Advantages and disadvantages of dry fasting. Consequences and reviews of this method for losing weight

Dry fasting is a therapeutic method of fasting without food or liquids. This procedure lasts from one to seven days maximum. This method is used either for dietary purposes to lose excess weight, or for medicinal purposes to combat certain chronic diseases. Dry fasting is more like traditional or alternative medicine, because most doctors and physicians deny the benefits of this procedure and constantly criticize it.

Dry fasting for weight loss is usually used if diet, exercise and weight loss products no longer help. When using this method, the body ceases to receive the required amount of nutrients and useful resources. Therefore, the body begins to feed on its own internal components.

Dry fasting

People who use dry fasting note the following improvements:

rapid burning of fat cells;
destruction of unusable and old cells;
reducing excess fluids accumulating in body tissues.

However, it is worth noting that dry fasting primarily causes the breakdown of muscle fibers.

There are two main directions of dry fasting:

classical or complete fasting - it is forbidden not only to eat food, but also to wash, take a shower, brush your teeth, and so on. That is, you should abandon all water procedures and contact with water;
partial fasting - you cannot take food or water, but it is not at all necessary to deny yourself showering or washing your hair.

Pros and cons of fasting for weight loss

Hunger plays an important role in losing weight, but sometimes this process, with malnutrition, can contribute to the appearance of general malaise and discomfort. But this is just a protective reaction of the body to hunger, and it quickly passes if the technique used is followed correctly. When considering all the rules and methods of fasting, it is necessary to take into account all the pros and cons of this type of weight loss. Let's look at the benefits of fasting for weight loss:

in the first days of using this method you can lose up to three kilograms;
the body is cleansed of various toxic components and toxins, because it is not in vain that in ancient times fasting was used for health purposes;
the whole body becomes healthier, the functioning of all organs improves and the absorption of proteins, fats and carbohydrates increases;
after some time, there will be a noticeable strengthening of the nail and hair covering, you will see that the hair will take on a healthier appearance;
By using the fasting method, after a while, you will feel a general lightness in the body, which appears due to the removal of harmful substances from the body.

The positive effect of the fasting method in comparison with other methods lies not simply in the process of getting rid of excess weight, but in eliminating the causes of the problem. Thanks to this method, you can achieve good results that will last for a long time.

Benefits and harms

Weight loss

The technique of losing weight through fasting has the following positive properties on the body:

restoration of proper metabolism;
recycling of old and diseased areas of tissue and cells;
splitting and burning fat deposits;
weight loss and its further maintenance;
destruction of cells of pathological formations in the form of a tumor;
regeneration and cleansing of skin from rashes;
cleansing the body of waste and toxins;
cleansing the blood of harmful substances;

Also, supporters of this diet note that regular dry fasting helps the body to form a stable sense of proportion in the consumption of food and liquids. This allows you to wean your body from the craving for excess overeating and promotes active loss of extra pounds. However, along with improving the general condition of the body, fasting also has negative effects:

decreased activity and performance;
headache;
loss of concentration;
the blood thickens, which can lead to blood clots;
dehydration.

Headache

The technique also causes vitamin deficiency, because the body stops receiving minerals and vitamins necessary for proper functioning. A sharp transition from a nutritious diet to a dry diet can cause the appearance of various neurological diseases and disorders.

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Types of fasting and timing for weight loss

The fasting process can be carried out in different ways, which differ in both method and time of application.

Partial. This is the most gentle method. With this method of fasting, a number of certain foods are excluded from the diet. The procedure is also called qualitative malnutrition.
Dry fasting for weight loss . This is a tough but effective method (details). During the period of using this method, you should not eat or even drink water at all. But this method is used for three days and during this time the body undergoes a complete cleansing, while losing extra pounds.
Complete on the water. This is the most commonly used type of fasting, in which food consumption is excluded, and water is consumed in varying quantities. Details and how to choose the right one.
Combined. This fasting is more beneficial; the course includes both options of complete fasting. You are kept without food and liquid for two or three days, and after this period you are allowed to take water in the amount of 100 mg per 10 kg of total body weight.

What do doctors and scientists think about the technique?

Cascade fasting has both ardent supporters and fierce opponents.
Here's what different doctors and scientists think about the technique. Varlamov D.A., neurologist

He believes that the results of cascade fasting are the normalization of metabolism, changes in biochemical processes and the removal of decay products from the body. The technique is especially useful for people with hypertension, metabolic syndrome and obesity. Varlamov D.A. recommends that before starting a new regime, you should prepare yourself psychologically, consult a doctor, and eat only boiled plant foods for 3 days.

Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health (USA, 2017)

Harvard researchers have found that fasting leads to saturation of cell mitochondria with AMP-activated protein kinase. This substance improves cellular metabolism, that is, slows down the aging process.

