Can fasting be the safest way to lose weight or cleanse the body of toxins?

Some fasting diets involve drinking only water or eating only raw foods for a period of one or more days, while others restrict food on alternate days. Certain fasting diets allow liquids like water, juice, or tea, while others dramatically cut calories but don’t eliminate food altogether. Would bodybuilders benefit from fasting???

Losing Weight:

Yes, because fasting dramatically decreases ones caloric intake, the body is forced to use fat & protein for fuel. However, the longer the fasting period, the more adaptable the body gets, and surely will begin to slow metabolism in order to conserve energy. Eventually, when the fasting period is over and one reverts back to their diet, the wieght loss will be put right back on. Research has shown that fasting on alternate days can help people lose weight, but not for long. In one study, people who followed an alternate-day fasting diet shed pounds, even when they ate all they wanted on the non-fasting days. However, they couldn’t maintain the weight loss over time. And if you did loose weight, where do you think it would come from? Not only fat stores, but MUSCLE stores as well, which is a bodybuilders nightmare!

Detoxify The Body?

Some fasting diets claim that they can cleanse the body of impurities. However, there’s no evidence that fasting detoxifies your body, or that your body even needs to be detoxified. It is naturally designed to remove toxins through the skin (sweating), liver, colon, and kidneys.

As bodybuilders, we consume plenty of fibers from oats to veggies galore…there is NO NEED to “detoxify” our bodies, as we are one of the healthiest sub population in the world. Follow your instincts!!!

Longevity

Studies of fasting in both rodents and humans appear to indicate a connection between calorie restriction and longevity. In one study of overweight men and women, a calorie-restricted diet improved markers of aging, such as insulin level and body temperature.
Fasting might also improve longevity by delaying the onset of age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and diabetes. One study showed that skipping meals once a month as the Mormons do reduces the risk of Coronary artery disease. However, it’s not clear from this research whether fasting alone or the Mormons’ generally healthier lifestyle (they also abstain from coffee, alcohol, and smoking) is responsible for the improved heart health.

Researchers don’t yet know whether the effects of fasting translate into an actual increase in lifespan, because they haven’t followed people for long enough periods of time.

Safety

Fasting for a day or two likely won’t hurt people who are generally healthy. However, fasting for long periods of time can be harmful. Your body needs a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from food to stay healthy. Self deprivation of these nutrients can lead to fatigue, dizziness, constipation, dehydration, gallstones, and cold intolerance. It’s possible to die if you fast too long.

Fasting for Bodybuilders: Good or Bad

I’m sorry folks, but personally, I am totally against fasting/colon clensing. We have a Gastrointestinal tract for a reason. We NEED daily consumption of food to function optimally. As bodybuilders, this is a NONO!!! Think about it? Everything from books to the pros with years of experience advocate to eat at least 5 if not more than 7 meals per day. Why would we cut this down to ZERO??? Something so drastic would only lead to muscle catabolism as well as unproductive workouts!

As bodybuilders we must EAT EAT EAT!!! in order to GROW GROW GROW! This is one hard and fast rule I stand by.

Alternatives?

If bodybuilders want to “clense” their gastrointestinal tract, I would recommend upping fiber consumption and decreasing fat (especially saturated fat) intake. This would be more reasonable than cutting all foods out of the equation. Protein should always be kept at maximal intake, as no other sport requires the dietary demand of protein as bodybuilding!