Warning: the article below contains content some readers may find distressing.

A man who only drank water for 30 days has revealed the terrifying effects it had on his body.

While fasting is a practice that goes back thousands of years, most people only end up going without food for a number of hours at a time, rather than days on end.

Going without any food for numerous days is something health professionals advise against, as it could have serious health consequences and in extreme cases even lead to death.

According to VeryWell Health, experts indicate that people begin to become weak after 30 to 50 days without food, and can die in 43 to 70 days.

How soon a person succumbs to the effects of not eating vary from person to person, with many factor affecting it including sex, age, their starting weight, as well as the amount of water they are intaking.

The body fights starvation by producing glucose and breaking down fatty tissue, before moving on to breaking down muscle before a person ultimately dies from lack of food.

Despite the warnings, one social media user documented their attempt to go 1,000 hours without food - or 42 days - but ended up finishing their challenge early after 30 days.

X (formerly known as Twitter) user @maru.eth charted their progress after giving up food over Christmas, until they broke their fast on January 23 after 30 days.

He posted on December 26, at the start of the challenge: "Updating this thread with my 1000-hour (42 days) water fast progress that I started after Christmas dinner.

"I'll only drink water and supplement electrolytes (sodium, magnesium, potassium)."

The man, who is 6'4" tall, revealed that his weight on December 24 was 97.85kg (216lbs).

He then shared regular updates on how the water fast was going, revealing that the first 72 hours were the hardest as he felt the most hunger pangs during this time.

He explained: "The first 72h are the toughest because your body is constantly signaling you to eat. it gets way easier after that initial period."

After a week, he revealed that he had dropped to 92kg (203lbs), but struggled to stick to the regime over the New Year celebration.

He explained: "Spending NYE without any yummy snacks or drinks was tough, but I made it, I'm alive.

"Slept pretty well and feeling good overall, but I can't shake off the feeling that this fast feels considerably different than my other ones... somethings up and I'm not exactly sure what."

He added that while he never found sleeping difficult, the morning were "rough", adding: "I lose approximately 300g each day if I keep my sodium intake constant. I still lost actual fat but you don't see that on the scale because of increased water retention."

Of course, if a person is not consuming any food, one might assume that they would stop needing to poop, too.

However, despite not having eaten anything, @maru.eth revealed that he was still producing some excrement almost two weeks after existing on only water.

He explained that his stool was "very long and that there's residue coming out even after 13 days of not eating anything", and on January 17 revealed that he'd had his first poop in 12 days.

He revealed: "need to log this. I just pooped for the first time in 12 days. consistency was not at all what I had expected. regular logs, almost a normal amount of poop as well. where is this coming from? it's crazy how much stuff can still accumulate from the colon..."

Towards the end of the fast, he reported noticing a "serious decline in mental capacity" meaning he could "no longer trust [his] decision-making".

On January 23, he revealed that he was ending his feat early, having dropped an enormous 15kg (33lbs), and now weighing 82.9kg (183lbs) - and vowed never to attempt something so extreme again.

He told his followers: "I'm finally done. 30 days without food, just water.

"I didn't quite reach the 1000 hour mark as I initially planned but I'm still proud I kept at it for so long. I did this to challenge myself and for no other reason! never fasting for so long ever again."

He also revealed that he'd broken his fast with a small bowl of soup, as the body needs time to readjust to eating small portions again, rather than overloading with a large meal in one go.

Needless to say, this is definitely not something anyone should ever emulate as the risks far outweigh any perceived benefits, and the electrolytes in the body must be kept within safe parameters.

The best advice from medical professionals is to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and incorporate exercise into your daily life to ensure you live a long and healthy life.

If you or someone you know is battling an eating disorder, please get in touch with the National Eating Disorders Association's helpline at (800) 931-2237 or visit https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline

Featured image credit: Viktoriya Skorikova/Getty Images

Whilst there's nothing inherently unique in this approach, why had I never been able to get in shape, despite having been to the gym over the years? What I think happened was the reason, or my why I wanted to get in shape became a driving force that was a pushing factor."

A new simulation has offered insight into what happens to your body after a day and a half without food.

Fasting, the practice of abstaining from food for a set period, has surged in popularity due to its benefits, which range from weight loss and improved metabolism to disease prevention.

Many adopt it for religious reasons, others for fitness goals, and some for mental clarity. But despite its widespread appeal, health professionals have warned that not eating for extended periods, particularly without medical supervision, can have serious consequences.

A simulation, posted by the YouTube channel The Limitless Emperor, uses graphics and commentary to show the fascinating changes taking place in your body during an extended fast.

Watch below:

Four Hours In

At the four-hour mark, your body has finished digesting the last meal. Insulin levels drop rapidly, signaling your body to start burning stored glucose for energy rather than processing new food.

Eight Hours In

Blood sugar levels continue to fall, and your body begins to tap into its "backup reserves", which is glycogen - a form of stored glucose.

