What happen to your stomach when you fast?
Fasting
has long been a part of many religious traditions, including the Jewish and Muslim
holidays of Yom Kippur and Ramadan, respectively. As you read this, billions of
Muslims around the world are participating in this act of faith, which involves
fasting from dawn to dusk. While fasting for Ramadan is based on spiritual
beliefs, many of us fast because we believe it benefits our health. However,
what happens to our bodies when we fast?
The primary source of energy for a person is glucose, which is obtained from carbohydrates such as grains, dairy products, fruits, certain vegetables, beans, and even sweets.
The glucose is stored in the liver and muscles and released
into the bloodstream when the body requires it. This process, however, changes
during fasting. The liver will deplete its glucose reserves after about 8 hours
of fasting. At this point, the body enters a state known as glucogenesis, which
marks the transition into fasting mode.
Glucogenesis has been shown in studies to increase the
number of calories burned by the body. Without carbohydrates, the body burns
its own calories. When there is no carbohydrate available, the body produces
its own glucose, primarily from fat.
The body eventually runs out of these energy sources as
well. Fasting mode then transitions into the more serious starvation mode. A
person's metabolism slows down at this point, and their body begins to burn
muscle tissue for energy. Although it is a well-known term in the dieting
world, true starvation mode occurs only after several days or even weeks
without food. So, unless other health conditions exist, it is generally safe to
go without eating for a day after breaking their fast after 24 hours. (1)
“A detoxification process also occurs, because any toxins
stored in the body’s fat are dissolved and removed from the body,” he adds,
noting that after a few days of fasting, higher levels of endorphins –
“feel-good hormones” are produced in the blood, which can have a positive
impact on mental well-being. As mentioned previously, the study by Dr.Longo and
colleagues suggests prolonged fasting may also be effective for regenerating
immune cells. “When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the
things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that
are not needed, especially those that may be damaged,” Dr.Longo explains. In
their study, publish in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the team found that
repeated cycles of 2 – 4 days without food over a 6-month period destroyed the
old and damaged immune cells in mice and generate new ones.
Furthermore, the team discovered that cancer patients who
fasted for three days prior to chemotherapy were protected against immune
system damage caused by the treatment, which they attribute to immune cell
regeneration. "The good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the
system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting,"
says Dr. Longo. "Now, if you start with a system that has been heavily
damaged by chemotherapy or ageing, fasting cycles can literally generate a new
immune system." (2)
Intermittent fasting, on the other hand, is associated with
numerous health risks, according to the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
People who fast frequently become dehydrated, owing to their
bodies' inability to obtain fluid from food. As a result, it is advised that
Muslims consume plenty of water prior to fasting periods during Ramadan. Other
people who follow fasting diets should stay hydrated during their fasting
periods.
On the other hand, according to the UK’s National Health
Service (NHS), there are numerous health risks associated with intermittent
fasting.
Fasting can also cause heartburn; lack of food leads to a
reduction in stomach acid, which digests food and destroys bacteria. But
smelling food or even thinking about it during fasting periods can trigger the
brain into telling the stomach to produce more acid, leading to heartburn.(2)
Finally, to sum up, moderation is the key. Know the
precaution step to avoid the potential risk. A person must understand his or
her current health condition before proceeding to any sort of diet plan.
Fasting can also cause heartburn because a lack of food
reduces stomach acid, which digests food and destroys bacteria. However,
smelling food or even thinking about it during a fast can cause the brain to
tell the stomach to produce more acid, resulting in heartburn. (2)
To summarize, moderation is essential. Understand the
precautionary measure to avoid the potential risk. Before beginning any diet
plan, a person must first understand his or her current health situation.
References
Medical News Today (n.d). What Happens If You Don’t Eat For A Day? Timeline And Effects. [online] Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322065#can-fasting-promote-weight-loss [Accessed 29 April 2020].
Medical News Today (n.d). Fasting: Health Benefits And Risks. [online] Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295914 [Accessed 29 April 2020].