Filonov S.I., doctor, professor of alternative medicine

It says that cascade dry fasting has anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating and antitumor properties. Refers to the methodological recommendations of the Leningrad Research Institute of Pulmonology on the use of the technique for medicinal purposes.

Interesting fact! According to S.I. Filonov, the dry regime has advantages over the usual one, since pathogenic microorganisms are able to multiply only in an aquatic environment, provoking inflammation. Due to lack of fluid they die.

R.S. Minvaleev, physiologist

Calls the practice of therapeutic fasting “health-improving cretinism.” He says that due to a lack of glucose, the body begins to synthesize the last of the proteins (rather than break down fats). Therefore, rapid weight loss occurs due to loss of muscle mass. As a result, the condition of the skin worsens and stretch marks appear.

R.I. Vorobyov, nutritionist

Declares fasting as extreme. He warns that in the presence of certain diseases, the technique can be fatal.

According to R.I. Vorobyov, with prolonged fasting, the risk of the following pathologies increases:

decreased activity of digestive enzymes;
atrophy of the small intestinal mucosa;
diabetic ketoacidosis.

A number of doctors and nutritionists believe that cascading starvation leads to a deficiency of vitamins and microelements, especially iron. The results are anemia, hair loss, brittle nails, and weakness.

How to fast

Having firmly made the decision to start fasting with one of the selected types, we will begin to consider them in detail.

Partial fasting

This method can also be called a diet; it involves reducing your diet by 200-300 kcal every day. The so-called juice fast is widely used, which helps to better cleanse the body of toxins. Natural juices are suitable and when consumed, they must be alternated between days, vegetable and fruit.

This method of fasting is called gentle; when used, vitamins are supplied to the body. For better cleansing and weight loss, you need to endure three days; to begin with, you can start with one day.

Full on the water

With this method, you will have to completely give up food, but you can drink water in any quantity; boiled or purified water is better for these purposes. In three days of such fasting, from four to 5 kg are lost. weight. You can last longer without food, but for those who have decided to fast for the first time, just one day is enough to start with.

Complete dry

Dry fasting for weight loss is designed with complete abstinence from all food and water; it is recommended to use it in hospital clinics under the supervision of doctors. If you follow all the rules correctly, you can lose up to five kilograms in three days.

Dry fasting for weight loss is used for a limited time; without access to fluid, the body's cells will begin to die and the process can end in failure. Therefore, you can lose weight in this way from 1 to 3 days.

Combined fasting

Cyclic fasting for weight loss alternates between the above two types.
You should stick to it as follows: dry for two or three days, and then switch to water. The result of this weight loss will not be long in coming.

Is it good to fast once a week?

If there are no contraindications and a person follows all the rules, then doctors believe that one day of fasting a week is useful, because it will not lead to an acidotic crisis.
One caveat - many experts are wary of the dry type, considering it a strong stress for the body. Wet fasting days on the water are considered optimal and healthier.

In general, the procedure affects the body as follows:

speeds up metabolism;
strengthens the immune system;
eliminates skin rashes;
helps cleanse the intestines;
accelerates tissue regeneration;
makes the skin more elastic;
reduces the burden on digestion;
improves the functioning of the nervous system;
lowers cholesterol levels;
promotes weight loss.

The therapeutic effect of not eating was proven by Japanese biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi. He experimentally proved autophagy. This is the name given to the process of self-destruction of obsolete resources by cells when nutrients are not supplied to the body. Please note that if you refuse food for one day, the body will lose weight due to the removal of “garbage”.

Result of fasting

Now let’s look at what results can be achieved and in how many days using the fasting method:

after one day you can lose from 1 to 3 kg;
after five, seven days - seven, ten kilograms;
up to two weeks - from ten to twelve kg.;
all following days - up to 1 kg in three days.

But these figures may change due to the following circumstances.

Age. The younger the body, the faster the weight is lost due to better metabolism.
Build. On the first day of weight loss, obese people lose more weight compared to subsequent days.
Experience. Only people who start fasting lose weight faster than those who do it regularly.
Movement. When using the fasting method, the process of weight loss goes faster without active physical activity. When under stress, the body receives more oxygen, which feeds the cells and this negatively affects weight loss.
Health. In a problem body, the recovery procedure takes longer, which means weight loss is more noticeable.
Dry fasting. It is worth starting the process with the dry version, because in the initial days the body contains fluid accumulated before and it is sufficient at the initial stage. Purified water must be taken on the second and third days.

Basic rules for water fasting

Fasting is a process when the body is completely isolated from food. You are only allowed to drink water.

