What Happens If You Water Fast For 72 Hours - Dr. G's Quick Health Tip | EP 327.B
Nov 21, 2024
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Curious about the buzz around 72-hour water fasting? Discover its historical roots and scientific complexities. Learn about the potential downsides, including muscle loss and toxin buildup. Get insights into how your body reacts and the challenges faced during extended fasts. Plus, find out effective strategies for managing holiday cravings while focusing on gut health. Lastly, explore the benefits of time-restricted eating as a healthier alternative to prolonged fasting.
A 72-hour water fast can lead to adverse effects, particularly for those metabolically inflexible, resulting in fatigue and poor performance.
Time-restricted eating is a healthier alternative that promotes fat burning and muscle preservation without the risks associated with prolonged fasting.
Deep dives
The Risks of 72-Hour Water Fasting
Engaging in a 72-hour water fast can lead to detrimental effects, especially for those who are metabolically inflexible. Many people, including those with normal weight, struggle to switch their energy source from glucose to fatty acids when deprived of food. This inability results in the depletion of glucose and glycogen stores within the first day, leaving the brain without sufficient energy, which can cause fatigue and poor performance even in regular activities like exercising. This situation is compounded by high insulin levels, which prevent the release of stored fat from fat cells, thus exacerbating feelings of hunger and weakness, making such fasts impractical and potentially harmful for most individuals.
The Benefits of Time-Restricted Eating
Time-restricted eating, ideally limiting food intake to a six to eight-hour window, emerges as a healthier alternative to prolonged fasting. By delaying the first meal of the day, the body begins to produce ketones, which enhance mitochondrial function, promote weight loss through fat burning, and help maintain muscle mass. Research indicates that athletes who follow this model, such as Italian cyclists who eat within a narrow timeframe, not only manage to lose weight but also preserve their muscle while lowering detrimental insulin-like growth factors. This approach offers a more sustainable and manageable way to improve health, as it can be gradually adopted alongside consistent monitoring of one’s dietary habits.
Have you ever questioned the origins of this intense water fasting trend and wondered about the significance of the 72-hour duration?
Join me as I explore the rich history and scientific intricacies behind it all. But before you rush into fasting, there's crucial information you need to know. While some sing praises for its benefits, there are notable downsides. I'll reveal why many of you will hit a roadblock and experience a hard crash.
Furthermore, I dive into the hard truth about excessive fasting and the adverse effects it can have! The truth is you might unknowingly be introducing toxins into your body and losing valuable muscle mass instead of fat.
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