6 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Fasting!
26-06-2017 | Posted By: Rajni Joshi | 2886 View(s)
Fasting is a common practice of restraining oneself from some or all food, drink or both for a particular period. In an absolute dry fast, you abstain from all food and liquid for a particular period, whereas a water fasting involves drinking water but abstinence from all food. Other fasting ways may include restricting specific foods, and can also be intermittent in nature. And the most important thing, starvation and fasting are two different things! People often use these words synonymously, but they are totally different. There are many religious reasons for fasting in various cultures. We have been hearing and reading different stories of fasting at home but ever thought of any scientific reasons or benefits of fasting?
Yes, you heard it right! Well, numerous evidence indicates that limited and intermittent fasting can be good for your health. In this article, we are going to explore a few such benefits of healthy fasting that will surprise you! So let’s get started!
1. Fasting is good for your brain
It is believed that fasting improves brain function. Intermittent fasting is associated with the fact that it improves certain significant metabolic features which are beneficial for your brain health. It encourages the production of the Brain-derived neurotrophic factor also known as BDNF, a protein that helps in activating the brain stem cells to convert into new neurones. Not only this, but it also triggers many other chemicals that help in promoting neural health.BDNF also plays the role of protecting your brain cells from changes linked with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Fasting has Mental benefits
It is believed that fasting improves mental peace and focus. Ever experienced fasting? Do you feel calm and happy? It is found that many experienced fasters believe in fasting when they desire for an additional boost for any major project or work deadline. But if you are just beginning with it, keep in mind that this won’t be the case at first as everything takes time and we would recommend not to fast for a big event until you have experienced it before and you already have an idea about your fasting reactions.
3. Fasting can fight acne and helps clear the skin
And this one is for those who pamper their skin a lot! Yes, it is said that if you do not eat anything for just one day, it can help to clean the toxins from the body and can also regulate the functioning of other body organs like kidney, liver and other parts.It is believed that during fasting, the body is temporarily freed from digestion and thus the body can focus regenerative energies on other systems of the body.
4. It can help in Improving hunger
Let us just discuss how it can improve your hunger! Do you experience the actual hunger when you eat a meal every 3-4 hours? No, right? In fact, It would take from 12 to even 24 hours to experience the real hunger.It is said that fasting can help in regulating the hormones in your body. The longer you can fast, the more your body will be able to regulate itself to release the right hormones so that you get to experience what real hunger is!
5. Fasting may slow down the ageing process
Ageing is a natural process but who would not love to look younger? As we just discussed that fasting could help in producing more human growth hormone, the hormone is closely related to the process of ageing. When there is less production of human growth hormone, it is believed to age faster too. So why not try it out by using fasting as a tool to help the body age a bit slower?
6. Being on a Fast can help in Weight loss
Studies suggest that fasting can be effective for weight loss. Controlled and intermittent fasting can allow the body to burn through fat cells more efficiently than just any other dieting.
It is said that intermittent fasting allows the body to use fat as its primary source of energy instead of sugar. Many athletes are found to use fasting as means to hitting low body fat percentages for the purpose of competitions.
So, basically fasting should not be such that you end up fainting and feeling uneasy, it shouldn’t be done forcefully. If your body or health allows you to do so, then only you should go ahead with fasting.
