Many religions of the world observe fasting as a regular practice. Fasting has many therapeutic effects on the body and offers a myriad of health benefits. For much of human history, fasting has been guided by intuition and spiritual purpose. Scientific studies and our understanding of human physiology confirm the powerful healing effects of fasting. While fasting refers to complete abstinence from food and water, water fasting involves drinking nothing, but water. Water is a life force for all creatures and has fantastic healing properties. Here are some skin health benefits of water fasting.
How Does Fasting Help?
With no food to digest, the energy required for digestion is preserved and is used by the body to recover from ailments. The energy can instead be focused on its other processes. Bodily functions and healing processes that have been ignored or slow to improve will accelerate when you fast. Your body’s ability to heal itself increases. The rate of detoxification improves markedly when fasting since water can efficiently flush out the toxins from the body.
During a fasting mode, where the intake is nothing but water, the body scavenges for fatty deposits and dead or damaged tissues. Abnormalities such as scar tissues, tumors, abscesses, and old wounds are burned off and converted into energy or eliminated as waste.
Keeps Your Skin Hydrated
Drinking sufficient amounts of water regularly is vital for overall good health as water aids digestion, circulation, absorption and even excretion. The skin is an organ and is made up of cells. Skin cells, like any other cell in the body, are composed of water. Without water, the cells will not function optimally or at their best. If your skin does not receive sufficient quantities of water, the lack of hydration will cause the skin to become dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more vulnerable to wrinkles. Drinking ample fluids keeps the skin hydrated, prevent wrinkles and other skin-aging signs.1
Does Water Fasting Improve Skin Health?
Flushes Out Toxins
Experts recommend that adults drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to eliminate the harmful substances and toxins from the body. Water consumption improves skin health by ensuring that the skin cells are free of toxins. Many people often report that by increasing their water intake, their skin acquired a more radiant glow. Even persons suffering from acne have reported the same results.
Prevents Skin Aging
One particular study was conducted to ascertain the effect of hydration on preventing skin aging. The results of this study confirmed that higher water intake in a person’s regular diet may positively impact normal skin physiology.2
Clears Acne Faster
Water fasting improves blood circulation, according to some experts. Proponents of water fasting claim that skin tone can improve as a result of the fasting. Since the skin is well-hydrated, it heals and renews itself faster. Water fasting is thought to help accelerate scar healing and may help with skin problems such as acne. Pimples and other skin conditions like eczema to clear up faster when a person observes water fasting.
Precautions
- If you are water fasting for the first time, you may experience a certain level of discomfort caused due to hunger and emptiness of the stomach.
- You may experience some withdrawal symptoms such as headaches or tiredness.
- After a day or two, when your body is accustomed to the fasting, it becomes much easier and the withdrawal symptoms ease.
- Water fasting requires you to undergo some short-term discomfort for long-term health benefits.
- Since water fasting at a stretch for many days can slow down the body’s metabolic rate, it is best not to undergo water fasting for more than three days at a time.
- Finally, have some patience. Skin health improvement cannot happen overnight.
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