Fasting

Recently Answered

• QWhy do people fast?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A Marisa Moore , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  People fast for a variety of reasons including

  • Religious or spiritual obligation.  Some people fast as part of their religion to strengthen their faith, increase patience and humility.  
  • Mental clarity. Some people find that when they fast they are able to think more clearly and become more disciplined. 
  • To cleanse the body. Some people use fasting as a way to "detoxify" the body. They may eliminate some or all food types in an attempt to cleanse the body. 
  • For a medical procedure. To get accurate lab results or to prepare the body for certain surgical procedures, it may be necessary to abstain from food, caffeine and other substances. 

  It's important to note that not all of the reasons or ways that people fast are based on science. It is a personal choice.

  See All 2 Answers
• QWhat is the history of fasting?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Sigma Nursing answered

  The earliest instances of fasting dates back to ancient times, when people fasted under the belief that it cleansed their spirits. Since then, religion, spirituality, weight loss, detoxification, medical testing, and surgery have all become reasons that people fast. In some religions and spiritualities, fasting is still a way to cleanse and purify the body and soul, and is considered a sacrifice. Fasting can also be used to lose weight in cases of morbid obesity. Some individuals use fasting as a means to detoxify their body. Other times, medical testing or surgery may be cause for fasting.

• QWhat is fasting?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Fastin (phentermine hydrochloride) is a prescription-only appetite suppressant pill used for a few weeks as part of medically supervised weight loss plans. It works by “telling” your brain that your appetite has been sated. Fastin is the brand name for a phentermine hydrochloride pill from GlaxoSmithKline that has been discontinued in the United States. Other prescription-only forms of phentermine hydrochloride are currently available as generics or as Adipex-P. If you are attempting to lose weight, your doctor can no longer prescribe Fastin, but will be able to tell you if another form of phentermine hydrochloride is right for you.

  See All 2 Answers
• QWhat are the causes for fasting?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Sigma Nursing answered

  An individual's period of fasting may take place for several reasons. In some religions and spiritualities, fasting is done as a means to cleanse and purify oneself or is viewed as a sacrifice. Fasting can also be used to lose weight or detoxify your body. Other times, medical testing or surgery may be reason that a person fasts.

• QDoes fasting affect children differently than adults?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Usually, fasting is not recommended for children. Children are more vulnerable when fasting because of their smaller size and increased metabolic needs. Even most spiritualities and religions that practice fasting make exceptions for them. In fact, one of the reasons that newborn babies wake up and eat in the middle of the night is because they do not have enough stored glycogen to make it through the night without consuming more nutrients. In cases of medical testing or surgery, however, fasting may be necessary, even for small children. Sometimes, an emphasis on fasting and weight loss in children can lead to problems later on, like anorexia nervosa.

• QWhat are the possible benefits of fasting?

  3 Answers

  A

  

  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  

  The benefits of fasting are that you reduce your calories, and also reduce the markers that those calories can cause. In this video, internal medicine specialist Michael Roizen, MD, explains how fasting can teach your body to exist on less calories.

  See All 3 Answers
• QHow is detoxification related to fasting?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Some individuals use fasting as a means of detoxification, although this practice is still under scrutiny in medical fields. When you fast, your body begins to consume the glycogen from your muscles and fat stores. In the process, it cleanses the toxins from your muscles, skin, and various other parts of your body. Once your body is cleansed of toxins, you are ready to go back to a regular diet.

• QWhat are some health risks of detox diets and fasts?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A Dr. Eva B. Cwynar, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Many people believe that fasting is the best way to detox the body. However, studies have shown that fasting depletes the body of essential nutrients and can have many adverse health effects, including decreased energy production. Other studies have shown that efficient functioning of the liver's detoxification system requires adequate protein. Also, it appears that high carbohydrate intake reduces the ability of certain detoxification enzymes to work effectively.

  See All 2 Answers
• QDoes fasting lead to anorexia?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A Dr. Ramani Durvasula, PhD , Psychology, answered

  There is consistent research that shows that one of the most consistent predictors of an eating disorder is dieting.  While fasting rarely leads to anorexia per se, it can set into place a set of behaviors and schemas (or beliefs) about food, body image that place a person at greater risk of anorexia nervosa.  However, anorexia nervosa is not simply a product of dieting or fasting, but is determined by a complex set of variables such as family variables, other psychiatric issues, temperamental (e.g. personality) factors.  Fasting should typically be done under the supervision of a physician or licensed health professional who can educate a client about the possible risks of fasting.  

  See All 2 Answers
• QWhy doesn't fasting lead to weight loss?

  4 Answers

  A

  

  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Fasting can lead to weight loss, but the pounds you shed by going without food will likely return once you start eating again. In a 2010 study, researchers at Cornell University asked a group of women to fast for one day, which caused them to lose weight. They were then allowed to eat as much as they liked. The women didn't stuff themselves after going without food; they simply went back to eating what they normally would. Within four days the women's weight returned to pre-fasting levels. The researchers speculate that fasting causes the body's metabolic rate to slow down. That means you burn fewer calories, so returning to a normal diet after fasting will cause any weight you lost to return. Studies suggest that the better way to lose weight is by eating a balanced, low-calorie diet and joining a group such as Weight Watchers.
  

  See All 4 Answers