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What is intermittent fasting?
When many of us hear the word fasting, we often think of starving ourselves, but this is not true. In-fact, intermittent fasting has been practiced throughout all of human history, however until recently in many ways has been virtually forgotten. Thankfully, as science is beginning to catchup with ancient wisdom, many of us today are now re-discovering this age-old dietary intervention. So, what is it?
Fasting means to deliberately withhold the intake of food for health, spiritual or other reasons. Depending upon what type of fasting you’re doing, it can be done for any period of time – hours, days, weeks or even months at a time. In-fact, if approached properly, intermittent fasting can be done as normal part of everyday life.
What are the benefits of intermittent fasting?
There are numerous benefits of intermittent fasting – most of which have been known since ancient times. These fasting periods were often called ‘purifications’, ‘detoxifications’ or ‘cleanses.’ People understood that periods of abstinence from food would clear their bodies’ systems of toxins and rejuvenate them to full health. Today, science now tells us that intermittent fasting can lead to:
*A reduction in body fat:
Intermittent fasting allows your body to use its stored energy/fat supplies. It is important to understand that there is nothing wrong with this – it’s simply how our bodies work. In-fact, it has been essential for our survival as a species, during times of famine and other threats. It’s also what cats, dogs, lions and bears do too.
However, with most of us eating every third hour as is often recommended, our bodies use the incoming food energy, instead of the stored fat, and so we become fat. To restore balance and to lose weight, we need to increase the amount of time spent burning food energy, and we can do this through intermittent fasting.
*Intermittent fasting is superior to dieting:
Why? Because diets very rarely get results, are complicated, limited in their availability, expensive, time consuming, inconvenient (especially if you often have to make seperate meals for others), hard to stick too and are often down right unenjoyable. Intermittent fasting on the other hand, actually works, is super simple, is available everywhere, is free, saves time, is easy to stick too, and is enjoyable because you’re not excluding any of the foods you love.
*Numerous other benefits:
The reality is that there are so many benefits to intermittent fasting – far too many to go through in detail here. But some others which are worth mentioning include;
*Lowered blood sugar/insulin levels
*Possible improved blood cholesterol profile
*Possible reversal of Type 2 Diabetes
*Possible increased energy
*Improved mental clarity and concentration
*Possible reduction in Alzheimer’s disease
*Healthier microbiome/gut health – (the key to a strong immune system)
*Possible reduction of inflammation (the root cause of all disease)
*Stimulation of grown hormone and activation of cellular cleansing by stimulating autophagy – both of which decrease the effects of aging
*Possible longer life
So now that you know why fasting is so important, if you would like to about all of the different ways in which you can fast, as well as when it is not ok to fast, then join my 3 keys holistic health and fitness program at www.h360.online
