Benefits of Fasting

Why You Shouldn't Eat on Mondays

Fasting is a confusing term.  If you google it there are so many studies promoting it and others that say it doesn't help.  There are also many different ways to fast and figuring out the right way can be really tough.  Depending on what your health goal is I am a fan of intermittent fasting, the type of fasting where you eat for only 8 hours a day.  It's also known as 16:8 and it depends on the person but I usually suggest an eating window to be 11am-7pm.  Read here for more on intermittent fasting (8 Things to Know Before You Try Intermittent Fasting).

I have recently been playing with the idea of taking one day a week to fast.  I have been doing a lot of research and it makes sense for some people to do.  It all depends on what your health goal is but the research shows fasting can hep people lose weight, help lower cholesterol  and lower blood pressure too. 

It works because when you’re not digesting food, your body diverts energy to a process known as autophagy. It’s essentially a means where your body recycles and ditches the junk inside of you that it doesn’t have time to address when you’re digesting food all the time. It helps to regulate hormones, improve blood sugar, and increases a couple different enzymatic processes.  Fasting also has the same impact on your growth hormones as sleep and intense exercise. Studies haven't been done on humans but various animal studies show that fasting helps extend lifespan.  

The most important thing you can do when starting a 1-day fast is to promise yourself you’ll stick with it. You will inevitably experience some discomfort during the fast, and although it’s not insurmountable, it does require some willpower to get past. Commit from the very beginning, and you’ll be going into it with the right mindset. There’s a lot of power in commitment; harness it!
A lot times when you think you’re hungry, you’re actually just thirsty. The simple way to beat this is to drink a lot of water. Water actually curbs your appetite, as it decreases one of your hormones called ghrelin, which tells your brain that you’re hungry. By drinking more water you can quiet that nagging hunger.  Water is your best friend during a 1-day fast.

The health benefits of fasting are extremely appealing, but I do want to stress that fasting isn’t always for everyone. People who suffer from hypoglycemia and diabetics should probably avoid fasting, up until blood glucose and insulin levels have been normalized. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should absolutely not fast, as it can have negative effects on the baby. So for the first time I am writing about something I actually have not tried because I don't feel like waiting a year to finish breast feeding and then fast one day a week to share my opinion.  I really wanted to give you the info now and if you think it could work for you let me know at your next appointment and I'll let you know if it's something you should consider.