Thoughts On Fasting?

DesOdhi

Just wondering everyone’s thoughts on weekly fasting. For example, eating properly and normally for 6 days a week. Then, on the 7th, just drinking water to rest your digestive system. A lot of people in my health class were talking about it. No one seems to know if it’s good for your body or not. I would prefer genuine and honest opinions, as well as FACTUAL answers. However, genuine and honest does not mean rude or disrespectful. Thanks in advance.

L1zardQueen

If you want to do this, I don't see why not. But your digestive system does not need a rest, that is hokum.

DesOdhi

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

If you want to do this, I don't see why not. But your digestive system does not need a rest, that is hokum.

Ok, thank you. Not really looking to do it. Just being inquisitive at the moment.

kommodevaran

Healthy adults can fast for a day without any ill effect, physically. But most people in our part of the world get hangry when they have to wait for dinner. Imagine handling a whole day! Your heart and your lungs don't need breaks. Your digestive system doesn't need a rest, either. If you can eat properly and normally for 6 days a week while fasting for one day per week, great. More likely you'll end up bingeing on day seven. But if you can eat properly and normally for 6 days a week, you probably don't need to fast for a day.

L1zardQueen

I knew someone who put their dogs on this type of fast. He said he did it for their longevity. UGH

RAinWA

If fasting one day a week works for someone to control their calories I don't think there's anything dangerous about it. I don't know of any benefit to resting your digestive system, I don't think that's really a thing.

malcolmrmcintyre

I developed significant gastritis on a two day a week fast regimen. Cured by same calories split evenly across the week

toxikon

There are a few scientific studies on the benefits of fasting, although there aren't a whole lot. Most seem to agree that longer fasts are the ones that have the most potential for benefits like autophagy.

Here's an interesting article: https://news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/

TavistockToad

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

I knew someone who put their dogs on this type of fast. He said he did it for their longevity. UGH

Poor dogs

kimny72

Destinyy wrote: »

Just wondering everyone’s thoughts on weekly fasting. For example, eating properly and normally for 6 days a week. Then, on the 7th, just drinking water to rest your digestive system. A lot of people in my health class were talking about it. No one seems to know if it’s good for your body or not. I would prefer genuine and honest opinions, as well as FACTUAL answers. However, genuine and honest does not mean rude or disrespectful. Thanks in advance.

There's certainly no harm in fasting one day a week, plenty of folks fast for religious reasons and have for probably forever.

But why would your digestive system need a break? Does your respiratory system or your circulatory system need a break? Should we not walk for 24 hrs every week to give our legs a break? Not being rude, I've just never understood where the idea that this one particular part of your body needs a 24 hr break comes from!

fitoverfortymom

I can go about 4 hours without eating during my awake hours. It sure doesn't seem very "fast" to me.

Rogstar

My mother has a 36-40 hour fast every Friday and has done it for years. Not for digestive rest, but she uses it for personal religious reasons. She feels it helps get herself into a good mood and that it helps her focus her praying. Last time I tried it on purpose all I could think about was how my stomach wouldn't shut up. My prayers now include thanks that I am able to eat what I need to function at my job every day!

I don't believe it has any benefit or detriment to the digestive system itself, but I haven't read into any specific studies. In terms of weight loss, I assume it would work similarly to 5:2 or another intermittent fasting protocol. It's merely a way to reduce overall calorie intake.

whosshe

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

I knew someone who put their dogs on this type of fast. He said he did it for their longevity. UGH

That is so sad! Poor dogs waiting for supper for it to never come

DesOdhi

@kimny72 Okay, maybe I’m a bit mistaken but I had assumed I made it pretty clear that I didn’t know much about the topic, which is why I am asking the question. So, if you would like to ask questions, this is not the thread to do so. Not being rude, of course, just not sure how your response has benefitted this thread in any way.

BruceHedtke

As long as you can control yourself on the days you are not fasting, then it can work very well in terms of building a calorie deficit. Just don't give your digestive system too much time off or it'll become lazy and sleep all day

DesOdhi

Rogstar wrote: »

My mother has a 36-40 hour fast every Friday and has done it for years. Not for digestive rest, but she uses it for personal religious reasons. She feels it helps get herself into a good mood and that it helps her focus her praying. Last time I tried it on purpose all I could think about was how my stomach wouldn't shut up. My prayers now include thanks that I am able to eat what I need to function at my job every day!

I don't believe it has any benefit or detriment to the digestive system itself, but I haven't read into any specific studies. In terms of weight loss, I assume it would work similarly to 5:2 or another intermittent fasting protocol. It's merely a way to reduce overall calorie intake.

Yes, I agree. I’ve only really ever heard of people using it for religious reasons. I just wondered if anyone had any actual health benefits of doing it. Thank you for your response.

DesOdhi

fitoverfortymom wrote: »

I can go about 4 hours without eating during my awake hours. It sure doesn't seem very "fast" to me.

Haha, EXACTLY! I don’t see how people do it.

DesOdhi

Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »

I knew someone who put their dogs on this type of fast. He said he did it for their longevity. UGH

That’s ridiculous. I hope someone informed them that dogs eat when they’re hungry in the wild. They don’t “fast for longevity.”

DesOdhi

BruceHedtke wrote: »

As long as you can control yourself on the days you are not fasting, then it can work very well in terms of building a calorie deficit. Just don't give your digestive system too much time off or it'll become lazy and sleep all day

So, what I’ve pretty much gathered today, there’s no actual internal benefits to fasting. It’s either a religious or weight loss based. Thank you! I was really wondering.

MonaRaeHill

Sorry to be the one to rock the boat, but there IS benefit to fasting. Even IF will help to reset your metabolism to a leaner, meaner, more efficient machine. Have you seen the long-term Rhesus Monkey Research on minimal calorie deficiets? I know we're not monkeys, but it's worth pondering...........
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms14063

lois1231

i was listening to one guy and he said fasting is one way to use glycogen so the body starts using fat. He is a weight trainer on you tube. His name is gravity training zone. He intermittently fasts.