Stop Starving: Eating Disorder Myths and Tips Disproven

WEEK TWO: The Truth About Fasting And Cleansing

The Fasting “diet”

The fasting is done for a 3-4 day period. In this time only zero calorie drinks are consumed. On the fifth day, a break day is taken to consume 500 calories. Then, you resume the 3-4 day fast.

The diet boasts that the body begins to go into ketoacidosis (burning fat stores for energy).

THE REALITY of this "diet:"
First, the human body will learn to cope when it is forced into starvation. It will lower your metabolism and hold onto the fat and energy that it has. It does this for protection.
Second, the brain uses carbohydrates (glucose) for fuel. It cannot function properly on ketones (fats). This fat fuel source can harm the brain leading to: inability to concentrate, poor performance at school &/or work, and a delayed thinking process.
Third, fat is not the main macro-nutrient lost during a fast; lean body mass and muscle tissue are the main source of fuel for the body. Organs lose their protective layer and suffer greatly if fasting is prolonged. This can lead to heart failure or kidney failure.


The Cleansing "diet"

This diet consists of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water. The 4 component solution is the only "food" consumed for up to 14 days.

The diet brags of weight loss without feelings of hunger. Also, it states it can detoxify the body and cleanse it from impurities.

THE REALITY of this "diet"
First, just like fasting, water weight and lean muscle are the first sources of weight loss for the body, not fat.
Second, we already have an organ in the body that detoxifies, the liver. There isn't qualifying proof that the blend above detoxifies the body. And the body does not need additional detoxifying.
Third, not consuming enough nutrients hurts the good bacteria in the intestines that help with immunity and aid in digestion.

The human body cannot be tricked into losing weight. These diets remove healthy lean tissue and only harm the organs. There is no proof that either diet works, and there is no health benefit.

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