Is it a good thing to ‘starve’ yourself each day, or a few days of the week? Well, a tonne of evidence indicates that timed periods of fasting are beneficial for your body and mind. Starvation, on the other hand, is not recommended as it can cause severe and life-threatening health issues.

Intermittent fasting, or fasting within a controlled set of hours, has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among the health community. It has been proven that it allows the body to burn fat more effectively than regular dieting, making it a safe way to lose weight.

Here are ten surprising benefits of fasting that you should know about:

1. Fasting Helps Weight Loss

Since fasting allows the body to use fat as its primary source of energy, it can be an effective way to lose weight. Athletes now use fasting as a means to reach low body fat percentages for competitions.

2. Fasting Improves Insulin Sensitivity

Studies have shown that fasting can have a positive effect on insulin sensitivity, which helps your body tolerate carbohydrates better.

3. Fasting Speeds Up The Metabolism

Giving your digestive system a rest through intermittent fasting energises your metabolism, making it more efficient in burning calories. A poor digestion system can affect your metabolism function, but intermittent fasting can regulate your digestion and promote healthy bowel function.

4. Fasting Promotes Longevity

Research has shown that the less a person eats, the longer they will live. This is because fasting helps to slow down ageing by maintaining a faster and more efficient metabolism. The less you eat, the less toll it takes on your digestive system.

5. Fasting Improves Hunger

To experience true hunger, it can take between 12 to 24 hours of not eating. Fasting regulates the hormones in your body, allowing you to experience what real hunger is. Obese individuals do not receive the correct signals to let them know they are full due to excessive eating patterns, but fasting acts as a reset button for your hormones, so that you can experience what real hunger is.

6. Fasting Improves Your Eating Patterns

For those who struggle with binge eating disorders or for those who find it difficult to establish a correct eating pattern due to work and other priorities, intermittent fasting can be helpful. Going all afternoon without a meal is okay, and you can allow yourself to eat at a set time that fits your lifestyle.

7. Fasting Improves Your Brain Function

Fasting boosts the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which activates brain stem cells to convert into new neurons. This protein also protects your brain cells from changes associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

8. Fasting Improves Your Immune System

Fasting reduces free radical damage, regulates inflammatory conditions in the body, and starves off cancer cell formation. When animals get sick, they stop eating and focus on resting – this reduces stress on their internal system so that their body can fight off infection. Humans, on the other hand, continue to look for food when they are ill, even if they do not need it.

9. Fasting Contributes To Self-Enlightenment

Fasting allows us to feel more connected to life during practices such as reading, meditation, yoga, and martial arts, as it clears the digestive system, leaving more energy for the body. With a lighter body and a clearer mind, we become more aware and grateful for the things around us.

10. Fasting Helps Clear The Skin And Prevent Acne

Fasting helps the body clean up toxins and regulate the functioning of organs like the liver and kidneys, which can clear the skin and prevent acne. Not eating anything for just one day can work wonders for your body.

In conclusion, timed periods of fasting can bring many benefits to your physical and mental health. However, it is important to remember that starvation is not recommended as it can cause severe and life-threatening issues. Always consult a healthcare practitioner before starting any fasting regime.