How long can you survive without eating?

Question

Can you survive on just water and vitamin supplements?

I've lasted 2weeks - and I know its the wrong way to do it but I need to lose weight. I've lost over a stone and although I feel really tired - just wondering if they're are any really bad effects?

Answer 1

Several weeks...

Answer 2

I think the time depends on how healthy the perosn was beofre htey stopped eating, so its different for everyone.
YOu probably wouldn't survive very long on vitamin supplement and water. YOur body needs proteins, fibers, sugars. Water is a necessity, you wouldn't last three days w/o it. You need to have protein, sugars to give you energy. They are the carbs. FIbers will help move you along. Vitamins supplements are things you may lack in your diet, like calcium, potassium, basically metals. What metals do in your system is keep specific parts (like nervous system, i think) of you funtioning and you only need very little. If oyu have too much, your body just excretes it.

Answer 3

To answer the first question, the resources I looked up say approximately 60 days.

"In humans, prolonged starvation (in excess of 1-2 months) causes permanent organ damage and will eventually result in death."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starvation

"Sixty days, give or take, is the rule of thumb, though results vary depending on the faster's body fat..."
http://www.slate.com/id/2102228/

As to the second question, I have debated it myself (I find eating to be a chore rather than a pleasure). I do not think you can survive solely on water and vitamins for several reasons other people have listed, such as requiring protein, among other things. Your body does not build itself soley from vitamins, and as a consequence, you would still waste away.

However, a very involved supplement plan could potentially work if you took more than just vitamins. Including protein bars, fiber supplements, and the like. There are supplements you can take to provide you with healthy fats as well. I think it is theoretically possible, but it would take a lot more than just vitamins to pull off.

Answer 4

I depends on your body type, the conditions your in.... maybe not too long But I think you would be able to survive somehow on a diet like that. You may get under weight but you can survive . Without water you might as well be dead.

Answer 5

You can last a long time without food as long as you drink water.
But when you start eating again - and you have to or die, you will gain weight again immediately.
Go see a doctor and get a proper diet.

Answer 6

I think it's three weeks. This fact I'm comparing with a cat, as they can survive for that length of time.

Answer 7

emsy i know what u mean i did it as well for a month and then ended up in hospital so be careful and the truth is i went on a diet stright after and i put on more weight becasue i had starved my body of everything it needed it saw food and stored it so the best if not the longer way is sadly 3 meals a day

Answer 8

Some say 2 weeks w/o eating.

Answer 9

You can survive for quite a while if you're not underweight to begin with but you'd feel very ill and look terrible.

Answer 10

No you can't! You need protein and carbs and fat (yes, fat) to survive. Why would you want to live on just water and vitamin supplements????? Do you have an eating disorder?

Answer 11

ok your probably going to gain a sh*tload of weight because this has reduced your metabolism seek proffessional help to prevent this you need to eat the right foods at the right times a starvation diet is not an effective long term solution and vitamins may help but what you need is food that isnt fattening and exercise