You should spend as much time as possible outdoors. Oxygen enrichment helps cells adapt to internal nutrition and supplies them with everything they need. Don’t forget about moderate physical activity, as this will help:

don't focus on feeling hungry
speed up the process of removing toxins and waste
help the body eliminate mucus

Drink plenty of water. You need to drink 1.5 - 2 liters. With a traditional diet, the body can get moisture from food, so there is less need for fluids. There is no such possibility during fasting.

Breaking out of fasting

The fasting procedure should also be completed gradually, without overeating or taking heavy or fatty foods. The desire to eat will prevail, which means you should limit yourself from excessive overeating.

You need to remove these foods from your diet:

butter and vegetable oil;
salt;
sugar and everything sweet;
flour and dairy products;
meat and fish.

You need to complete the fasting process in the same amount of time as the weight loss process lasted.

Preparation

You cannot suddenly refuse food. Before starting a hunger strike, there must be a preparatory stage. Instructions for entering dry daily fasting:

For 3 days, give up fatty meat, fast food, fish, snacks, and sweets. Eat cereals, vegetables, low-fat dairy products.
For 1 day, exclude milk, mushrooms, legumes, tea, coffee. The basis of the diet is fruits, vegetables, herbs, all fresh.
In the evening before starting a one-day fast, give an enema.

Reviews of people who have used fasting and opinions of experts

All people perceive the process of fasting differently; some, having decided to try it, stop this procedure by the end of the day. Weakness appears, the body’s condition deteriorates, and some simply cannot stand it. The main thing is to overcome the first symptoms, and then it will be easier.

Negative reviews mainly come from those people who could not stand it, so to speak, did not have enough willpower, or did not follow the rules and something went wrong. But most people who succeed in doing this repeat this process regularly after a certain time and feel great.

Here are some reviews that are most common:

Lena, 28 years old. I read somewhere about this method of fasting and decided to try it, but by lunchtime I felt unwell, dizzy, and irritable. After I ate, everything returned to normal and I didn’t even try to experiment anymore.

Yulia, 30 years old. As a child, I never noticed how my mother regularly drinks water one day a week, and at the age of 15 I started doing this. In the process of getting used to it, it was a bit difficult, but at the moment there are absolutely no problems, including with health and excess weight.

Andrey, 38 years old. I also tried this method. Of course, it’s hard to deny yourself food, you want to eat all the time, but I’ve lost 7 kg. Then, however, I gained them again, I really wanted normal food.

Doctors warn that deciding to fast is a serious step, because carrying out this procedure can affect your health in both positive and negative ways. Therefore, it is better to take such a course under the supervision of a doctor.

Losing weight while fasting is not a problem; you need to be able to get out of this process correctly so as not to gain twice the amount you lost later.

Stages of dry weight loss

This medical technique consists of several stages:

Food excitement, lasting the first two days. The stage causes mild stress in the body, which results in activation of the hypothalamus. As a result, various substances are released that help the body adapt to the absence of the usual amount of incoming beneficial components. During the initial stage, a person may become irritated by sights, smells, thoughts, and any mention of food or water. This causes excessive salivation, rumbling in the stomach, and an unpleasant feeling of sucking in the pit of the stomach. You may also experience trouble sleeping, mood swings, and nervousness.
Increasing acidosis, lasting the next 2-4 days. The body begins to consume its own reserves of substances, breaking down pathological microorganisms, old tissues, and damaged and unfit cells. The body processes weakened, damaged and foreign cells and tissues. It also removes toxins and all harmful substances accumulated inside. Following the theory, the body begins to get used to the lack of incoming food and continues to live due to the destruction of old and damaged microorganisms and cells, without harming human health. However, official medicine denies this and cites as an example a huge number of patients who used this technique and wanted to get rid of some health problems. Doctors claim that a dry diet did not help them get rid of stones, tumors and other diseases, but it disrupted the general performance and condition of most organs.

Nausea

At this stage, a person develops:

weakness and malaise;
drowsiness or insomnia;
nausea;
unpleasant feeling of mucus in the mouth and cracked lips;
headache.

A person gradually stops feeling hungry, but dehydration becomes unbearable.

Compensation lasts on average 2-4 days in the first stage and 2-3 in the second.

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At the first stage of compensation (or adaptation), the body adapts as much as possible to new living conditions. The person begins to feel an improvement in general condition and a decrease in lethargy and weakness.

The feeling of hunger disappears almost completely, but thirst constantly comes in the form of severe attacks.

At the second stage (also known as a crisis), the immune system is activated, which begins an active fight against various diseases. This leads to the following:

exhaustion of the body;
the appearance of insomnia;
sharp exacerbation of diseases;
high temperature rise;
irritation and nervousness occur;
there is a loss of strength and energy.

People acutely feel the need for food and water, which is accompanied by severe pain and nervous breakdowns.

Contraindications to fasting: possible side effects.

