Benefits of Fasting That Will Surprise You

Fasting may seem an extraordinarily difficult task. But once you know its benefits, you are sure to take it to practice. Sometimes, not eating anything or better to stay starving does more good than bad. Periods of fasting can help flourish your metabolism and keep your health in check. Here are a few benefits of fasting that will surprise you:

1. If you want to lose weight, practice fasting

Fasting is one of the proven techniques known for weight reduction¹. Periods of fasting cut down body weight. When there is no food intake, the body works on the stored fat, deriving energy from it. Therefore fasting in a regular pattern can help you reduce weight.

2. Better insulin sensitivity

When one fasts, the insulin sensitivity rises. This means the body can endure starch and sugar better and with the help of insulin, the body cells actively take glucose from the blood². This prevents weight gain.

3. Provides better functioning of the brain

Yes, this is true. Fasting can improve your brain health. Fasting releases a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) which promotes neural health. It stimulates the stem cells and instigates the growth of chemicals which are beneficial to the nerves. It also reduces the chances of Alzheimer’s disease³ and Parkinson’s disease⁴.

4. Want clear and acne-free skin? Start fasting

Fasting is known to be a solution to acne and pimples⁵. When one is fasting, the body is freed from the daily task of digestion and hence the energy is focused on other systems, healing the affected skin. Not having food for a day or two, improves digestion thereby cleansing the digestive system and providing a clear and pimple-free skin.

5. Better metabolism

When the daily process of digesting the food comes to a halt, the body can burn calories better and do other tasks that benefit the body .This improves the body metabolism. As digestion takes place correctly, it helps in better bowel movements and thus provide a healthy metabolism.

6.Improves immune system

Fasting is a way to better immunity. When animals are sick, they stop eating everything and in the process of fasting heal themselves. The same applies to a human being. If we practice fasting, we will be less prone to diseases and infections and have a body with high immunity.

7.Fast and live longer

Fasting provides longevity. Fasting helps the digestive system to be healthy and keeps the body younger. The faster the metabolic rate, the longer one lives. Hence, it is true that regular fasting makes you live longer.

8. Improves hunger

Being hungry after a fast is very different from being hungry after a few hours of a meal. When one fasts, one knows the true nature of hunger. Fasting helps the body release the correct hormones and make us feel hungry in the real sense. This is beneficial to our body and keeps the body healthy.

So, it is high times you stop gobbling and munching food and start fasting. Better immunity, clear skin, loss of weight, better brain cells,  healthy body and a longer life. What else does one want?

1. Dwyer, Johanna T., David B. Allison, and Paul M. Coates. “Dietary supplements in weight reduction.” Journal of the American Dietetic Association 105.5 (2005): 80-86. ↩︎
2. Burrin, J. M., and K. G. M. M. Alberti. “What is blood glucose: can it be measured?.” Diabetic medicine 7.3 (1990): 199-206. ↩︎
3. Scheltens, Philip, et al. “Alzheimer’s disease.” The Lancet 388.10043 (2016): 505-517. ↩︎
4. Bloem, Bastiaan R., Michael S. Okun, and Christine Klein. “Parkinson’s disease.” The Lancet 397.10291 (2021): 2284-2303. ↩︎
5. Ravisankar, P., et al. “Acne-causes and amazing remedial measures for acne.” J Pharm Res 5 (2015): 209-301. ↩︎

Last Updated on March 24, 2024 by NamitaSoren