Intermittent fasting can be described merely as the process of abstaining from eating and drinking for a period. Every person has practiced this method of fasting. The time spent sleeping, for instance, is a time when no food is ingested nor is it digested. During this period, the body experiences positive psychological changes due to fasting. These benefits prove the importance of fasting.
Some studies discovered that overnight fasting could reduce specific metabolic biomarkers such as insulin and glucose. It is for this reason that doctors order patients to fast for a period of 8 to 12 hours before they take a blood test. Other recent research studies show that almost all intermittent fasting types are harmless both physically and mentally. Therefore, would fasting more benefit human health positively?
Here are the ten reasons why you should try intermittent fasting.
Weight Loss
Intermittent fasting for weight loss is perhaps the main reason people recommend this method. The method works by letting the body tap into accumulated bodily fat reserves. The fat provides fuel for the body whenever food is scarce. Therefore, the body will begin to lose weight in a slow and steady process that can be highly beneficial.
Brain Function
In a 2015 study, it was revealed that this method of fasting has significant implications for the health of the brain. Intermittent fasting stimulates the brain in different ways: it aids in recovery from brain injury or strokes, promotes neuron growth and enhances the performance of memory. Additionally, it helps in improving cognitive function and the quality of life for people living with diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.
Skin Health
One conventional method for treating acne is through diet. Therefore, using fasting as a way of managing the skin should not come as a surprise. The technique offers radiant and glowing skin. A person can identify foods that are sensitive to the skin by introducing one food at a time after the fast. You will see changes for the better quickly. Apart from the skin, the method also affects the hair and nails positively.
Metabolic Boost
Part of the reason why intermittent fasting for weight loss is successful is the effect that the fluctuation between food restriction and regular eating has on metabolism. Fasting itself lowers metabolism. However, the shorter fasting periods advocated by intermittent fasting increase the rate of metabolism by up to fourteen percent as reported by one study.
Insulin Sensitivity
The use of fasting as a method of regulating health has been known to help with the regulation of insulin sensitivity. Fasting aids toleration to carbohydrates better. After constant starvation, insulin present in the body directs the cells to take up glucose from the blood efficiently. With the increased reduction of insulin resistance, the risk of diabetes type 2 is also lowered.
Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Oxidative stress causes aging and chronic diseases. When unstable molecules react with other molecules in the body such as DNA and protein, they damage them, thus causing oxidative stress. Studies show that fasting enhances the resistance of the body towards oxidative stress. The method also fights inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a cause for many diseases in the body.
Heart Health
Heart disease is one of the significant causes of death in the world. Risk factors are determined by the risk of an increase or the decrease of heart disease. This method of fasting improves many different risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammatory markers, and blood sugar levels. As a result, fasting reduces the risk of heart disease.
Improved Hunger
Regular eating habits prevent a person from experiencing hunger. Intermittent fasting helps to regulate body hormones which enable a person to experience real hunger. The more fasting is done, the more the body learns to control itself, thus releasing the correct hormones. As a bonus, proper working hormones make you fuller quickly.
Self-Enlightenment
Many people feel more connected to life when they read, meditate, do yoga or martial arts. Since fasting ensures no food is in the digestive system, there is room for more energy in the body. Therefore, fasting gives the body a better feel for both the physical and the conscious.
Longevity
The ability of fasting to extend lifespan is one of the most exciting discoveries of all. In one of the studies carried out on rats, life expectancy was increased by up to 83 percent. The process of longevity works in the same way that the process of calorie restriction does. Thus, even though it is not proven in humans, the possibilities are common among anti-aging crowds.
Conclusion
With the benefits of fasting outlined, it makes sense to get on the plan immediately. After all, everybody wants to live a longer and healthier life: fasting is the answer.
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