Study identifies multi-organ response to seven days without food
www.sciencedaily.com
New findings reveal that the body undergoes significant, systematic changes across multiple organs during prolonged periods of fasting. The results demonstrate evidence of health benefits beyond weight loss, but also show that any potentially health-altering changes appear to occur only after three days without food.

Fasting for a week:

  • Causes significant changes in protein levels across various organs.
  • May have health benefits beyond weight loss, but only after 3 days.
  • Switches energy source from glucose to fat after 2-3 days.
  • Average weight loss of 5.7 kg (fat and muscle), with most fat loss sustained after 3 days of eating.

Implications:

  • Provides insights into the molecular basis of fasting’s health effects.
  • Paves the way for developing alternative treatments based on fasting benefits.
  • Confirms historical use of fasting for specific health conditions.
  • Tangent5280@lemmy.world
    192·
    8 months ago

    I can’t imagine not eating for three whole days. I’d be a groveling mess switching between begging for food and raging at every little thing. How do people do this comfortably? Atleast without breaking the china?

    Is there a way to train yourself vis a vis slowly building tolerance or something?

    • Socsa@sh.itjust.works
      13·
      8 months ago

      Hunger is entirely a hormonal thing. It’s basically a form of anxiety your body induces to make you want to eat. After about 18 hours without food your body switches itself into different hormone state where you just don’t experience hunger the same way.

    • BrightCandle@lemmy.world
      142·
      8 months ago

      I have done it quite a few times its actually not that bad. The first 24 hours is usually the worst and then the hunger goes away most of the time. You get reminders that you are hungry but it doesn’t last. Its no where near as bad as people think it is from the first hunger pangs you just have to get over that initial hump.

      • Socsa@sh.itjust.works
        111·
        8 months ago

        The biggest secret to losing weight is literally to just be hungry. Once you feel hunger, that’s your body telling you that you are running a calorie deficit.

        • constantokra@lemmy.one
          4·
          8 months ago

          I wish I had started fasting sooner. When you got for a few days without food it really puts that grouchy kind of afternoon hunger into perspective. I used to feel anxious about where and when I was going to eat, whether or not I was hungry. Now that i’m comfortable with going without food for days i’m just totally unconcerned about it.

        • SendMePhotos@lemmy.world
          3·
          8 months ago

          Yeah… At one point I forgot what that feeling was. Was just a weird feeling, “what this?.. Oh wait… Dude this is ‘hunger’ wtf?!”

          Needless to say, I’m overweight again.

    • Buglefingers@lemmy.world
      61·
      8 months ago

      You could do what I just did and get a horrible stomach bug that leaves you in bed for four days dreading the thought of food and barely able to suck down half a glass of water! -5/10 would recommend active effort to avoid.

      RIP myself, silver lining though lmao

      Edit: I did lose ~10lbs though likely a fair amount is water weight

    • constantokra@lemmy.one
      31·
      8 months ago

      It really isn’t a big deal. You do think of food, but after the second day it’s not like you’re hungry. If you start by intermittent fasting, eating one meal a day, or reducing carbs it makes it a bit easier. Honestly, I find scheduling fasts around family gatherings, etc. much more difficult than being hungry.