Study Suggests

Fasting has been practiced for thousands of years, whether for cultural, religious, or health reasons. But what really happens to your body when you go without food for an extended period? Recent research has shed new light on the profound changes that occur across multiple organs after seven days of fasting, and the findings are both fascinating and complex.

The Study: A Deep Dive into Fasting

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences conducted a study involving 12 healthy volunteers who underwent a seven-day water-only fast. These volunteers were monitored daily, with researchers tracking changes in the levels of approximately 3,000 proteins in their blood before, during, and after the fast.

As expected, the body began switching its energy sources from glucose to fat within the first two to three days. On average, participants lost 5.7 kilograms of both fat mass and lean mass during the fast. Interestingly, after resuming eating, the lean mass loss was almost completely reversed, while the fat mass loss remained.

A Multi-Organ Response

For the first time, the study revealed that after about three days of fasting, the body undergoes significant, systematic changes that go beyond just weight loss. One-third of the proteins measured in the study changed significantly, reflecting a whole-body response to the complete lack of calories. These changes were consistent across all major organs, indicating that fasting triggers a complex, coordinated response at the molecular level.

Among the most intriguing findings were changes in the proteins that form the supportive structure for neurons in the brain. This suggests that fasting could have impacts on brain health, although the full implications of these changes are not yet fully understood.

The Potential Health Benefits

Fasting is often promoted as a method for weight loss, but this study suggests that the health benefits might extend beyond just shedding pounds. However, these benefits only became apparent after three days of fasting—later than previously thought. The researchers hope that these findings could pave the way for new therapeutic interventions, especially for individuals who might benefit from fasting but are unable to undergo prolonged fasting or fasting-mimicking diets like ketogenic diets.

A New Understanding of Fasting

The study’s findings offer a fresh perspective on why fasting has been used historically to treat various conditions, such as epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis. While fasting might not be suitable for everyone, especially those with certain health conditions, this research could help develop new treatments that harness the benefits of fasting without requiring patients to undergo extreme caloric restriction.

As science continues to explore the complexities of fasting, one thing is clear: our bodies are capable of incredible adaptations when faced with the challenge of going without food. These adaptations could hold the key to new health interventions that benefit us all.