When you see the word fasting the first thing that comes to mind is starving yourself. The difference between fasting and starving is the severity of how the body may take the abstinence of food. Fasting is a practice, you can not eat except drinking water for a specific period of time but you can still function well, while starving is the total lack of nutrients in the body that can cause organ damage or even death.
There are certain guidelines before you start your fasting period so you will not reach the point of starvation. But did you know that there are benefits you can get from fasting? In this article we listed ten health benefits of intermittent fasting that you should know.
Improves insulin sensitivity
How does fasting help improve insulin sensitivity? Insulin sensitivity is how your body responses to insulin. Some people just need a little amount of insulin to store carbohydrates, while for others they need far more. When you are full, the insulin is high because the body relies more on burning energy from glucose (carbohydrates). But during fasting period the body will absorb energy from burning stored fats rather than glucose. Fasting periods may balance the amount of insulin released in the body. It lowers the sugar levels and blood pressure as well.
Improves eating habits
Intermittent fasting can improve your eating habits especially if you have no proper eating patterns. If you are busy at work or have a habit in forgetting a meal then eat a lot when you remember, this method can help you. People who are suffering binge eating disorder can practice fasting to improve their eating habits. You can choose what time and period of fasting that is best for you.
Helps in cleansing the body
Fasting can help you remove toxins in your body. Since your digestive system is resting, your energy focuses more on other systems and cleaning up the toxins from the inside. It also helps in regulating the functions of the other important organs in the body. Expelling toxins in the body can help you have acne-free and clear skin.
Contributes in self enlightenment
There are reasons why some people do fasting, and one reason is due to their religion. Religions have fasting days for different reasons, the period of fasting and how they do it. But it can help in the self enlightenment even if it is not connected by religion. With the abundance of food, you can concentrate in channeling your energy in meditating, praying or yoga and you will discover more about yourself. There will be inner peace, lightness in the body and mind and it can accelerate your spiritual awakening.
Improves your mental health and brain function
Fasting increases BDNF or Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor levels, a protein coding gene that plays a role in the regulation in the memory, stress response and cognitive functions. Low BDNF levels have been linked to Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases. There are also studies that shows that fasting can help in the process of a safe therapeutic neuronal response.
It helps speeding up your metabolism
Since your digestive system is at rest during the fasting period, your body will focus more in burning fats to use as energy. Your stomach is empty so it can absorb more nutrients and effectively digest more once you start eating again. Your bowel movement will improve too during fasting.
May improve your immune system
During fasting the body removes all the toxins in the body and replaces the damaged, weak or old white blood cells. There will be a depletion of white blood cells during fasting and this will trigger the stem cells to regenerate the entire immune system and producing more cells in the body. Producing new white cells can increase the body’s ability to fight off infection and diseases.
It helps weight loss
Fasting helps weight loss by burning fat cells in the body as the primary source of energy instead of using sugar. Intermittent fasting will lower your insulin levels dramatically that facilitates burning of fats. The changes in metabolic rate and growth hormone can help in fat loss.
May help in reducing heart problems
When a body reaches a certain age, its metabolism slows down. There will be more complications if you will not watch what you eat. High sugar levels can lead to diabetes that can be a risk factor in having heart disease. During fasting, your body may improves in metabolizing sugar and also in decreasing the bad cholesterol in your body.
Helps you live longer
With all the benefits of intermittent fasting listed here it is safe to say that it also helps you live longer. Cellular repair is one important change that occurs during fasting that can help in longevity of life. There are also studies that shows that it will reduce the the enzyme PKA which is associated with aging. A long period of fasting also helps reducing IGF-1, a growth hormone that is related to aging and risks of cancer.
