Seven Days Without Eating: What Does Science Say About Miyara Cardi’s Fasting?

Such as social networks They are, par excellence, the source of new social fads and behaviors. Inexorable. With blatant details that are not all benign and worthy of approval. A good example of this discovery is fitness coach Mayra Cardi, who on Friday, 30, concluded the strange 7-day fast, which was revealed by more than 6.2 million people. Non-Instagram Followers.

During the saga, conveyed by the power broker and followed through hundreds of stories, only water was eaten. In the end, although she said it was a “journey around self-knowledge” and had nothing to do with physical fitness, when announcing the “project” was over, she highlighted the gains, or rather the loss of belly fat. “Look people. Look at the leather, look at the waistband. There’s nothing,” she said, showing the silhouette in front of the mirror.

The psychological harm to those who are exposed and affected by this behavior is in line with what a lot of Instagram content promotes: a person not accepting their body and appearance, as well as adopting very unhealthy eating and living habits.

To give you an idea, a study by the American Academy of Plastic and Facial Reconstructive Surgery revealed that 55% of surgeons attended patients requesting modifications to their features inspired by Instagram photos. More disturbing details: In 2018, researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that people were taking selfies with effects and filters as a reference for possible plastic actions, in order to turn the virtual into real.

But in the case of those who unleash themselves in a fancy search for a sculptural body, as influencer Mayara Cardi has done, other dangers remain. These are related to the functions of the human body, which, as it can be concluded, should not go through such extreme periods without consuming nutrients.

Is fasting good?

When it comes to animals, science indicates that cutting calories by 15% to 40% prevents high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and even some types of cancer. It is also able to extend the life of mice by up to 50%. However, the effects of this reduction have not yet been fully demonstrated in humans. In a lighter fasting practice, called intermittent fasting, in which the goal is to reduce calories and focus on meals in just one part of the day, Studies in mice indicate that this demanding diet protects the body from obesity, diabetes, and even neurodegeneration.

So yes, in a controlled, short break there is a certain benefit. In studies also in mice, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers It has been shown that fasting for 24 hours is sufficient to stimulate the ability of cells to regenerate. But there are still some side effects, such as loss of muscle mass, which can extend to physical decline during aging. Hence, even in this form, fasting is not recommended.

Now, at the deepest step, stopping eating is wreaking havoc in metabolic rates precisely because the body realizes it must conserve energy. So, if the goal is to burn calories, fasting is meaningless. In addition, when returning with food, it is possible for the individual to have a greater desire to eat and end up eating the calories they want to lose. It becomes a problem in periods of more than 3 days, when it enters the stage of malnutrition. At this point, it is not even necessary to detail the metabolic propensity that is occurring.

Defend the influencer

Mayra defended on Instagram, “I observed a seven-day fast. With supervision and for health, spirit, prayer and study purposes.” Additionally, he published so-called “scientific” articles proving the benefits of fasting. However, the six texts she used were cosmetic clinic spread brochures that promoted the method and helped people fast. The texts did not have a good effect. And it’s not just them.