The Benefits of Fasting
In the last few years, fasting has been gaining popularity across the world as a way of improving human health. Did you know that fasting has been around for centuries and centuries? Humans have been doing it since time began and animals do it too. So let’s see what all the fuss is about…
Hello everyone. Let’s have a chat about fasting. In the last few years, fasting has been gaining popularity across the world as a way of improving human health. Did you know that fasting has been around for centuries and centuries? Humans have been doing it since time began and animals do it too. So let’s see what all the fuss is about…
What is fasting?
Fasting is a total or partial abstinence from food. In simple terms this means that for a period of time a person will not eat any, or certain types, of food and drink. Fasting is carried out across the world for many different reasons including as part of religious ceremonies or rituals, as well as for health reasons.
Types of fasting
There are many different types of fasting. We’ve broken down a few of the more popular ones below:
1. Water fasting — definitely one for the purists. This type of fasting involves drinking nothing but water for a set period of time with the aim of purifying the body and allowing our much-overused digestive systems a well-deserved break. This is apparently one of the hardest types of fasts to carry out.
2. Juice fasting — this type of fasting involves only drinking fruit or vegetable juices for a set period of time. Somewhat easier than water fasting due to all of the juicy goodness you are getting from the fruits and vegetables.
3. Intermittent fasting — this appears to be the craze at the moment! This type involves fasting at certain times or days in the week and having an unrestricted diet for the remainder of the time. There are a few different types of intermittent fasting. These include:
• Alternate day fasting — eating every other day
• 5:2 fasting — eating a normal diet for 5 days of the week and having a drastically reduced caloric intake on the remaining two days (the two days are not allowed to be consecutive days)
• Time-restricted fasting — eating only within a set time period, i.e. between 7am — 3pm with nothing but water outside of these times.
It is with intermittent fasting where most of the scientific research has been carried out and health benefits have started to be documented much more.
Benefits of fasting
So, the big question is… Why fast? Below are some of the documented health benefits buzzing around at the moment:
1. Weight loss: It’s a great way of limiting calorie intake without having to be excessive. Fasting helps in the production of certain hormones which help to boost your metabolism. It has been seen to help reduce body fat whilst preserving muscle tissue.
2. Reduces chronic inflammation: Studies have shown people who fast intermittently have reduced levels of inflammatory markers in the blood after one month. This could be great for a whole host of inflammatory conditions out there including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
3. Improves heart health: Current research shows benefits on the cardiovascular system including lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
4. Increases levels of Growth Hormone (GH: People who fast intermittently have been shown to have increased levels of GH after their fasting period. This hormone is important in growth, muscle strength, metabolism and aiding weight loss.
5. Controls blood sugar: Promising for our type 2 diabetics out there, although larger studies are needed for this area of research as evidence is a bit mixed at the moment. Watch this space!
There are also a whole host of other benefits starting to emerge from animal studies which could be bright for our human future when more research is carried out. These areas include benefits seen in brain function, delayed aging and prevention of cancer. This is exciting stuff!
We hope this has been a helpful insight into the world of fasting. If you are considering doing a fast yourself or would like more information, please get in touch and we’ll be able to point you in the right direction. It is always safest to consult a medical professional before attempting any type of fast yourself as there are certain conditions with which fasting is not allowed. Here's to a healthier life :)
Staying healthy this Christmas
Christmas is finally here! This month we’re giving you some awesome tips on keeping yourself healthy over the Christmas period. We all know how easy it is to eat and drink too much and move too little when the treats come a’ calling! Try some of these handy hints when you find yourself overindulging this silly season:
We’ve been building up to it all year… And now Christmas is finally here! Neat, that rhymes! This month we’re giving you some awesome tips on keeping yourself healthy over the Christmas period. We all know how easy it is to eat and drink too much and move too little when the treats come a’ calling! Try some of these handy hints when you find yourself overindulging this silly season:
Be a hydration station:
As the sun and your social calendar begin to heat up, there’ll be plenty of occasions where you might find it tempting to have that extra beer or glass of wine with your friends. It’s always good to have nice drink and a catch up, but everything is healthier in moderation. Combine alcohol with lots of sunshine and you are destined for heatstroke. Make sure you stay hydrated this holiday period to avoid any unwanted illness. Try breaking the alcoholic beverages up with a refreshing glass of water or fruit juice when you are at your Christmas party this year.
Don’t overload on sugar:
With Christmas comes an exorbitant amount of lollies, cakes, chocolate and other sugary treats hitting the supermarket shelves. We like a gummy bear and a mince pie as much as the next, but to avoid getting hit with endless sugar highs (and the lows that follow), make sure you get plenty of nutritious food into your diet every day. Fruit and vegetables will provide you with heaps of essential vitamins, minerals and fibre needed to keep you functioning well. Why not try some antioxidant-rich dark chocolate rather than the milk or white alternatives? Yum!
Don’t burn the candle at both ends:
It’s easy to get carried away over Christmas with social events and work parties. There are so many people to see and catch up with, that sometimes we sacrifice some of our sleeping hours for party hours. This is okay occasionally, but try to keep it to a minimum. Our bodies won’t make allowances just because it is Christmas. In order to steer clear of illness, keep yourself working and able to attend those social events, you’ll need to pamper yourself with plenty of sleep. Get those Zzz’s in!
Take time away from the hustle and bustle:
In between all the craziness of Santa coming, make sure you give yourself time to breathe, relax and recuperate from what has probably been a very busy year. Read a book, try some meditation or attend a local yoga or aqua-aerobics class. Your body and mind will thank you for it, and come New Year, you’ll be ready for the year ahead.
Do a good deed for those less fortunate:
This is by no means a must, but Christmastime is a very lonely time for many people. Think about those without family, a roof over their head, or little money to enjoy the festive period like some may be able to. There are many ways to help out... You could donate to a food bank or charity or volunteer your time at a shelter. It all helps. Remember to smile and be kind when out in the community. You never know when someone is having a bad day. Your smiling face may be just what they need to turn their day around. Good deeds don’t have to cost anything, and they will make you feel awesome. Win-win for the world!
Give these a go and we’re sure you will have the healthiest, happiest Christmas of all. Come January you’ll be feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world (and continue to spread joy of course) for another year! Have a great Christmas and we’ll see you in 2020. Tis the season to be jolly, tra-la-la-la laaa, la-la la la!