05:30 PM
Wednesday 26 January 2022
I wrote – Shaima Morsi
The artist, Mohamed Mamdouh, revealed that he followed a diet that helped him lose 16 kilograms of weight in just 18 days, which is water fasting.
In this report, “Masrawy” will reveal to you all the details of the water diet, as stated on the “healthline” website.
What is water fasting?
Water fasting is a type of fasting in which you cannot eat anything but water. Most water fasting periods last from 24 to 72 hours. Here are some reasons why people try water fasting:
Weight Loss.
detoxification.
Health improvement.
Several studies have linked water fasting to some health benefits, including a reduced risk of some types of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
Water fasting also promotes autophagy, a process in which your body breaks down and recycles old, potentially dangerous parts of cells. As you thaw it, it comes with many health risks and isn’t suitable for everyone.
People prohibited from fasting water?
People with gout, diabetes (both types 1 and 2), eating disorders, the elderly, pregnant women, and children.
How to follow a water diet?
If you’ve never had a water fast before, it’s a good idea to spend 3 to 4 days preparing your body for being without food, and you can do this by eating smaller portions at each meal or by fasting for part of the day.
Water fasting (24-72 hours):
During a water fast, you are not allowed to eat or drink anything but water, and most people drink two to three liters of water per day.
Water fasting lasts for 24-72 hours and you should not fast for longer than that without medical supervision due to health risks, and some people feel weak or dizzy.
After fasting (1-3 days):
After a water fast, you must resist the urge to overeat, because eating a large meal causes uncomfortable symptoms, and instead have juice or small meals and you can start serving larger meals throughout the day as you feel more comfortable.
The post-fasting phase is especially important because you are at risk of refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition where the body undergoes rapid changes in fluid levels.
Health benefits of water fasting:
1. Promotes autophagy:
Autophagy is a process in which old parts of your cells are broken down and recycled, and many studies suggest that autophagy helps protect against diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.
For example, autophagy prevents the buildup of damaged parts of your cells, which is a risk factor for many types of cancer and this helps prevent cancer cells from growing.
2. Helps lower blood pressure:
Research shows that medically supervised water fasting helps people with high blood pressure lower blood pressure.
3. Improves sensitivity to insulin and leptin:
Insulin and leptin are important hormones that affect the body’s metabolism, and insulin helps the body store nutrients from the bloodstream, while leptin helps the body feel full.
Research shows that water fasting makes your body more sensitive to leptin and insulin, and increased sensitivity makes these hormones more effective.
For example, being more sensitive to insulin means your body is more efficient at lowering blood sugar levels and at the same time being more sensitive to leptin helps your body process hunger signals more efficiently, thus reducing your risk of obesity.
4. Reduces the risk of many chronic diseases:
There is some evidence that water fasting reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
Dangers and risks of water fasting:
1. Losing the Wrong Kind of Weight:
Because water fasting restricts calories, you will lose a lot of weight quickly, and unfortunately a lot of the weight you lose comes from water, carbs, and even muscle mass.
2. Dehydration:
Water fasting makes you dehydrated because roughly 20-30% of your daily water intake comes from the foods you eat, and if you drink the same amount of water but don’t eat foods, you may not be getting enough water.
Symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, nausea, headache, constipation, low blood pressure and decreased productivity.
3. Orthostatic hypotension:
Orthostatic hypotension is common, defined as a drop in blood pressure that occurs when you stand up suddenly and can leave you feeling dizzy and at risk of fainting.
And if you have orthostatic hypotension while fasting, you may need to avoid driving because dizziness and a risk of fainting could lead to an accident.
4. Exacerbation of many medical conditions:
There are some conditions that are exacerbated by water fasting, so people with the following medical conditions should not fast without first consulting a doctor:
Gout: Water fasting increases production of uric acid, which is a risk factor for gout attacks.
Eating disorders: There is some evidence that fasting encourages eating disorders such as bulimia, especially in adolescents.
Will water fasting help you lose weight?
Like other types of fasting, it can help you lose weight, but it can cause many health risks.