What Happens To Your Body If You Fast For 48 Hours?

What happens to your body if you fast for 48 hours? Keep reading to find out.

BOXROX has already covered what happens to your body if you fast for 24 hours. That length of not eating might sound like a real challenge for most people. Now imagine doubling it down.

That’s right, 48 hours without eating. What would happen to your body if you do that? Luckily, we have Thomas DeLauer to give us a little hint before some of us actually try to do it.

Thomas DeLauer is a celebrity trainer and health author. His YouTube Channel has 3 million subscribers and he has been on the cover of numerous international magazines.

Check out what he had to say on the matter.

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5 Benefits of Fasting For 48 Hours

To be fair, before we jump into what happens to your body if you fast for 48 hours, it is important to note that this is not recommended for most people. Talk to a doctor before attempting it, and listen to your body. If you feel discomfort and that something might be wrong, perhaps you should stop.

And we also can imagine the negatives of going through 48 hours of not eating. Yes, you will feel hungry and that can have an effect on your mood. But Thomas DeLauer decided to share a video focusing on the 5 benefits of this prolonged fasting.

1. Surplus of Ketones You Get During a Prolonged Fast

When you pass 16 hours of fasting, your body will produce ketones. Ketones are chemicals produced by the liver when the body is in a state of ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state where the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose (sugar) from carbohydrates. Ketones are an alternative energy source for the brain and body, particularly during periods of low carbohydrate intake.

There are several benefits associated with ketones and ketosis:

1. Weight loss: Ketosis can lead to weight loss, particularly in individuals who are overweight or obese. This is because the body is burning stored fat for energy instead of relying on carbohydrates.
2. Improved insulin sensitivity: Ketosis can improve insulin sensitivity, which is important for individuals with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
3. Increased energy levels: Many individuals report increased energy levels and mental clarity when in a state of ketosis.
4. Reduced inflammation: Ketosis may have anti-inflammatory effects, which can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
5. Neuroprotective effects: Some studies suggest that ketosis may have neuroprotective effects, meaning it may help protect the brain from certain types of damage.
6. Potential anti-cancer effects: Some preliminary research suggests that a ketogenic diet may have anti-cancer effects, although more research is needed in this area.

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2. BDNF and Brain Function

BDNF stands for brain–derived neurotrophic factor. “What it does is it helps strengthen neural connections, it helps grow new neurons. It’s commonly referred to as brain fertiliser.”

According to DeLauer, fasting is the best way to boost BDNF and you only start getting the effects of BNDF until you have been fasting for over 24 hours, or even closer to 36 hours.

3. Fat Loss

And here it is. Perhaps the biggest reason why people think about doing intermittent fasting. “Fat loss during a 48-hour fasting is supreme,” DeLauer says. If you do longer than that, DeLauer believes your body begins to lose muscle mass and atrophy.

And this is why 48-hour fasting is the “perfect length,” in his opinion. “Ketones get super elevated, enough to protect muscle breakdown, but they’re also in that sweet spot where we are allowing the body to utilise stored fat fuel much easier.”

A couple of things DeLauer says you should maintain during the 48-hour fasting window:

• Exercise as usual
• Consume black coffee and green tea
• Keep your minerals in (drink salt water)

4. Gut Biome

According to a study published, people who did alternate day fasting were able to get rid of bad bacteria in their system quicker than other people. That is because of the increase in the immunoglobulin A.

Having that higher concentration of immunoglobulin A in the body allows the body to fight bad bacteria in the gut and allows the good bacteria to flourish.

5. Autophagy

Autophagy is a natural process in which the body’s cells break down and recycle damaged or dysfunctional components within the cell. The word “autophagy” comes from the Greek words “auto” meaning “self” and “phagy” meaning “to eat”.

During autophagy, the body’s cells remove and digest old or damaged proteins, cell membranes, and organelles (the structures within the cell that perform specific functions). This process helps the body to clean up and recycle cellular waste, and it also helps to maintain cellular homeostasis (balance) by removing harmful substances and repairing cellular damage.

Autophagy has been linked to several health benefits, including:

1. Improved cellular health: By removing damaged or dysfunctional components within the cell, autophagy helps to maintain healthy cellular function.
2. Reduced inflammation: Autophagy may help to reduce inflammation in the body, which is linked to a number of chronic health conditions.
3. Improved immune function: Autophagy plays an important role in the body’s immune system by helping to remove harmful substances and protect against infections.
4. Anti-ageing effects: Some research suggests that autophagy may help to slow down the ageing process by removing cellular damage and promoting cellular regeneration.
5. Potential cancer prevention: Autophagy may help to prevent the development of cancer by removing damaged or abnormal cells before they can become cancerous.

To fully know what happens to your body if you fast for 48 hours and the 5 benefits mentioned above, click on the video that follows for Thomas DeLauer to explain it.

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There are several popular methods of intermittent fasting, including:

1. 16/8 method: This involves restricting eating to an 8-hour window during the day and fasting for the remaining 16 hours.
2. 5:2 diet: This involves eating normally for 5 days of the week and consuming only 500-600 calories on 2 non-consecutive days.
3. Eat-Stop-Eat: This involves fasting for a full 24 hours once or twice a week.
4. Alternate-day fasting: This involves alternating between a day of normal eating and a day of consuming only 500-600 calories.
5. Warrior Diet: This involves eating one large meal at night and fasting during the day.
6. Spontaneous meal skipping: This involves skipping meals occasionally when it’s convenient or when you’re not particularly hungry.

It’s important to find an intermittent fasting method that works for you and your lifestyle. It’s also important to make sure you’re still getting all the necessary nutrients and calories your body needs during the times when you are eating. If you’re unsure about which method to try, it’s always a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional.

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