![]() ![]() ![]() But any level of stress can age you, says Taz Bhatia, MD, a holistic doctor in Atlanta. What’s unclear is whether those effects are long-lasting. ( 7) In fact, a small study published in 2018 found that participants saw a reduction in blood pressure, body weight, and oxidative stress following 11 days of water fasting. ( 5, 6)Īlthough more research is needed, another potential benefit of water fasting may be a reduction in oxidative stress, which, according to an article published in 2017, is a phenomenon that contributes to various chronic diseases. ( 4) And a wealth of research has linked eating red meat with a higher risk for hypertension, which, along with high cholesterol and being overweight, is a risk factor for heart disease. It’s true that the World Health Organization has labeled red meat - and particularly processed red meat, such as hot dogs and bacon - as a carcinogen that contributes to cancer risk. By fasting, though, he says you’re giving your body a chance to eliminate toxic by-products. But Goldhamer, who coauthored the study, offers a theory for why: “With these diseases, people are either taking in more calories than they should, especially from animal fat and protein or refined carbohydrates, and they’re eating food that’s toxic,” he says. ![]() Whether it’s the fasting approach or simply not eating that’s behind that benefit is unclear. In that study, 174 people with high blood pressure underwent a water fast for 10 to 11 days on average, and by the end of that period, about 90 percent of participants had lowered their blood pressure to normal levels. Taking a break from eating, however, can lower your blood pressure, according to one study. In fact, water fasts may pose serious health risks to certain people. Water fasts are a buzzy topic in the holistic health world, but let’s get one thing out of the way: Despite whatever you’ve read online suggesting otherwise, there’s a lack of rigorous scientific evidence to support using this approach for weight loss, disease management, and the like. And of course, other people may do a water fast for religious reasons or prior to a medical test such as a colonoscopy. Some people may even do it in hopes of treating health conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, all of which can involve excess weight, Smith adds. “People are tired of battling with their weight and are looking for the next best weight loss tool, which is one reason water fasting has become so hot,” says Kristen Smith, RD, an Atlanta-based spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The idea behind being at complete rest (aka not exercising ), Dr. Goldhamer says, is your body won’t need as many calories.Īs you may suspect, an aspiration to lose weight is a huge reason people try water fasting. “Water fasting is complete absence of all substances, except pure water, in an environment of complete rest,” says Alan Goldhamer, doctor of chiropractic and founder of the TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California, who runs medically supervised water fasts that last anywhere from 5 to 40 days (the latter of which is a length of time most healthcare professionals do not endorse). There may be no easier diet to define than water fasting, for this approach involves exactly what it says. Here’s a detailed look at what we know - and don’t - about this type of fasting, along with exactly what steps you’d be smart to take if you’re considering this type of diet yourself. ( 1 ) Yet this approach isn’t one to start willy-nilly, as depriving your body of food can pose serious health consequences if you don’t take the right precautions, healthcare professionals warn. Far from a new approach, this diet, which dates back to ancient Greece, largely lacks scientific evidence, though many naturopathic doctors tout its potential short-term benefits. Piggybacking on the popularity of intermittent fasting, water fasting is making waves in the popular diet world once again. ![]()
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