Is fasting good for you? If you're going to ask health experts, they would arrive in almost the same answer,no, fasting is bad.

Inspite the century old practice of fasting, taking a fast has been one of the controversial medical debates in history.

There are also who have experienced it and those who are practicing fasting that prove it really works wonder in the body. However, some health experts may contradict fasting.

"The appeal is that [fasting] is quick, but it is quick fluid loss, not substantial weight loss," says Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, CNS, founder and director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Weight Loss Management Center.

She added, if losing weight was attained fast, gaining it back is also fast once the person resumes to normal diet.

Joel Fuhrman MD, author of Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Plan for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss and Fasting and Eating for Health says that fasting is not a weight loss tool because it slows down the metabolic rate that makes losing weight harder.

According to All About Fasting website, fasting delivers benefits that are more than physical. The site claims that fasting provides rest to the digestive system, makes detoxification attainable, cleanses the emotional state, enhance mental alertness, breaks the eating pattern, improves energy level and enhance spiritual side of a person.

All About Fasting also reports on other health benefits of fasting including: diet modification, anti-aging effects, promotes better sleep, better outlook in life, clearer skin, enhanced senses of smell, hearing and taste, revitalized the body, more relief from stress and more.

Fasting is also reported to be effective in enhancing insulin sensitivity that regulates the glucose in the body.

Fasting makes metabolism faster. As you fast, the body rests and makes metabolism works faster. Intermittent fasting can relieve digestive problem, and enhanced metabolic function.

Fasting makes you live longer. Research shows that some people in other countries tend to live longer due to their fasting. Fasting gives rest to your digestive system to recover. The less work on it, the faster the metabolism and the longer life can be.