Symptoms That Indicate You Should Stop Fasting
Every individual looking forward to losing weight intends to fast until they shed those excess pounds. However, fasting can come with serious health hazards, especially if you ignore some signals from your body. Understanding these risks is essential to preserving overall health when fasting. If you are on a fasting spree and notice any of the following symptoms, you need to stop fasting:
Dizziness and blurred vision Loss of consciousness Nausea, vomiting, and acid reflux Diarrhea and indigestion A burning sensation in the stomach Chest pain or stomach pain Menstrual irregularities Difficulty concentrating, confusion, and disorientation Intense headaches Dry mouth and bad breath
These symptoms can also shed light on some of the side effects associated with fasting. We discuss them at length in the section below.
Major Side Effects Of Fasting
The following are the major side effects associated with fasting (1):
1. May Cause Hypoglycemia
Fasting increases the risk of low blood sugar, especially for those using insulin or sulfonylureas to manage diabetes. Pregnant, lactating women, young children, older adults, and individuals with specific conditions should avoid fasting.
2. May Lead To Nutritional Deficiencies
Long-term fasting may lead to protein and nutrient deficiencies. While this can be dealt with by the intake of supplements, prolonged fasting may lead to malnourishment and several other health issues in the long run if the deficiency is undiagnosed.
3. May Cause Heart Issues
Fasting often results in insufficient energy intake and dehydration, which may affect your cardiovascular system. If you have a chronic underlying condition, like diabetes, fasting may increase your risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, asthma, and kidney issues.
4. May Lead To Eating Disorders
Extreme or prolonged fasting may result in eating disorders or poor eating behavior, especially in people who have experienced these problems before. Fasting may lead to binge eating or restrictive behaviors by interfering with natural hunger cues, leading to an unhealthy relationship with food. In addition, the psychological stress imposed by severe dieting may worsen existing mental health conditions. So it is important to proceed cautiously with any dietary adjustments and, if required, seek medical advice. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that fasting incorrectly may cause several problems like malnutrition, hair loss, skin problems, weakened immune system, fertility problems, bone loss, stroke, mood swings, muscle cramps, heart palpitations, and low blood sugar. The following tips will help you ensure you fast safely.
How To Fast Safely
1. Stay Hydrated
Individuals on a fast are likely to feel dehydrated. About 20 to 30% of the body’s fluid requirements are met through food, and fasting can alter this (2). Dehydration can also cause kidney damage. Hence, it is important that you prevent thirst, drink lots of water, and stay hydrated while fasting.
2. Restrict Your Calorie Intake
Fasting usually involves staying away from all foods/drinks for a period. However, instead of eliminating all sources of food, you can reduce your calorie intake on the days of fasting. This way, you will only consume 25% of your daily calorie requirements for two days a week to facilitate weight loss (3).
3. Do Not Feast While Breaking The Fast
As tempting as it may be to feast on all your favorite savories while breaking your fast, you should not do so. Feasting on a lot of food can cause weakness and bloating. It can also slow down the weight loss process as it will reduce the calorie deficit (4).
4. Keep The Exercises Mild
When you are on a diet, your body runs low on energy. Hence, keep your exercises mild. Indulge in strenuous workouts only on the days you aren’t fasting. As your body gets used to exercising, you can gradually start trying out high-intensity workouts to increase the utilization of the stored fat in your body (5).
5. Take Additional Supplements
When you fast, you tend to miss out on a lot of nutrients essential for your body. People on a diet are deficient in a number of nutrients – including calcium, iron, and vitamin B12 (6). You can make up for these deficiencies by taking a nutritional supplement after consulting your healthcare provider.
6. Eat Whole Foods During Non-Fasting Days
It is important you eat whole foods on non-fasting days. This not only prevents deficiencies and hunger pangs but also cuts the risk of severe illnesses like heart disease and cancer (7).
7. Eat More Protein
Consuming more protein is a necessity not only while working out but also when you want to lose fat and build muscles. Increase your intake of protein-rich foods like chicken, eggs, cheese, fatty fish, and nuts during the period you are not fasting (8).
8. Be Mindful Of Your Mental Health
It is important to recognize that fasting may affect your mental health. If you become more anxious, upset, or moody when fasting, you may want to consider changing your strategy or getting advice from a specialist. Can fasting cause diabetes and damage the pancreas? Jesse Feder, Clinical Dietitian at the Memorial Regional Hospital, says, “While fasting will not directly cause diabetes, there is limited evidence showing that it may damage pancreatic cells and inhibit proper insulin production. This can contribute to the development of diabetes. However, it is also important to note there is also evidence showing that fasting can help the pancreas regenerate healthy cells and improve insulin production. At the moment, this topic needs further investigation.” Can fasting cause Insomnia? Jesse says, “Insomnia or trouble sleeping is one of the most common side effects when you begin fasting. However, after about 1–2 weeks, your sleep will improve. As far as the science goes, fasting typically reduces your insulin levels while increasing melatonin. This can help make you feel calm and sleepy before bed.” He adds, “Orexin-A, a neurotransmitter linked to alertness, has been shown to be reduced at night in those who fast and increased during the day. It is important to note that prolonged fasting may lead to an increase in the level of cortisol, the stress hormone. This may eventually make it more difficult to sleep or make you feel not well-rested. This is why I recommend only short-term or intermittent fasting if you want to go that route.” Is it normal to throw up while water fasting? Throwing up or vomiting is one of the many indicators that you need to give water fasting for weight loss a break, as it makes you feel weak and tired. Hence, if you throw up on a water fast, it is best to start eating something until you are healthy enough to continue fasting. When should I quit water fasting? If you experience any symptoms like vomiting, nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness, diarrhea/constipation, or abdominal pain, you should stop fasting immediately. Can fasting make you sick? Yes, fasting can cause dehydration, which may lead to other undesirable consequences. Is it safe to fast for 3 days? You can fast safely for 2-3 days without experiencing any adverse health effects (9). But, we suggest you prepare your body for water fasting by consuming fewer foods on the days prior. What not to eat after fasting? You should not binge on junk foods or other saturated foods after fasting. This may affect your weight loss progress by disrupting the calorie deficit you have created. Who all should not fast? People with diabetes, cardiac, or renal problems or on medicines for any medical conditions should avoid fasting. Pregnant and lactating women should also avoid fasting. How long does your body take to start burning stored fat while fasting? Factors like body weight and the type of fasting affect how long it takes to burn body fat. But, in general, your body is estimated to start burning body fat after 12 to 48 hours of fasting. What is considered long-term fasting? Fasting from 5 to 21 days is considered long-term. Do ensure to consult your doctor before you take up fasting. They can give you further information based on your body type and current health status. Why do legs hurt when fasting? Lack of adequate nutrient intake and low consumption of water during fasting can lead to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. This results in sore muscles and pain in the legs. Is fasting not good for your health? Watch the video below to know more about when to stop fasting and why it is dangerous to continue.