Twelve Hours In

At twelve hours, significant changes begin to occur, such as your body shifting from burning glucose to burning fat, a process called ketosis.

This is where the body starts to use fat as fuel, producing ketones that help power the brain and body. Many people report reduced appetite and increased fatigue during this stage, as ketone production rises.

Sixteen Hours In

This marks the beginning of autophagy, a cellular process where the body breaks down and recycles damaged cells.

While this can help to repair tissue and flush out waste, experts caution that the benefits of autophagy are not yet fully understood, and more research is needed to determine its role in disease prevention and treatment.

Twenty-Four Hours In

By the twenty-four-hour point, the body is now burning fat more efficiently, with all cells working overtime in what’s called "cellular repair."

Cellular repair accelerates, and inflammation begins to decrease. Additionally, insulin sensitivity improves, making it easier for your body to regulate blood sugar in the future.

Thirty Hours In

At this stage, growth hormone levels surge, which may help protect muscle mass and promote faster recovery from physical exertion.

Thirty-Six Hours In

After 36 hours, the body hits peak autophagy: "Dead cells are wiped out, tissues regenerate, and metabolism fires on all cylinders."

Experts Weigh In: Is It Safe?

While the simulation paints an intriguing picture of the benefits of a 36-hour fast, experts remain divided on the long-term effects and potential risks.

Some studies suggest intermittent fasting can have health benefits, like protecting organs against chronic diseases, but many researchers, such as James Betts, Professor of Metabolic Physiology at the University of Bath, warn that "a lot of the research hasn’t really [been borne out in] human beings," per The Guardian.

Betts warned that fasting for extended periods might not deliver dramatic short-term health benefits, despite the claims made by fasting enthusiasts.

Additionally, long-term fasting has been linked to potential risks, including gallstones and side effects like irritability, digestive issues, and low mood, particularly when fasting beyond 16 to 18 hours.

On the other hand, researchers like Mark Mattson, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins, argue that fasting can have protective effects.

“Many things happen during intermittent fasting that can protect organs against chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, age-related neurodegenerative disorders, even inflammatory bowel disease, and many cancers,” he shared.

Should You Try a 36-Hour Fast?

Health professionals strongly recommend starting with shorter fasting periods, like the popular 16/8 method, before attempting longer fasts.

It's also important to stay hydrated during fasting periods, preferably with water or zero-calorie drinks, and to break your fast carefully. Overeating after a fast can lead to discomfort and may negate some of the benefits of the fasting process.

Featured image credit: Erdikocak / Getty

Joey Chestnut has accomplished many extraordinary things with his stomach. At the tender age of 36, the California native has already claimed records for demolishing hot dogs, chicken wings and Twinkies, leaving the rest of the professional competitive eating industry green with jealousy and indigestion. 

In fact, so successful has Chestnut been that he has set an astonishing 46 separate world records in the field of food - a “world record of world records”, according to Major League Eating. Now, in the early months of 2020, there are signs that he has completed number 47. 

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/LarryTomczak/status/1236788452856922120]]

In a video posted to his popular YouTube channel, a jovial Chestnut can be seen unwrapping and scoffing an astonishing 32 McDonald’s Big Macs in just 38 minutes. The extraordinary clip, which has the compelling horror of peak-era David Lynch, has already been seen almost half a million times by fans, most of whom seem to be a confusing blend of disgusted and impressed. 

Check out the incredible clip here:

[[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb9mldUPB2o]]

Although the optics are genuinely jaw-dropping, it’s when you delve into the detail of Chestnut’s video that the achievement becomes truly extraordinary. The entire challenge involves San Jose State University alma mater eating over 18,000 calories and 15lbs of burgers in the same time it takes to make a quick dinner. For context, the recommended male calorie intake is around 17,000 per week. 

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/mffl13/status/1235664338905686017]]

In the description of the video, Chestnut provided some background to the challenge, writing:

“Since being a kid, I've dreamt about eating as many Big Macs as I could. As the ultimate cheat day event, I ordered 32 Big Mac® sandwiches from Uber Eats and recorded the experience. According to McDonald’s, the Big Mac® features two 100 percent pure beef patties and Big Mac® sauce sandwiched between a sesame seed bun. It’s topped off with pickles, crisp lettuce, onions and American cheese for a 100 percent beef burger with a taste like no other.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/DannyG0513/status/1236010825736949761]]

“I remember being a little kid and they would sell two Big Macs for $4 and me and my grandpa would get four of them. I’d end up eating three. And this is bringing me back to being a kid. Me and my grandpa would go back to the same McDonald’s every time. And it’s crazy, when I drive by that McDonald’s I still kinda just think about it. I think about all the times I was there with my grandpa and it’s weird the way that food takes you back and helps you remember things. With Big Macs, I definitely remember my grandpa.”

In a final f*ck you to the rest of the competitive eating industry, he shared a video from rival Matt Stonie’s channel, which featured Stonie consuming a paltry 25 Big Macs. The king is dead. Long live the king.