Naomi Campbell can go more than a day without eating. Is this healthy?

Naomi Campbell has opened up about her diet, revealing that she can go days at a time without eating.

Speaking on ‘Lorraine’, the 49-year-old supermodel told Dan Wooton that she eats when she feels like it.

"It can be more than one day [that I don't eat]. I eat when I feel like it,” she said.

“I don't starve myself. If I want to do a day of just not eating, I do it, and just do water or juice.”

Explaining the reason behind her periods of fasting, Naomi claimed the hot weather can put her off solid food, meaning she opts for liquid meals instead.

“In the heat sometimes I don't, I just want to do juice, it's too hot," she said.

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What is intermittent fasting?

While going for a day or more without food might sound extreme, intermittent fasting is actually becoming a popular way of losing weight.

“Intermittent fasting or time restricted eating is becoming a popular trend with lots of supporting evidence behind it,” explains Dr Sonal Shah, NHS GP and lifestyle medicine expert.

“Many people will 'fast' for specified periods of time only eating during a defined window,” she continues.

“The most popular is the 16:8 diet (fast for 16 hours and eat for 8).”

Dr Shah says the latest scientific understanding is that the body needs periods without food to function optimally.

“Your body requires food as fuel to carry out all its normal functions, however it has developed mechanisms to give a constant supply of energy even when we do not eat,” she explains.

“When we eat more food than we need, food is broken down to glucose, and the excess is converted to fat.

“Your body stores fat in your liver, around your organs and in adipose tissue under the skin,” she continues.

“When you fast, it is these stores that are broken down to release energy. Provided periods of fasting are supported with plentiful and adequate levels of nutritious food there will be no harmful effects on the metabolism.”

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Health pros?

And there are some health benefits to going a day or more without eating.

“Fasting allows your body to heal and repair itself,” she explains.

“It is though fasting can help with weight loss, provide, better focus and concentration, improve gut health and gut symptoms and reduce inflammation.”

Though some people opt to do alternate day fasting, others practice extended fasting, which means not eating anything from 2-5 days.

“However it is important not to confuse fasting with starvation,” Dr Shah continues.

“When people eat they need to ensure that they are all eating enough of all the things the body needs to be healthy such as vegetables, fruits, proteins and healthy fats.”

So should we all be jumping on Naomi’s diet bandwagon?

“Anyone considering this should talk to their doctor as it may not be suitable for everyone particularly for diabetics on insulin or breastfeeding women,” Dr Shah says.

And Dr Shah has a word of warning for anyone thinking of going a day or more without eating.

”Whilst fasting you must ensure that you are drinking plenty of water to remain hydrated,” she says.

“When you fast, particularly if you are not used to it you may feel light headed, nauseous, faint or dizzy,” she continues.

“My advice is start with fasting slowly, usually a period of 12 hours (ie not eating after your evening meal till breakfast) is manageable by most people. Extend this slowly, ensuring that you eat well when you do eat and drink plenty of water when you fast.”

No doubt Naomi’s diet has helped play a part in the supermodel’s ongoing body confidence.

Earlier this month the soon-to-be 50-year-old shared an image from a naked photoshoot she did for Vogue.

The model told the fashion magazine that she hasn’t felt comfortable in her body until recently.

“Whenever I did something like lingerie pictures, I continued to feel incredibly self-conscious.

“Even in my day-to-day life, if I was in the street wearing tight jeans or leggings, I’d always be sure to tie a cardigan around my waist so that I didn’t feel exposed.”

But the supermodel, who named as the new face of Nars late last year, believes that her confidence has “come with age”.

“It’s taken me a long time to feel right in my body and has really only happened over the past few years.”