How long can the body survive without food?
To answer this question accurately will mean that researchers and members of the medical world will have to conduct research on this and to be frank; it is completely unethical to do so.
However, this question can be answered from the accounts of people who have survived starvation from occurrences like being trapped or buried alive.
You can make a theory on how long one can survive without food based on their age and health and also on their water in-take.
According to accounts, people have survived staying without food for 8-21 days.
As you know food and water consumption is extremely essential to the human health. This why depriving someone of any of these is considered torture.
Source:
Side Effects of Not Eating for Three Days
The length of time a human being can go without food varies depending on their body metabolism but for a time period as short as three days.
The side effects would most probably be the very first symptoms of starvation. These include;
- Faintness
- Dizziness
- Cognitive changes
- Hallucinations
- Low blood pressure
- Slow heartbeat
- Weakness
- Dehydration, like most foods, contains a percentage of our daily water intake
- Abdominal pain
In extreme cases, it could lead to;
– Electrolyte imbalances
– Heart attack
– Organ failure
– Changes in thyroid function
If starvation goes on long enough, it could also lead to death.
There are cases where water intake without food prolongs the amount of time you can stay without food but as earlier mentioned, there is no accurate research to confirm this.
Note:
Experimenting with starvation isn’t something you should be doing, as the consequences could lead to death.
Food is essential for us human beings, just like air. You can’t do without it.
Disclaimer:
This article was not written by a medical practitioner. If you’d like more information on this topic, please see a doctor.
