Having a beautiful and healthy body is what everyone desires. Fasting for a week and only drinking water is a weight loss method that many people are researching and want to apply. So is this body training method effective? Are there any risks when only drinking water without eating anything?
Learn about the 1-week water fasting method
Water fasting is a weight loss method in which you cannot eat or drink anything other than water. Each session of this method lasts from 24 hours to 72 hours.
Some of the reasons why many people apply this “body shaping” method include:
- According to religious beliefs;
- Want to lose weight;
- Detoxify the body;
- Has many health benefits;
- As directed by your doctor before performing certain medical procedures.
Benefits of fasting for 1 week and only drinking water to lose weight
- Promotes Cell Breakdown and Recycling (Autophagy): Autophagy is the process by which old cells in the body are broken down and recycled. Some animal studies have shown that autophagy helps protect against diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease.
- Lowering Blood Pressure: Patients with high blood pressure who follow this method with the guidance and supervision of a nutritionist will help lower their blood pressure.
- Helps improve insulin and leptin sensitivity: Insulin and leptin are important hormones that affect the body’s metabolism. Fasting can make your body more sensitive to leptin and insulin. Increased sensitivity makes these hormones work more efficiently.
- Reduces the risk of chronic diseases: Some studies have shown that fasting for a week and drinking only water can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Is it risky to fast for a week and only drink water to lose weight?
Besides the above benefits, drinking only water without eating can cause unwanted consequences for human health such as:
- Unhealthy weight loss: Fasting and drinking only water can help you lose up to 2 pounds per day in just 24 to 72 hours. However, this weight loss comes from water, carbs, and even muscle, not fat.
- Dehydration: It may sound unbelievable, but fasting and only drinking water can make you dehydratedThis is because about 20-30% of the body’s daily water intake comes from food. If you only drink water without eating, your body will not get enough water. Symptoms of dehydration include: Dizziness, nausea, low blood pressure, headache, constipation.
- Hypoglycemia: Many people who use this weight loss method experience low blood pressure when standing for a long time. They may feel dizzy, lightheaded, or even faint.
- Makes some diseases worse: Although the time of fasting and drinking only water is not long, it can make some diseases worse such as: Gout, diabetes, eating disorders…
Fasting for a week and only drinking water is not a new weight loss method for overweight and obese people. However, most of the health benefits discovered in animal studies with this diet may not have the same effect on the human body. This method can even bring many potential risks. Therefore, you should consult a nutritionist and consider carefully before losing weight this way.
