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Asian American Press
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Fasting and weight loss

Fasting and weight loss
Dr. Surajit Sengupta
Institute of Healing Studies

For weight loss, there are different types of fasting plans that can be arranged based on the nature of obesity. Before any long-term fasting, the overall health status of the individual must be evaluated to prevent any serious health risks during fasting process.

We know after fasting any individual will lose some weight but we have to make sure an obese person loses more fat than muscle mass or other important cells due to fasting.
There is lot of controversy with the idea of fasting and weight loss. This is the reason we need critical scientific analysis on this subject. Long-term fasting with only water can be complicated for those who have other illnesses along with obesity. During fasting the body will deplete all glycogens stored in the muscle and liver first for energy needs and then it will use stored fat for energy. Since fat and protein can be converted into energy so the brain will get glucose through neo-glucogenesis, which means synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate source.

If an obese person has diabetes then it is not a good idea to do long-term fasting at all because it may be complicated for their health. Obese people, who have cardiovascular problem have to be also critical during fasting because it might affect the sodium and potassium level in the blood which may cause irregular heart beat and complications. The body temperature of an obese person with thyroid disease will adversely be affected during weight loss program with fasting and it can be an extra problem for them. The obese person with a kidney disease may face extra problems from high level of ketosis during weight loss program with fasting.

This is the reason obese people with other diseases must not do long-term fasting. They should do mild fasting with liquid food and Kapha balancing diet. During long-term fasting our BMR or basal metabolic rate decreases to a much lower level and thus it will actually slow down the metabolism significantly. Even though the individual may lose some fat from fasting due to slow metabolism the overall weight loss will be reduced.
This is the reason Sengupta method of weight loss™ program adopted mild fasting with Kapha specific liquid diet for more efficient weight loss without increasing heath risk.
Short-term mild fasting works well after Ayurvedic detoxification program because it increases metabolism on the one hand due to detoxification and also increases some fat loss due to mild fasting. Long- term fasting is only suggested with people who have no health problems and also with proper guidance. If we give up bad eating habits and improve healthy life-style then it may help us more to maintain weight more than long-term fasting.

© 2006 by Dr. Surajit Sengupta and Institute of Healing Studies, 1313 Fifth St. SE, Suite 302A, Minneapolis, MN 55414, 612-987-4296, Institute of Healing Studies. Dr. Sengupta, director of the Institute of Healing Studies, is an authority on the science of healing, and an internationally known expert in the field of integrated medicine. He offers seminars and workshops in the U.S. and abroad, emphasizing the science of living and healing. To find imbalance before sickness, get evaluations and treatments for chronic health problems, and start an individualized holistic program for optimal health, please call the Institute for a consultation.