Losing weight through fasting: A weight loss myth or truth?

Once considered as a religious practice, fasting has now become a way to lose weight. Of course, when you eat less, you ought to notice a tremendous decline in the weighing scale, but that's just for a short duration. As once you come back to your normal eating regime, again your intake of calories, fat and carbs get back to normal. So, the question is, "Is fasting a healthy way to lose weight?"
Why do people usually fast?

There could be a variety of reasons for fasting, which include:

The main reason for fasting is a religious or spiritual obligation. People fast to strengthen their faith in spirituality.

Another reason for fasting is to detoxify your body. Usually, when people fast, they prefer eating fruits and juices. It helps to eliminate toxins from the body and cleanses the body.

There could be a medical reason for fasting. To obtain accurate lab results or for certain surgical procedures, it is advised to abstain from food and caffeine.

Nowadays, even to lose weight, people prefer fasting. They find it the easiest and a quick way to shed extra kilos.

How healthy is to lose weight through fasting?

According to health experts, taking drastic measures to lose weight is absolutely not a healthy way to lose weight. You may get rid of extra kilos, but it affects your body drastically. They also suggest that fasting for any period reduces your metabolism. When you come back to your normal routine of eating food, your body attempts to store every calorie you consume, which may also result in gaining weight.

Read here : Here's why running can make you lose 5 kgs in a month!

What can be done?

A short fast which lasts for one to three days does help you in getting rid of eating processed and unhealthy food. Once you come back to your daily eating regime, choosing healthy foods instead of junk and processed ones may help you to maintain healthy weight. The following tips would help you in making fasting a healthy and safe process:

Rigorously exercising? Fasting absorbs your energy and when you exercise along with it, follow light exercises, like walking. If you rigorously exercise along with fasting, you may end up hurting your health and may land an injury.

Eat healthy and stay hydrated: Eat fresh fruits and juices and properly hydrate yourself. Do not stay dehydrated as it may lead to various health issues.

Expect less: You may lose weight but you're likely to gain weight again when you start eating food. There are possibilities that after fasting, you may crave for food and end up binging.

Side effects

Despite feeling hungry, you may feel dizzy and nauseous as your sugar and salt intake lessens. It may also lead to headaches. So, instead of shocking your body all of a sudden, go slow and reduce weight in a healthy way. Eat healthy and exercise regularly. This may take time but the results will be lasting.

Who should avoid fasting?

Pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, elderly and people who have physical illnesses should avoid fasting. For others, if you want to fast, fast for one or two days in a month, that too to cleanse your body. Fasting should not be your way to lose weight.