fasts mentioned in your post are practiced. Those who are unaware of these processes would definitely be benefited.Nice information.

-
-
Reply
Natacha de Noronha
5 years ago

Along with other biologic information I've been reading, it makes sense to me to try this detox program. Maybe beginning with the water diet until I feel prepared (and if needed) to go further.
It's not a novelty, this kind of practice in order to "purify" the body, sense for religious purposes it has been done for ages. Now we know there's a lot of 'popular wisdom' based on experience and now, proved scientifically. Just like Vinod Kamath said on his comment.
Thank you Bright Side for such (and so many) good insights.

-
-
Reply
RAGHAVENDRA N S
5 years ago

In India that too in south India, followers of madhwacharya will do fasting for 24hrs from sun rise to next day sun rise and it is called as EKADESHI, IT means 11th day from the full moon and from new moon day so every 15days this fasting is done and follow,it is nirjala ekadeshi.

But people wont listen nor practice Indian customs they need a foreigner to tell this and they appreciate their discovery and may be they try to fast.
Hell with those people,it is believed even cancer will never attack people who does fasting that too 9n ekadeshi day as on this day sunrays falls directly on earth which is harmful,others it pass thru moon and harmful Ray's will be filtered.

-
-
Reply
Carm Donguines Dubal
5 years ago

I've been practicing 24 hrs fasting that is from sunset to sunset since I was a teen in observance of one of God"s Holy Days that we in our church practice to fast once every year following Christ example, although it's a spiritual fast it also has some benifit to us physically. I for one feel as I come to break the fast at sunset the next day it seems I even become stronger and think that I could bear another day of fasting if I want to. For me it's a beautiful feeling not just spiritually but also physically.

-
-
Reply
Ben Velan
5 years ago

Someone please help me to understand this concept for Diabetes people. How they can follow fasting, as Doctors do not recommend for them.

-
-
Reply
Laura St John
5 years ago

I’ve done 24-48 hour fasting every few months for 8 years and now look incredible at 43. I look younger and I’m thinner and healthier than I was at age 33 or 23. I use the cleanse for life drink from Isagenix that naturally supports your body’s fasting process. My video on Isagenix cleanse went viral on YouTube. You can look me up. Laura St. John and Isagenix cleanse on youtube — to see for yourself how to do it. If you want to order it let me know. I’d be happy to help. This article is fantastic.

Comment with image on Bright Side
-
-
Reply
Adil Hannoudi
4 years ago

That's amazing I'm doing Ramadan now I feel so good doing it. I have answers now to my friends at work who asking my why you punishing your self. Great news

1
-
Reply
Dashurije Koshi
4 years ago

Practise fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan,because, our Creator knows the best formula of fasting?!

1
-
Reply
Mostafa Shadad
4 years ago

Muslims say that the mighty God order them to fast 30 day / year from the down to sunset for their body's sake

-
-
Reply
3 years ago
Ain't nobody got time for that.

Related Reads