I’M STARVING!

There are a number of myths that exist in the domain of health and fitness, one of the most common is that fasting or starving yourself will somehow speed your weight-loss and boost your health.

The facts however are completely different.

It has is a long held fallacy that fasting has a number of benefits associated with it. From somewhat cleansing the gastrointestinal tract to ridding the body of “toxins” to jumpstarting weight-loss. The fact of the matter is none of these notions are scientifically supported – quite the opposite in some cases.

When you’re not fasting the body’s primary fuel source comes from glucose and fat (in the blood) from the foods we eat. The brain and nervous systems can only use blood glucose as an energy source to function correctly.

Within hours of starting a fast blood glucose levels plummet and the glycogen stores (stored glucose) are quickly exhausted. Once glucose stores are depleted the body’s metabolism changes and starts to turn to protein (from muscle mass in part) to make more glucose to maintain brain and neural function. This is known as “ketosis” and results in breakdown of both lean muscle tissue and fat tissue producing “ketones”. This is not a healthy state for the body to be in.

In the short term you may lose some “weight” but this is largely due to water loss. For every gram of glycogen your body stores it stores 3 grams of water. Deplete the water and you’ll lose the body’s metabolic water resulting in dehydration, muscle wasting, and resultant symptoms such as lethargy,  fatigue and dizziness.

People who put themselves on nonsensical weight-loss programs which restrict energy intake drastically or with-holds carbohydrates leads to a chronic breakdown of muscle mass which actually slows the metabolism making it harder to lose body fat when the dieter returns to normal eating habits.

Fasting or cutting the carbs isn’t the answer to better health. There’s no substitute for sound nutritional practices. Everyone needs proper nutrition, including a wide range of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, healthy fats, and lean meats, fish, beans, and other lean protein sources. Only then, can the body function effectively and efficiently.

Short term cures to long term problems don’t work. A healthy diet results in improved energy and overall health.

Look at changing your eating and exercise habits rather than starving yourself!