Is fasting a part of your diet regimen? Have you considered fasting effects? Maybe fasting is tied to your religion? True fasting is the act of freely abstaining from the intake of food for a period of time. Some individuals or groups consider partial fasting by abstaining from meats or certain foods. However, a complete fast would be abstaining from all foods. The term "fasting" generally offers connotations that exceed a few days. However, in the medical realm, a person could be considered fasting if they abstain from foods for eight to twelve hours. Therefore many fast nightly by medical terms. Truly giving the body time to digest all foods that have been ingested generally takes eight or more hours to be considered fasting.

When fasting most people do not consider the influence on the body beyond potentially losing weight. Since weight loss is such a desirable goal in the American culture, the direct fasting effects of weight loss are typically welcomed. What many do not consider is what happens within the brain and subsequently to the unseen portion of the body. Glucose is the body's primary source of fuel. Glucose can be found in dietary sugars as well as carbohydrates. Obviously if a person is fasting (complete fasting) he or she is not ingesting any sugars or carbohydrates. In this instance, the body's natural resources kick in and the brain tells the body to search for glycogen within the body. Glycogen is a molecule that is a form of energy that is made and stored primarily in the liver and in muscles. Generally, there is a higher concentration of glycogen in the liver than in muscles. Once a meal has been eaten including carbohydrates, glucose levels rise within the body. Ultimately, insulin stimulates enzymes and glucose is then added to glycogen and the liver absorbs more glucose than it must release. Once the meal has been digested, the body's glucose level begins to fall, there is less insulin output and glycogen reserves must be tapped. So in the instance of fasting glucose levels do not rise from food intake. Thus, when energy is needed, the body searches for stored glycogen that the body breaks down and turns into glucose for bodily fuel. As more time passes during fasting, blood sugar levels falls below normal, which stimulates glycogen breakdown. Low blood sugar levels can lead to anything from simply feeling poorly to seizures, passing out or fainting, potential brain damage or even death. Generally, it is no concern in the first few days of a fast as the body simply reacts naturally by switching to fat reserves as fuel vs. continuing to feed on muscle.

There are additional issues that arise if an individual fast for prolonged periods and is taking certain medication (amphetamine poisoning). There is obviously a certain point that there is no or little fat reserve to rely on. The body will provide increased urges to the person fasting at that point and normally the person fasting will break the fast. In the event that the fast is not broken, the body will turn to protein for fuel as the starvation process begins. Fasting has effects on hair loss at this point. Additionally, persons may experience heart arrhythmia or even kidney failure.

Researchers have found that by reducing caloric intake, individuals can benefit by having less likelihood of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain immune disorders. However, without complete knowledge of what is happening within the body and brain, certain fasting can be completely detrimental to the individual. Also, there are certain conditions that an individual may not know that they have like anorexia that may not enable them to succumb to the body's urges during the starvation process. Therefore, it is recommended that fasting diets be done under strict physician consultation.

For more information regarding glucose, glycogen, famine response, anorexia, fasting within religions or other health tips, see the search bar at the Texas Low Cost Health Insurance website!


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