Scientists analyzed what happens to the body after seven days without food

Researchers from multiple institutions, such as the University of Cambridge in the United States, published a study in the journal Normal metabolism They analyzed the consequences of fasting on the human body. More specifically, the scientists wanted to know how beneficial it was to go for long periods without eating.

For context, the authors point out that fasting was practiced in different societies for reasons related to religion or to treat diseases. Also, millions of years ago, this practice influenced human evolution, since, as stated in the article, our ancestors were able to survive for days without food due to adverse conditions, or for purposes related to survival and hunting.

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Recently, fasting has gained popularity as a way to lose weight from different sides: from health professionals who recommend it in some cases, to influencers who have no scientific expertise. For this reason, and to investigate its consequences on human health, the team of scientists examined what happens to the human body after spending 7 days without eating food, except water.

12 volunteers participated in the study and had different responses depending on their metabolism, daily habits and previous illnesses. Among the conclusions reached by the researchers is that the body changed the sources from which it extracts energy: during the first two and three days, it began to use the fat stored in the body, which led to them losing an average of 5.7 kilograms.

They also found multi-organ responses, such as significant changes in more than 1,000 proteins that make up the body, such as those that form the supporting structure of neurons in the brain. This suggests that fasting does not affect just one organ, but rather has a systemic effect on the entire body, indicating a coordinated and widespread response to calorie restriction.

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In the words of Claudia Langenberg, Director of the Queen Mary University Precision Health Research Institute (PHURI), it has become possible for the first time to observe in detail what happens at a molecular level throughout the body when fasting is practiced. “When done safely, it can be an effective weight-loss intervention,” he says.

But, according to Mike Petzner, president of PHURI Health Data, depriving yourself of food can have benefits not only related to weight loss, but other health problems as well. However, as he put it, not all people should be subjected to it, because this varies according to their body characteristics. “We hope that these findings will provide insight into why fasting is beneficial in certain situations, so that it is practiced responsibly rather than lightly,” Pitzner says.

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