5 Incredible Benefits of Fasting & Who Shouldn’t Fast
In a previous article, we shared a few of the ways fasting can help you finally lose weight and keep it off this year. Today, we’re touching on some of the other incredible benefits that fasting has to offer!
Fasting Promotes Detoxification
Detoxification is a complicated process that involves so much more than drinking lemon water and juice cleansing. Your body is always clearing out the old to make space for the new, but for many reasons, one of them being a poor diet, most of us struggle to properly detox. Fasting is one easy way we can promote detoxification. When we fast, we kick into autophagy, which is our body’s way of doing a thorough, deep clean. It breaks down and recycles old, damaged cells, proteins and other cellular debris in order to build new, healthy cells. This mechanism is extremely important for our overall health, and when it becomes compromised, diseases begin forming.
Improved Digestion and Gut Health
Gas, bloating, pain and constipation are just a few of the dreaded symptoms of a faulty digestive system. Poor digestion and gut health are at the root of dis-ease, so it’s crucial that we do everything we can to promote a healthy digestive and intestinal tract. Fasting can help! When you fast, not only are you giving your digestive system a break, you’re allowing it time to heal and regenerate so it can work better and stronger for years to come. People who fast tend to see great improvements in their digestive symptoms!
Fasting is Naturally Anti-Aging
Did you know that fasting has incredible anti-aging benefits? First, let’s look at why we age in the first place. Yes, it naturally happens over time, but in our society, we are aging at an extremely rapid pace. Contrary to popular belief, common signs of aging such as wrinkles and lines, sagging skin and other symptoms like cognitive decline, don’t just happen when you hit 40. We exhibit external signs of aging because of internal issues, like free radical damage and inflammation. Fasting helps speed the healing of damaged cells and tissues, reduces inflammation and can help you keep your youthful glow!
Balance Your Hormones with Fasting
If you haven’t heard about how fasting can decrease insulin levels and improve insulin sensitivity, you can read more about it here. Fasting can also increase growth hormone, resulting in increased fat-burning and muscle-gain.
Get Your Brain Back!
Studies with mice on an intermittent fasting protocol have shown increased learning, memory, coordination and new neuron growth from stem cells. They also exhibited less age-related cognitive decline, and fewer symptoms of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease when compared to normal mice. Evidence suggests that autophagy positively affects AB plaque formation, which is the main marker in Alzheimer’s Disease.
Is Fasting for Everyone?
The short answer is no. In general, certain people should not fast, including children, pregnant or breastfeeding women and anyone underweight or malnourished. Those dealing with blood sugar issues like diabetes or hypoglycemia must also take caution and start slowly, though great results have been seen with these conditions. Starting a new fasting regimen should be done carefully and it’s very important to always listen to your body first and work with a health professional to ensure it is done safely and effectively.
Are you ready to experience these incredible benefits? Curious if fasting is right for you? Allow us to guide and support you in the best way that works for your body and lifestyle!
Asher Kleiber
Registered Holistic Nutritionist
www.flourishnaturalwellness.com
Sources:
The Complete Guide to Fasting by Jason Fung, MD, with Jimmie Moore
