Links, because it must be thousands of times that I've read posters on various boards speak out against fasting without any knowledge whatsoever on the subject...
Shelton: The Hygienic System Vol III; Fasting and Sun Bathing Digestive Reading 5 INHS Water Fasting article - What to expect on your first fast The Health Benefits of Water Fasting by YoungLady Effect of starvation and very low calorie diets on protein-energy interrelationships in lean and obese subjects Sect. 6, Ch. 9: Fasting http://nutrition.jbpub.com/discoveri...metabolism.pdf
^start at the end of page 23 (of 28) for this one
I admit these might not be the best sources, but although I can't go through and find them right now, there are many more where these came from, including scientific journal articles. The truth behind all the opinions, as far as my research has shown, is that most people can fast for many weeks, and during that time the body burns primarily fat but also a small amount of muscle. Our bodies are programmed to conserve MUSCLE while fasting, not fat. Fat is our energy reserve, meant to be stored and burned in times of food scarcity to prevent our organs from being catabolized. However, fat can not meet the body's requirements completely while fasting, so a small amount of muscle will still be used throughout the fast. This will occur any time weight is lost while restricting energy, even if it lost on a conventional diet. The idea that our bodies burn muscle and conserve fat while fasting is completely idiotic. However, fasting DOES lower the metabolism in an attempt to slow the rate of tissue loss, thus prolonging survival time by making fat stores last longer.
That said, fasting can have some unpleasant side effects, and I agree 100% with the assertion that it is not an ideal tool for weight loss. But PLEASE cut the "omg you're fasting, you're going to burn all your muscle and die" crap, because it's disgustingly uninformed, and I'm sick of reading it. I fasted for 26 days on water only under the care of a very well known nutritionist, Joel Fuhrman, to alleviate chronic, severe migraines. Needless to say, I didn't die, and after following the fast with a natural, plant-based diet, I was nearly cured of my migraines. Still, I'm not going to say this would be the case for everyone. I'm only 20, and have always eaten well and been fairly active. If you're interested in fasting, I highly recommend reading Dr. Fuhrman's book "Fasting and Eating for Health" - very sound advice, practical and scientifically-based. Then you can decide for yourself whether or not it makes sense for you to fast. Just be informed before speaking out either way. Thanks
