Humans logo

Eye-Opening Video Reveals How Your Body Reacts To A 36-Hour Fast

A viral YouTube video breaks down the physical and cellular changes that happen after just a few hours of not eating—and it only gets more intense as time goes on.

By Md Fahad AlamPublished 7 months ago 3 min read
Source: Youtube

Ever wondered what actually happens when you stop eating for 36 hours?

It’s not just about skipping meals or losing weight—your body goes through a wild biological rollercoaster that could change how you think about food, energy, and even healing.

Let’s break it down—step-by-step, hour-by-hour—in a way that even a 15-year-old can understand.

🚨 First things first: Why would anyone fast for 36 hours?

People fast for all kinds of reasons:

  • To lose weight
  • For religious or spiritual reasons
  • To improve focus and mental clarity
  • To heal their body from the inside out

And while fasting sounds intense, it's gaining serious attention on YouTube and across the health world.

One viral 55-second video by Wellness Wise breaks down exactly what happens inside your body when you fast for 36 hours—and it’s pretty mind-blowing.

Let’s dive in 👇

⏱ HOUR 4: Digestion shuts down

About 4 hours after your last bite, your body officially stops digesting food.

This is when the “catabolic phase” kicks in.

👉 Your body starts breaking down stored energy (fat + glycogen) into smaller pieces of fuel your cells can actually use.

Think of it like switching from gas to battery mode.

⏱ HOUR 8: Your blood sugar drops

No food = no more sugar in your bloodstream.

At this point, your body says:

“Okay, no new fuel is coming in. Let’s tap into storage.”

You start pulling energy from glycogen, which is sugar stored in your liver and muscles.

It’s like raiding the pantry when the fridge is empty.

⏱ HOUR 12: You enter “fat-burning mode”

Your glycogen (sugar) stores are nearly empty.

Now, your liver turns fat into ketones—a special type of fuel that your brain and body can run on when there's no sugar left.

This switch is called metabolic switching and it’s one reason fasting can help with fat loss.

You’re literally burning fat to stay alive.

⏱ HOUR 16: Cell cleanup begins (autophagy)

Here’s where things get interesting.

Your body kicks off a powerful process called autophagy.

🧼 Translation? Your cells start cleaning house.

They break down and recycle old or damaged parts, helping prevent problems like inflammation and even cancer.

If you exercise during this phase (especially weights), it can boost autophagy even more.

⏱ HOUR 24: Full body repair mode

You’ve officially gone a full day without food. Impressive.

By now, your body is running almost entirely on fat.

What’s happening behind the scenes?

  • Inflammation goes down
  • Insulin sensitivity improves
  • Your cells start repairing themselves more deeply

Basically, your body is healing itself from the inside out.

⏱ HOUR 30: Growth hormone spikes

Now we’re entering superhero territory.

Around 30 hours in, your body releases a surge of growth hormone—this helps:

  • Protect your muscles from breaking down
  • Burn fat more efficiently
  • Boost tissue recovery

According to the viral video, you’ve just entered the “deep healing phase.”

⏱ HOUR 36: Peak Autophagy = Peak Healing

You’ve reached the peak of what fasting can do for your body.

At 36 hours:

  • Autophagy is at its highest
  • Your body is in full repair + reset mode
  • Cells are regenerating
  • Metabolism is at peak efficiency
  • Inflammation is way down

Some people extend this fast up to 72 hours to amplify these effects—but only under supervision.

🧠 But wait—what do doctors and scientists say?

Here’s where it gets complicated…

Some experts believe fasting has huge potential.

Mark Mattson, a Johns Hopkins neuroscientist, says it may help protect against:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Inflammatory issues
  • Even cancer

Others say we should pump the brakes 🚨

Prof. James Betts from the University of Bath warns that most studies are on animals, not humans.

And some data suggests fasting too long may raise the risk of issues like gallstones or mood swings.

Not to mention the classic side effects:

  • Fatigue
  • Cravings
  • Stomach pain
  • That brutal “hangry” feeling

Fasting isn’t a magic cure. It’s not for everyone. And it definitely shouldn't be done carelessly.

BUT…

If done safely and with your doctor’s guidance, fasting can:

  • Burn fat
  • Improve focus
  • Boost healing
  • Help you feel more in control of your health

Think of a 36-hour fast as a system reboot for your body.

It clears out the junk, resets your metabolism, and gives your cells a fresh start.

🧬 Whether you try it or not, knowing what your body can do without food for 36 hours is fascinating—and a reminder of how powerful our biology really is.

Want to try it? Talk to your doctor first.

Want to just learn? Keep reading, keep watching, keep questioning.

Your body is smarter than you think.

Thanks for reading,

Hope you like it.

science

About the Creator

Md Fahad Alam

When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

Md Fahad Alam is not accepting comments at the moment
Want to show your support? Send them a one-off tip.

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.