Maintaining a healthy body sometimes requires you to try new techniques beyond the typical consumption of a wholesome diet. One technique that many people swear by is intermittent fasting. This type of eating pattern has you adjusting the timing of your meals within a certain schedule and skipping meals during other times. In general, your caloric needs are still met, but you spend a period of time during the day fasting, or avoiding solid food, in order to capitalize on the health effects of this way of eating. Here are some ways people have benefited from this method.
1. Lose Weight
The top benefit that intermittent fasters enjoy more often than typical eaters is weight loss. For those who have struggled to get rid of those last five pounds, one way to help give your body a way to let go of extra weight is to use fasting. Some people have found that fasting for hours at a time, and then eating regularly can help them quickly drop stubborn extra fat.
2. Regulate Hormones
Diets that cycle calorie amounts such as intermittent fasting have been found to help regulate levels of insulin and blood sugar. Avoiding spikes in blood sugar and insulin can lead to feeling more energy and experiencing a lower risk of developing diabetes. After fasting, you can continue to support healthy blood sugar by choosing foods that continue to help maintain balanced insulin levels.
3. Increase Metabolism
As people age, it’s natural to experience a bit of a slowdown in metabolism. Some people find that weight starts to slowly creep on, despite no change in their diet. What may be happening is your body’s metabolism may be not as effective as it once was. To combat this, what you can do is give your body a break from the routine of three meals a day. Intermittent fasting can help give your body a new eating schedule that may fuel your metabolism once again.
4. Extend Lifespan
Diets that rely on fasting are known to contain lower amounts of calories than other traditional eating plans. Some studies have found a connection between eating fewer calories and extending longevity. The reality is that when you are careful about the foods you put in your body, you may be more likely to choose healthier and more nutritionally dense foods instead of empty calories. Getting into the habit of eating wholesome foods without overindulging is something that is extremely beneficial to the body.
5. Speed Up Cell Repair
One exciting recent develop that is connected to diets associated with periods of fasting is cell regeneration. Scientists have found that fasting may help the body’s cells repair themselves quicker than usual. Periods of fasting triggered lower white blood cell counts. Then, in controlled studies, stem cell production suddenly increased, which led to high levels of cell rejuvenation. This development may prove to be a key in finally preventing the aging process and unlocking the secret to keeping people young for as long as possible.
6. Reduce Inflammation
In most fasting diets, hunger is kept at bay by consuming low calorie juices or broths. In some cases, fasting truly means eating nothing at all. When practicing intermittent fasting with an ingredient such as bone broth, consumers can get additional health benefits. Broth based fasts have been able to help reduce inflammation in the body. These broths are created from protein packed ingredients such as turkey, beef, or chicken bones and help give fasters maximum nutrients in an easy to digest formula. The amino acids found in these ingredients all help support your body in fighting inflammation.
7. Support Heart Health
Another top benefit of fasting diets is support for a healthy heart. Choosing to ingest wholesome and nutritious juices or broths can help lower cholesterol, reduce the amount of saturated fat you consume, and decrease instances of high blood pressure. Doctors have found patients who use some type of fasting in their diets have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease. During the periods of fasting, the body stabilizes itself by eliminating bad cholesterol and begins to use fat as energy. Researchers are still investigating this process, but are excited about the possibilities.
While fasting may initially require some willpower and discipline in order to truly reap the many advantages of the practice, you can ease yourself into the method by practicing small periods of limited fasting with juice or broth recipes. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you can start experiencing some of the many health benefits that have this dieting method increasing in popularity.