Far too often fasting and nutrition are either thought of as total opposites or some use fasting as a way to start some diet plan. Fasting needs to be thought of as a Spiritual Diet, with the focus on drawing yourself closer to God on a personal level. It’s that some may fast to seek God’s help in bringing about a cleansing of the spirit and body. Whatever your purpose is, always ensure that the main focus behind the fasting is spiritually driven. With that said fasting is not only good for spiritual reasons but studies show that it’s healthy as well.
Below are 5 of the top 10 Health reasons we should also honor our body in doing a fast. Check back at altruahealthshare.com/blog for when we will release the next 5!
1. Intermittent Fasting Changes the Function of Cells, Genes and Hormones
Insulin levels: Blood levels of insulin drop significantly, which facilitates fat burning. Human growth hormone: The blood levels of growth hormone may increase as much as 5-fold. Higher levels of this hormone facilitate fat burning and muscle gain, and have numerous other benefits. Cellular repair: The body induces important cellular repair processes, such as removing waste material from cells.
2. Intermittent Fasting Can Help You Lose Weight and Belly Fat
Generally speaking, intermittent fasting will make you eat fewer meals. Additionally, intermittent fasting enhances hormone function to facilitate weight loss. Intermittent fasting helps you eat fewer calories, while boosting metabolism slightly. It is a very effective tool to lose weight and belly fat.
3. Intermittent Fasting Can Reduce Insulin Resistance, Lowering Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Interestingly, intermittent fasting has been shown to have major benefits for insulin resistance and lead to an impressive reduction in blood sugar levels. In human studies on intermittent fasting, fasting blood sugar has been reduced by 3-6%, while fasting insulin has been reduced by 20-31%.
4. Intermittent Fasting Can Reduce Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in the Body
Several studies show that intermittent fasting may enhance the body’s resistance to oxidative stress. Additionally, studies show that intermittent fasting can help fight inflammation, another key driver of all sorts of common diseases.
5. Intermittent Fasting May be Beneficial for Heart Health
Intermittent fasting has been shown to improve numerous different risk factors, including blood pressure, total and LDL cholesterol, blood triglycerides, inflammatory markers and blood sugar levels.