Fasting has five Scientifically proven benefits
Fasting has five proven benefits, and there are safe and effective ways to accomplish it
While many people fast for religious and cultural reasons, others feel that fasting has scientifically proven health benefits when done correctly.
Fasting is defined as a period of time when you do not eat or drink. Intermittent fasting is the most well-known of the various types of fasting, according to Andrew Wang, MD, professor of immunobiology at Yale University School of Medicine.
fasting’s benefits
Fasting offers numerous psychological and physical health advantages, the most significant of which are:
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Fasting can help you feel better by lowering inflammation:
Fasting decreases inflammation, which is the body’s normal response to infection and usually goes away once injured cells repair. When the body is subjected to oxidative stress, which is caused by the buildup of free radicals, it can become inflamed over long periods of time. This is because free radicals destroy healthy tissues and cells, which can come from external sources such as pollution and biological activities like digestion.
Chronic inflammation can harm healthy cells, tissues, and organs, and it has been related to a variety of disorders, including heart attacks and strokes.
Your body can’t turn glucose from food into energy when you’re fasting. Your body must instead rely on ketone bodies, which are derived from fatty acids, as an alternate energy source. When you burn ketones, your body produces fewer free radicals, reducing inflammation.
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Fasting Improves Memory:
Our organs are more susceptible to chronic inflammation as we get older, according to Wang. Because of plaque buildup in the brain, chronic inflammation can cause cognitive loss and even dementia. Fasting can help with this by lowering inflammation, according to Wang.
Fasting appears to reduce the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in animals, according to a growing body of evidence. Intermittent fasting was proven to decrease cognitive decline and alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in rats in a 2019 study. Fasting can help you enhance your mental flexibility, which is the capacity to transition between tasks quickly and efficiently.
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Blood sugar levels are regulated by fasting:
Fasting may also help to control blood sugar levels, which is beneficial in preventing disorders like type 2 diabetes. When you eat, your blood sugar rises, thus when you fast, your blood sugar naturally reduces. Your body, on the other hand, will make glucose to keep your blood sugar levels from falling too low. This maintains a healthy level of blood sugar.
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Fasting Is Beneficial to Your Heart
While there is little data on the subject, Wang believes that fasting benefits heart health by lowering inflammation and protecting against diabetes, both of which are risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
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Weight loss is aided by fasting:
By decreasing the number of calories you consume, fasting aids in weight loss. Intermittent fasting, in particular, aids weight loss by maintaining low blood sugar levels in the evening when you are less active.
However, research on whether fasting is more successful than a calorie-restricted diet for weight loss is inconclusive.
Also, if you want to lose weight, consult your doctor to determine the best strategy for you.
What are some safe ways to fast?
Fasting for 16 hours a day is the most common kind of intermittent fasting, but lengthier fasts of 24 to 72 hours are also possible.
According to Wang, there is no magic time limit for fasting. The best thing you can do is listen to your body and choose which fasting method is best for you. Breakfast should also be considered if you feel nervous, sick, or faint while fasting.
Pregnant women, mothers who nurse their children, those with a history of eating disorders, and people with diabetes or blood sugar problems are among those who should avoid fasting, according to Wang.