Fasting is a routine we participate in but about which there are many contradictions and misconceptions. Some people believe that fasting affects the muscles and tissues first, causing them to break down before it starts to cause organ issues and failure. To understand fasting well, I will begin with the story of Claire Williamson, who fasted in 1910 to solve her uterine problem.
She was a fan of Linda Hazzard, a doctor preaching fasting as a cure for pretty much anything. Linda was the only self-acclaimed licensed fasting expert in the world and she told Claire she could help her solve her uterine issues with fasting. Before Claire and her sister met Linda, they began an eating routine of vegetable broth and bread. This diet continued for about 3 months after which they met with Linda who immediately placed them on a fasting routine without any examination. She also made sure they had a lot of massage, exercise, and so on.
The sisters, due to their diet were already thin before meeting Linda, so their fasting routine made things worse. Although the ladies were looking thin, Linda kept on telling the women to continue as they were near to solving their problems. Linda made the sisters fast for a prolonged 82 days after which Claire died of starvation.
Fasting and electrolytes are not friends because your electrolytes deplete as you fast, also your pastor or expert telling you to take water isn’t helping you because water also depletes the electrolyte in the body during fasting. In the case of muscle breakdown, whether one is fasting or not, the body's muscles' protein breaks down but the difference is when there is food, the muscle's protein synthesis is equal to or higher than breakdown but this is not the same during fasting. A minor alternative to food is exercise as it will prevent muscle protein breakdown but it is not sustainable in the long run.
It can be hard to believe but several times it has been confirmed that hunger disappears after 3 to 5 days of fasting in the 1900s Edward Dewey said people should eat when their hunger comes back after it has previously gone but this has its sentiment as it could take weeks before hunger returns in some people.
A study shows there are three stages of fasting, with the first stage being the conversion from carbohydrates to fat as your source of fuel, sparing protein for the muscles. In stage two, the body stays on fat for fuel and at this point, hunger is not felt, and the third stage is when the body starts to break down the muscles and organs for protein.
One can say that fasting too much or too often is one pitfall. What is too much is dependent on the person as it is subjective and dependent on body mass. Not exercising during a fast is another pitfall leading to muscles being lost instead of fat mass. Bingeing on carbs before the fast begins can be another downside as it prevents an easy transition to ketosis.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8718030/
https://www.buchinger-wilhelmi.com/en/fasting-muscle-loss/
https://jindalnaturecure.in/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-go-on-a
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.42281/page/n1/mode/1up
https://digitalarchives.wa.gov/News/View/164
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/doctor-who-starved-her-patients-death-180953158/
https://www.drinkhydrant.com/blogs/news/does-fasting-cause-electrolyte-imbalance
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0002934371901525
