Long-term fasting can be safe and healthy under the supervision of a trained physician. Different types of fasting exist, and the duration of a long-term fast varies. Consult a doctor if fasting lasts more than three days, and break the fast if signs of starvation appear. Fasting may help with certain ailments but is not recommended for children, pregnant women, or those with certain diseases.
Long-term fasting can be safe, even healthy, if supervised by a trained physician. There are several types of fasting to prevent and treat diseases. Many doctors recommend fasting as a method of ridding the body of toxins. Although some critics claim that the body cannot tell the difference between starvation and fasting, other doctors insist that fasting and starvation are two separate processes.
There is some debate about how many days a fast should last to be considered a long-term fast. Some people believe that anything for three days is long-term, while others think that a long-term fast will extend beyond 30 days. Many factors influence how quickly a fast will affect the body, such as body weight and metabolism. The line that separates a short-term fast from a long-term fast can be different for each individual.
Experts recommend consulting a doctor if a fast will last more than three days. If a person intends to fast for more than three days, most doctors will recommend regular checkups to make sure the patient’s electrolyte and potassium levels are not falling. The physician will help his patient decide how closely the fast should be monitored.
A doctor may ask his patient to break a long-term fast if signs of starvation begin to appear. Although fasting can sometimes last several months, it is not considered safe for the body to go into starvation mode. A healthy body can generally last at least 40 days without experiencing signs of starvation, even with low body fat. Signs of starvation include vomiting, anxiety, heartburn, shortness of breath, or a weak pulse.
There are several different types of fasting available. The most extreme is called a dry fast, which allows no food or water. A dry fast is generally not recommended for long-term fasting, although it can be incorporated into a few days. Fasting on water alone is another option. During this fast, no calories are ingested, but water is still consumed regularly.
Juice fasting is also a common practice. People can still maintain a minimal calorie intake without eating any food. The easiest fast focuses on a single type of food, such as raw foods only. A raw food fast might provide a normal calorie intake, but its participants will still go through a detoxification period.
Doctors generally do not recommend long-term fasting for children or pregnant women, because daily nutrients are needed for growing bodies. Fasting may also be discouraged for people suffering from certain diseases, such as cancer, AIDS or tuberculosis. Fasting might actually help with other ailments like fatigue, arthritis, diabetes, insomnia, or the flu. Fasting is also done in some religious practices.
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