Fasting Can Boost Your Heart Health
If you've ever wanted to try Intermittent fasting (IF), now is the time. The latest research shows that fasting can be beneficial for your heart health.
The new study looked at men who fasted every other day and compared them to men who ate the same number of calories six days a week. They found that the men who fasted every other day had lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and a lower risk of heart disease.
The researchers also looked at what happened when the men were asked to eat more on the days they weren't fasting. It turns out that eating more food on the non-fasting days didn't help their heart health at all.
IF has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. This is one of the main reasons why fasting can improve immune function.
Fasting can help regulate the inflammatory response. This is because IF helps regulate inflammatory responses by activating autophagy, which is the body’s natural way of cleaning out old and dysfunctional proteins that build up inside cells. The autophagy process also reduces levels of endogenous antigens and free radicals, two potential triggers of the inflammatory response. Fasting also increases levels of ketone bodies, which have been found to reduce inflammation in many animal studies.
In addition to helping with inflammation, IF can also help prevent cancer. There are several possible mechanisms for this effect:
Fasting induces apoptosis of cancer cells (cell death) and inhibits tumour cell growth; intermittent fasting also improves blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity, both of which are important factors in preventing cancer.
There are many ways to fast.
You can do a water fast, where you only drink water. You can do a juice fast, where you drink fruit and/or vegetable juices but not solid food. You can fast from sunrise to sunset (like what Muslims do during Ramadan), or from Sunday evening to Monday evening (as some Christians do). You can fast by eating meat, or animal products such as dairy or eggs.
Fasting has been practiced in various religions and cultures for thousands of years. It is meant to be purifying and strengthening—and we're not just talking about your muscles. Fasting helps strengthen the mind and body's connection with the spirit, as well as enhance your overall feeling of wellness by helping to remove any toxins that may be lingering inside you.
During a fast, the body is more functional, not less.
Fasting isn't a stressor because the human body is highly adaptable. Instead of stressing out, when we fast, the body shifts into repair mode—which is what it's supposed to do!
Whether you're fasting for 12 hours a day or a full 24-hour fast once or twice per week, you're just giving your body time to catch up on other important things, like cellular repair and digestion.
It also gives your gut a chance to clear out bacteria, old cells, and debris. If you think of your digestion as a conveyor belt that needs to be cleaned every once in a while (which it is), fasting is like hitting the pause button so you can take some time to get rid of the gunk that's been slowing everything down.
This is why people who fast report higher energy levels and better moods. It's also why intermittent fasting has been linked with everything from weight loss to longevity!
If you decide to try fasting as a way to lose weight or improve your health, make sure that you consult with a medical professional first.