Each person's body has different abilities and capabilities, and the use of fasting can sometimes be harmful. Here is a list of those who are prohibited from fasting weight loss:

pregnant or breastfeeding women;
with renal or liver failure;
with exhaustion or anorexia;
with thyroid disease;
in case of cerebrovascular accident.

If you do not have these contraindications, fasting in any case is stressful for the body and this will manifest itself in different ways when you want to eat, for example:

headaches or muscle pain;
nausea and unpleasant odor from the mouth;
insomnia;
dizziness and possible fainting;
profuse sweating, up to fever.

All this is the body’s protective reaction to lack of nutrition, but after some time these symptoms will pass, and the following processes will be easier to bear. But keep in mind one important thing - this is compliance with all the rules of a hunger strike and in no case should it be used for a long period of time, otherwise the process of cell death may begin.

What a beginner needs to know before starting cascade fasting

It is important to know !

Before beginning the cascade fasting process, a beginner must know a few rules to follow. If the body is left without water, then it tries to take everything from within. The entire ecology, all habits that do not characterize us from a positive side, negatively affect human life as a whole. Most often, the main problem is the accumulation of toxins inside the body, which should be periodically gotten rid of.

Toxins are found in the following foods:

alcoholic drinks;
any cigarettes containing a tobacco mixture;
products of animal origin - meat, butter, etc.;
even in some medications.

Toxins have quite a harmful effect on the body, so it is worth getting rid of them. The liver is most affected by toxins. If you do dry fasting, the first thing your body will begin to consume is toxins. They enter the bloodstream and the body becomes completely unprotected. Therefore, if you approach cascade fasting incorrectly, you can harm the body and there will be no benefit from it.

During fasting, toxins are eliminated

Frequency of fasting: how often can you fast?

At first, such hunger strikes can be carried out for no more than 2 days and no less than a day. One procedure in seven days is enough, and the body will learn to lose excess fat and unnecessary substances.

After a certain time, when your body gets used to this procedure, you need to gradually increase the period, but no more than seven days in a row. It is recommended to repeat such hunger strikes 1-2 times a year and better in the summer.

And so that the lost weight does not come back twice, after the end of the hunger strike you need to limit yourself in nutrition, eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible, and take food often and in small portions.

Basic rules for water fasting

Fasting is a process when the body is completely isolated from food. You are only allowed to drink water.

don't focus on feeling hungry
speed up the process of removing toxins and waste
help the body eliminate mucus

Tips

And to conclude, we’ll give you a few tips that will make losing weight by fasting easier and more effective:

There is no need to fast for more than seven days if your weight is more than the norm, which is calculated as follows: you need to subtract 110 from your height. For example, with a height of 160 cm and a weight of 50 kg, it is not recommended to use long-term fasting;
If you are starting a fast for the first time, it is better to start with juices. Next time the transition to water will be easier for you.

And it’s best to exercise regularly, lead an active and active lifestyle, then you will no longer need to fast.

How much weight can you lose by fasting?

While fasting, you can lose weight by:

1-3 kg – in 24 hours;
7-10 kg – per week;
10-12 kg – in 2 weeks.

If you continue the fast by any method, the weight will disappear at a rate of 1 kg in 2-3 days. But these indicators are very conditional, because much depends on the following factors:

age of losing weight - up to 40 years of age, metabolism is fast and active, at a later age it slows down;
initial weight - at first a lot of fluid will be lost when the norm is greatly exceeded, then only fat deposits will be “wasted”;
how often a hunger strike is used - beginners quickly lose weight, then the body adapts to the regime and uses its reserves more economically;
additional manipulations - sauna, massages, wraps, enemas speed up the process of cleansing and losing weight.

The effectiveness of fasting for weight loss also depends on your overall health. If there is no history of chronic pathologies, then a healthy body is cleansed of everything unnecessary much faster.

Where to begin?

Dry fasting requires preparation. You can’t just stop eating, for example, for a whole week, if previously your diet was uncontrolled and excessive. Moreover, keep in mind that hunger for more than 2 days is already considered long-term and requires a competent approach.

According to the recommendations of some experts, three months of training is required. However, these tips should be followed strictly after consulting a doctor.

1 month

Follow a vegan diet for 2 weeks. That is, exclude meat, fish, and dairy products from your diet. For 7 days, cleanse the intestines and liver with vegetable oil, and for another week, eat buckwheat.

2 month

The first week of the second stage of preparation, you must choose 1 day for fasting on water. In the second week, increase the number of days to a couple, in the third - to three, and in the fourth you can experiment with 5-7 days, but be extremely careful.

3 month

The first week is a day of dry fasting, the 2nd week is 2 days, the third is three, the 4th is from 4 to 5.

You don’t always have the opportunity or patience to prepare so thoroughly. Therefore, according to some sources, the minimum is 2 weeks for preparation.