There are a few reasons why people water fast and they are:
- Religious or spiritual reasons
- To lose weight
- For detoxing the body
- For its health benefits
- Preparing for a medical procedure
Medical professionals have linked water fasting to some quality health benefits. This includes a lower risk of cancers, heart disease and diabetes. Fasting also fuels autophagy, a process where your body breaks down and recycles old cells that are dangerous or potentially dangerous the body.
However, water fasting has many risks and can be very dangerous if carried on for too long. There are no specific set of scientific guidelines on how to begin fasting but there are several groups of people who should not water fast without medical supervision. E.g people with diabetes (both types 1 and 2), kidney disease, anorexia, older citizens, pregnant women and children.
A post-fast phase is usually followed by the fasting period. If it’s your first time water fasting water fasting, you might want to spend three to four days getting your body ready to be without food by reducing your portion sizes.
READ ALSO: How Protein Foods Help With Weight Loss
Here are a few health benefits:
- It promotes autophagy
- It may lower blood pressure
- It may lower the risks of several chronic illnesses
- It lowers the risk of obesity
- It helps the body process sugar faster.
However, there are some health dangers and they are:
- It promotes dehydration
- You may experience Orthostatic Hypotension
- You may also lose the wrong type of weight
- Water Fasting May Worsen Several Medical Conditions e.g Heartburns, Diabetes
- It may make you prone to muscle loss
