What comes to mind when you hear the word fasting? Probably the image of someone straining not to eat while being taunted by their cravings. However, fasting isn't all about painfully denying yourself food. It can be healthy and it also comes with rich cultural traditions. It is a practice that has been celebrated for centuries.
Apart from the Muslim practice of Ramadan, other religions and cultures embrace fasting as a ceremonious tradition because of its health benefits.
What is intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting means changing your eating pattern to alternate between periods of eating and periods of fasting. The best thing is, there are various ways to practice intermittent fasting and several models you can experiment with to see what works best for your schedule and body.
Advantages of intermittent fasting
The rise of new diets like Keto and Paleo has boosted the popularity of intermittent fasting. If we go back to the paleolithic era, the human diet was hunting-based. Early man would go long periods with little or very minimal food and then feast when they killed a large animal in a hunt.
Experts believe that our bodies adjusted to this lifestyle of feast or famine and acclimated to store fat, using it for energy during fasting
LOWER INSULIN LEVELS IN THE BLOOD
When insulin levels are low, your body burns body fat to release energy. Intermittent fasting also reduces your body's insulin resistance, lowering your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
INCREASE IN BLOOD LEVELS OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE (HGH)
This hormone promotes fat-burning and muscle gain, helping you stay fit and healthy.
BOOSTS CELL REPAIR
Fasting induces the cell repair process as well as the removal of waste from cells.
A Word of Caution- intermittent fasting isn't for everyone!
If you have or have had eating disorders, you should not engage in intermittent fasting.
SAFELY FASTING
Before you jump onto this practice, here are some tips you need to know to ensure your safety. Also, consult your doctor for advice.
1. Double your time method: your fast for 16 hours, eat for 8
Here's an example of how this works: wake up at 8 am and give yourself an 8-10 hour window to eat. You'll have your last meal somewhere between 4-6 pm.
You should wake up feeling lighter, more energized, and ready to take on the day.
2. Refresher: you do a 24-hour fast once or twice a week
If you've been on a bingeing streak lately, the 24-hour fast is an excellent refresher to get back to healthy eating.
If you're worried about succumbing to hunger, drink lemon water during the fast to curb your appetite. This will also keep you hydrated throughout the day.
3. Warrior diet: fast during the day and eat a large meal at night
This method involves taking light snacks of raw vegetables and fruit throughout the day, then eating one big meal within a 4-hour time frame in the evening. The meals are structured very similarly to the paleo diet, emphasizing unprocessed foods.
We recommend doing your research, consulting with your doctor, then trying each method to see which one works well for your body and your daily routine.
With love,
The Sole Toscana Beauty Team
