Is fasting a safe way to cleanse your body?

Question

How long should a person fast, to receive the benefits you are looking for.

Answer 1

Usually, but a shower is quicker.

Answer 2

U shouldn't fast, it can have extremely bad health implications, like blood sugar level, heart failure, liver/kidney disease

if U want to cleanse Ur body don't drink alcohol, caffeine, smoke, of eat any high fat foods, just drink water and eat veg's

and it will slow down Ur metabolism, so when U do start to eat again U will put on weight, fat faster and it will stay on too

Answer 3

I really doubt fasting in any way, shape or form is safe/healthy. I'd suggest to just drink tons and tons of water and visit a sauna at a local gym.

Answer 4

I developed serious mental issues fasting as a teenager for weight loss. It only harmed me in the end. I used to fast 10 days at a time, on water and nothing else--- not even tea. As soon as I started eating after those 10 days, I gained whatever weight I lost because if you don't know already-- water fasting causes you to lose WATER weight, it won't be fat. Your metabolism will slow down immensely to the point where you will eat a cheeseburger and gain 2-3 lbs by the morning after, and this is no kidding. Last winter I went away on vacation. For those two weeks I ate normally, maybe about a 1,500 calorie diet. After two weeks I had gained 15 lbs of pure fat. It took me three months to lose these 15 lbs and I did it with healthy eating (lots of fruit and veggies, lean meats, low-fat dairy, and healthy nuts (almonds)) and excersize. If you can fit at least 30 minutes into your day, you'll be well off. 3-5 times a week. So, not only did my metabolism completely die off on me, but I also developed lots of complications. I am now Anemic and struggling with everything. I am out of breathe, need more sleep than a healthy person would, have to watch what I eat, take pills. It's not worth those 15 lbs. you'll lose water fasting. You'll gain them all back. It's a horrible cycle.

Here's something I pulled from a website if you want info from another source but me.

During a fast, a person purposely abstains from food for a specific period of time. Fasting has been practiced throughout the ages for both religious and therapeutic purposes. A one-day fast is unlikely to cause any harm to a healthy body. Slightly longer fasts (two to three days) are also well-tolerated by most healthy people.

No matter how short the duration, fasting is unwise and potentially dangerous for some people, including pregnant and lactating women, people with cancer, diabetes, gout, hypoglycemia, stomach ulcers, liver, kidney, or lung disease, or anyone with a compromised immune system. Some health experts caution against fasts lasting more than two to three days, even for healthy individuals—if longer fasts are practiced, they should be medically supervised.

During the first 24 hours of a fast, the body is able to utilize its stored carbohydrates—in the form of glycogen—to fuel essential body processes. When glycogen reserves are depleted, fat becomes the preferred energy source, so that protein (e.g., as found in muscle tissue) is partially spared.

However, some muscle tissue is often lost, even during short fasts. Weakness, nausea, headaches, and depression can also develop during a fast, because ammonia and nitrogen are released into the blood during the breakdown of muscle tissue. Ketones, byproducts of fat metabolism, are produced once the body switches from burning carbohydrates to burning fat. Elimination of ketones is accomplished by the kidneys. In extreme cases, extended fasts can lead to disturbances of heart rhythm and death.

“Modified” fasts, in which fruit or vegetable juices and herbal teas are consumed, are probably easier on the body than all-water fasts. Even so, a modified fast should be limited in duration; modified fasts lasting more than a week should be supervised by a healthcare professional.

Why do people follow this diet?
Proponents claim that environmental toxins build up in our bodies over time and need to be removed periodically through fasting to maintain optimum health. Cleansing fasts are an important part of a detoxification program and may be part of a weight-loss program.

What do the advocates say?
Advocates believe that fasting periodically gives the body a break from digestion and allows it to eliminate the toxins that cause disease, while promoting healing and reversing the aging process. Studies indicate that fasting helps health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headache, and skin diseases. Acute illnesses such as colds and flu, colon disorders, allergies, obesity, and respiratory diseases may also respond to fasting. Proponents claim a one-day fast creates a clearer mental state and increased energy. They believe a three-day fast rids the body of toxins and purifies the blood, and that a long-term fast promotes healing, alleviates food allergies, sheds pounds, and rebuilds the immune system.

What do the critics say?
Critics believe that fasting depletes the body of important nutrients, essential minerals and energy, may be unsafe, and is an ineffective weight loss aid. The few pounds that are lost in the beginning of a fast are from water, and this weight will return as soon as the fast is over. Few scientific studies have been done to back up health claims and demonstrate that fasting works by releasing toxins stored in fat.

Are there any groups or books associated with this diet?
International Association of Professional Hygienists
4620 Euclid Boulevard
Youngstown, OH 44512
(A professional organization of doctors who specialize in therapeutic fasting. Write to them for a list of certified members.)

Fasting and Eating for Health: A Medical Doctor’s Program for Conquering Disease, by Joel Fuhrman, MD, New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1998.

Source(s):

MotherNature.com and my own trial and error.

I say, instead of fasting like an idiot and getting sick-- go raw. Eat raw fruit and veggies for 30 days for a master cleanse. That's the best way to go about cleansing.

Answer 5

Go on a diet for a few days of plenty of fruits...double or triple the normal amount you eat.

Answer 6

Preset the timer on the TV to turn off after an hour or so to remind you to make a move more active.

Answer 7

2 weeks of fasting is good for cleanse your body.
Do it Quartly .

Answer 8

Put most-used items on leading or bottom shelves so you will need to reach for them.

Answer 9

Ask for the paper to be left towards the end of your driveway instead of because of your front door.

Answer 10

Give your dog a bath as opposed to paying someone else to do it.