What Happens if You Don’t Eat for a Week or Day? Here’s What Could Happen if You Starve Yourself

If you are considering fasting for a day or week there are a lot of things you should consider. Read to know what happens if you don't eat for a day or week.

What Happens If You Don't Eat for a Week or Day?

If you skip meals for days or weeks, your body will immediately respond. There will be sudden changes within that's why skipping meals is called "fasting."

The body will operate normally in the first six hours without food. However, it will start to break down glycogen, a stored form of glucose that is used to fuel your brain.

After six hours, it will shut down as your glycogen depletes. The internal processes will affect your mood, leaving you angry and hungry.

The body will enter ketosis, where your body begins to starve because there's no more glucose in your blood. At this point, the body survives by breaking down fat for energy.

While this sounds good for those who want to lose weight, the acids can't be used to fuel the brain. Ketones can't replace glucose and may lead to cognitive functioning impairment.

After three days without food, the brain goes to another extreme stage, where it starts to break down the body's protein because proteins released from amino acids can be converted to glucose that the body desperately needs. While the brain is happy, the body suffers and will start cannibalizing itself by destroying muscle mass.

Women who fast this long may notice changes in their menstrual cycle. Some may missed their period. Both genders are also prone to diminishing bone density and decreased libido.

A week without food will leave your immune system extremely weak due to lack of vitamins and minerals. It won't be able to block the pathogens and viruses, which may lead you to suffering from various diseases.

Each day you go on a hunger strike, your system becomes more and more fragile because the body will continue to use every energy source possible.

You can survive for three days without water and three weeks without food.

ALSO READ: How To Survive a Tsunami? Here's What to Do During Life-Threatening Enormous Ocean Waves

What People Say About Not Eating Food For a Day or Week

Shahab Yarmohammadi did water fasting for 10 days to detox and change his attitude and addiction toward food. According to him, he had clear headspace and was more productive.

He also lost five kilograms of body fat in the first five days but he pushed forward for more five days. The experience reportedly changed his relationship with food. Fruits and vegetables have since become his staple and he no longer eats junk food.

Fildzah Mazaya, clinical informatics, claimed she tried not eating for a week and she lost appetite due to fever. She reportedly lost 10 kilograms in a month without exercise but her eyebags were prominent, her skin was pale, her lips were dry and she looked tired or restless. She also reportedly suffered from on and off acid reflux, headache, sudden zoned out and on and off fainting.

Josh-D. Davis claimed that individuals may have different responses to it. Alertness and consciousness may change leaving some a little dizzy and more crisp and others struggle with higher-order thinking while some are more energized. According to him, the muscle tissue lost for not feeding for a week will quickly be compensated when one provides again. However, he warned that zero calorie fast can suffer from refeeding syndrome when extended beyond two weeks.