Health

Fasting For 36 Hours Triggers A Complete Body Reset, Study Finds

Published on October 6, 2025

Although the idea of going without meals for a day and a half may seem agonizing, some people believe it holds the secret to several health advantages.

Fasting is a well-liked health trend that can take many different forms, but in this instance, it refers to lasting 36 hours without eating.

This diet keeps food off your plate for that amount of time, but it’s okay to drink water or coffee during this time. To be honest, going 36 hours without drinking isn’t a good idea.

Some of the purported advantages of fasting for 36 hours are demonstrated in a simulation from Wellness Wise, which is not an official medical organization and states that its information is “not a substitute for professional advice.”

Like any significant nutritional change, fasting is not for everyone, and its benefits are debatable, so if you’re thinking about trying it, you should definitely consult a doctor first.

Burning fat

This is the primary advantage that individuals seek when fasting because it is believed that the body begins burning fat reserves within a few hours of going without food.

According to the simulation, your body starts burning stored sugar after four hours, but after twelve hours, it shifts to burning fat and enters a state known as ketosis, where burning fat takes precedence.

This is the main goal for many people who try fasting, as they shift their body’s metabolism away from burning stored sugar and carbohydrates.

Your heart

If you have excess weight to shed, losing weight is beneficial to your heart.

However, there is conflicting evidence about the impact of fasting on cardiovascular health. While some studies indicate that fasting may benefit the heart, others caution that other forms of fasting may have the opposite effect.

In contrast to the 36-hour strategy, another form of fasting involves limiting daily meal intake to an eight-hour window; nevertheless, research on 19,000 adults shown that this approach can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 135 percent.

Before making such a significant lifestyle change, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Brain power

According to proponents of 36-hour fasting, ketogenic diets alter the metabolism of the brain and give your brain a vital energy supply, which enhances cognitive function.

Like the rest of your body, your brain requires energy, and proponents of fasting claim that once you succeed, it helps you focus clearly.

Other research, however, cautions that there is “no clear evidence of a positive short-term effect” of fasting on the mind for healthy people, however it may be more beneficial for people with epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, or Alzheimer’s.

Cellular repair

This is the ‘complete reset’ that proponents of fasting claim has many advantages.

Fasting for 24 hours or longer triggers a process known as “autophagy,” in which your body recycles damaged and outdated cell components.

In essence, your cells contain debris in the form of old and broken components, and if this accumulation becomes excessive, the cells may cease to function as intended.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, autophagy is triggered by fasting because it helps your body repair and replenish cells when it is deprived of nutrition.

Your cells will begin eating themselves to survive if your body isn’t getting what it needs, starting with the damaged and outdated parts.

The concerns

When it comes to the purported advantages of the 36-hour fast, opinions differ.

Many of the claims made by proponents of this kind of fast are based on research on rats rather than people, according to a panel of scientists who spoke to The Guardian.

There are ‘a number of proposed benefits’ to fasting, according to James Betts, Professor of Metabolic Physiology at the University of Bath. However, he cautioned that the research has not been tested on humans, so he does not’see spectacular health benefits’.

For instance, the advantages of autophagy have been investigated in animals, giving them a window of 24 to 48 hours to start working. However, it is unclear if this also applies to humans.

Additionally, he cautioned that it would not be optimal if the weight loss was due to muscle growth rather than the body burning off fat reserves.

Adam Collins, an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Surrey, cautioned that it was unclear whether the advantages would outweigh the risks because “the levels of ketones are not going to be super high” during a 36-hour fast.

Once more, before making such drastic dietary changes, you should definitely consult a qualified physician.