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Fasting has become increasingly popular over the years, particularly in the fitness and health community although experts avoid recommending eating less due to the stigma involved. But that doesn’t change the fact that fasting does have its health benefits. Let’s look at 7 such benefits of fasting.
1. Weight Loss: Intermittent fasting, that is controlled within a set number of hours, helps the body to burn through fat cells and lose weight more effectively than just regular dieting. It allows the body to use fat, and not sugar, as its primary source of energy.
2. Improves Insulin Sensitivity: A study showed that fasting has a positive effect on insulin sensitivity, allowing you to tolerate carbs (sugar) better than if you didn’t fast.
3. Speeds Up Metabolism: Intermittent fasting gives your digestive system a rest, thereby energizing your metabolism to burn through calories more efficiently. It regulates digestion and promotes healthy bowel function, thus improving your metabolic function.
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4. Improves Eating Patterns: Fasting can be a helpful practice for those who struggle with binge-eating or irregular eating patterns due to work and other priorities. Going all afternoon without a meal is okay, as long as you allow yourself a set time each day to eat your daily requirement of calories in one sitting.
5. Improves Brain Activity: Fasting helps produce a protein called brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) which activates brain stem cells to convert into new neurons, and triggers numerous other chemicals that promote neural health. It also protects brain cells from changes associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
6. Improves Immunity: Intermittent fasting improves the immune system because it reduces free radical damage, regulates inflammatory conditions in the body, and starves off cancer cell formation.
7. Prevents Acne And Clears Skin: Fasting can help clear the skin because with the body temporarily freed from digestion, it’s able to focus its regenerative energies on other systems. Not eating for just one day helps the body to clean up toxins and regulate the functions of various internal organs like liver, kidneys, etc.
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In short, fasting once in a while can be beneficial for you. But if you have a persisting problem the do consult a dietician or nutritionist before venturing out into something new. Being healthy and fit is need of the hour. Only managing the diet won’t help. Add a little workout to complement the diet and see yourself change for the better. Comment below and share your thoughts. You could check out Gympik to find your best fitness match.
