The 10 Side Effects of Continuous Fasting “Going Without Eating”

Malnutrition:  This is perhaps the most harmful effect of voluntary or forced starvation. Malnutrition is a terrible condition, and it affects most children in developing countries. Starvation usually means you don’t eat much. This leads to many essential nutrients and vitamins being excluded from your diet. Malnutrition can lead to various mineral and nutrient deficiencies like night blindness ( Vitamin A deficiency ), scurvy ( Vitamin C deficiency ) and even Anemia ( Iron deficiency).

Dehydration:  The second  Side Effect of Continuous Fasting “Going Without Eating”  is that just as lack of food induces malnutrition, lack of water can induce dehydration. This dehydration can, in turn, exacerbate other problems and lead tocracked and extremely dry skin , along with other conditions such as constipation, among others. So, it is important to remember to drink plenty of water , even if you are on a Continuous Fast . Starvation and dehydration deplete glycogen levels and upset electrolyte balance.

Decreased Resting Metabolic Rate:  Starvation can lead to a reduced resting metabolic rate. Your basal metabolic rate or BMR is defined as the minimum rate of energy expenditure per unit of time while you rest. Some tests have found fasting can lead to an increase in white adipose tissue (WAT) and a decrease in flow to the brain. Other studies determine that starvation can induce a decrease in your basal metabolic rate.

Loss of Monthly Menstrual Periods:  Continuous Fasting  leads to many problems. One such problem is that it disturbs how your periods are regulated. So, for those who only think about Fasting , you should consider this before starting. In some cases, if you are very underweight your body may simply stop producing estrogen. A lack of fat can restrict your cells from converting cholesterol into extra estrogen. Since starvation can lead to organ damage, the body’s processes tend to slow down, which often causes menstruation to stop.

Constipation:  Starvation can also induce constipation in many individuals. Some studies on anorexic individuals have concluded that people suffering from the condition can suffer from intense hunger, which can lead to many disorders and requires the use of laxatives regularly to be treated. A case study of three severely anorexic women found that these women needed regular laxatives or enemas to help clear their colon. These women were also at a higher risk of suffering from rectal prolapse due to overuse of laxatives.

Bone Loss:  If an individual “ Goes Without Eating ” may continue to lose weight at an alarming rate. While the changes in your skin and musculature are quite obvious, the loss in question is situated in the bone structure! Did you know that starvation can lead to bone density loss? Well, usually when you’re on a calorie-restricted diet, your bones are remodeled. Older bone breaks down and forms new bone quickly. However, your bone density decreases, which can lead to fragility.

Fatigue:  One of the most common Side Effects of Continuous Fasting “Going Without Food”  is fatigue. Eating a balanced diet helps to provide energy to the body, primarily by helping to keep diseases and infections at bay. Starvation upsets the balance of essential vitamins in your body and slows down physiological processes, which can also lead to fatigue and a feeling of faintness. Hunger is often associated with a feeling of dizziness.

High Blood Pressure:  Malnutrition and starvation can subject your body to a number of conditions, including high blood pressure . When you are hungry, essential nutrients like potassium and vitamin D are not consumed, which leads to increased blood pressure and many other deficiencies. All these factors ensure that hunger inevitably raises your blood pressure . In a study conducted on three groups of children, it was found that two groups: one malnourished and one recovering from malnutrition had significantly higher blood pressure readings than children who were not malnourished at all.

Electrolyte Imbalance:  Starvation leads to a loss of nutrients, which results in the consumption of less electrolytes with each passing day. Some heart-healthy minerals like Potassium , Sodium , Calcium , and Magnesium , which promote proper heart function and heart health, are not consumed when you don’t have enough food. Going without food not only results in less nutrients, but also promotes electrolyte imbalance. So, remember to take mineral supplements if you are on a  Continuous Fast .

Affects the Brain:  There have been many studies on how  Continuous Fasting  can affect cognitive abilities and make you feel depressed. You know that hunger can lead to many other physical symptoms like dehydration and fatigue which can impair your thinking skills and also make you aggressive and nervous. Hunger can also affect how you react to stress and can induce feelings of anxiety, irritability and even lead to chronic or clinical depression in some cases.

Now that you know how starvation can negatively affect your body, we hope you’ll rethink these starvation diets. Tell us about your own experiences with hunger or malnutrition.