People fast for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the fasting is for a religious occasion, showing your devotion as a means of sacrifice. Or otherwise, some people believe that fasting will help detox their body and will help in managing calories, in turn leading to weight loss. In India, people have strong and rigid religious beliefs and usually fast to show their devotion to their deity. Mahashivratri which falls on February 13, is one auspicious event where many Hindu devotees fast for an entire day. On this day, people abstain from consuming food and water or limit to certain food items.

Either way, it has been a debateable topic whether fasting has ill effects on one’s body or not. It is important for people to know whether fasting is doing more harm than good. Although fasting has its own benefits, there are many disadvantages associated with it, and affects one’s physical health drastically.

Short-term effects: People who are fasting may experience symptoms like headaches, dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue and irritation. It can also lead to difficulty in conducting day to day tasks. Fasting may also lead to bloating or acidity. And if you are on medications, it may impair the body’s ability to absorb certain medications.

Dry fasting: In this method, people avoid all liquid and food intake. This is particularly dangerous. It can quickly lead to dehydration. And environmental factors such as heat and exertion can make dry fasting lethal in just a matter of hours.

Weight loss: According to various studies, after a period of fasting, people tend to crave for starchier foods which have higher calorie count. Extreme hunger can cause you to pick foods that are high in carbs in one sitting after a long day of abstaining from them. This will lead to reverse effects on weight management. Fasting does not lead to lasting weight loss.

If observing fast, one should be vigilant enough to not starve themselves

Only fruits: One method of fasting is dependent on only eating fruits. Fruits help in cleansing your body and improves digestion when eaten on an empty stomach. You can either opt for one fruit or have a variety of fruits. But there are certain combinations of fruits that don’t work well. It is recommended that you eat melons alone and not combine with any other fruit as it does not combine well intestinally. While bananas can be eaten along with other fruits, they are starchy and do not help in cleansing. Other fruits like grapes, apples and citrus fruits can be consumed together.

Only liquids: Water is essential for all fasts including juice fasting. A study recommends increasing the amount of water intake while fasting. Freshly made juices, teas and coffees are allowed when you’re on a liquid fast. Although caffeine-free choices such as decaffeinated teas and herbal teas are preferred.

If you are fasting and have medical complications, consult with your healthcare provider before you begin fasting. If one is not used to fasting, one needs to take necessary precautions. Even a day’s fast can lead to severe health complications. Weighing the pros and cons of fasting will help you get a better overview before you begin with it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 12, 2018 01:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).