Eight ways fasting makes you healthy

During the holy month of Ramadhan around 1.6 billion Muslims around the world abstain from eating and drinking for one month.

There are many who wonder if fasting is healthy. To some extent, they believe, fasting is like depriving the body of nutrition.

However, if fasting is properly implemented, it can have healthy benefits to your body.

In general, it promotes elimination of toxins, healthy eating habits and increased immunity. But there are a lot more benefits. Here are some potential health benefits of fasting.

1. Helps you lose weight

According to research, short term fasting increases your metabolic rate by 3.6 – 14 per cent, helping you burn even more calories. Hence it not only boosts your metabolic rate but also helps you reduce the amount of food you eat which will help you lose weight.

2. Reduces insulin resistance

Fasting is known to decrease insulin resistance which leads to lowering blood sugar levels. Furthermore fasting increases breakdown of glucose which allows the body to have more energy. Reduction of insulin resistance also decreases the risk of type-2 diabetes.

3. Boosts immunity

The elimination of toxins and reduction in fat storage in the body during fasting helps to increase the body’s immunity. Furthermore a balanced diet while fasting like having fruits while breaking the fast increase body store of essential vitamins and minerals which also helps with the immunity.

4. Promotes healthy diet

Fasting reduces cravings of processed food, which increases the desire of eating natural foods especially water and fruits. This helps to maintain a healthy and balanced diet even after fasting is stopped.

5. Promotes a healthy brain

Fasting improves various metabolic features which are known to be helpful for the health of the brain. It is known to increase new nerve cells which have benefits for brain function and protect the brain from damage.

Furthermore fasting is a challenge to your brain which helps your brain to be adaptive to stress response which helps it cope with diseases more quickly.

Also by fasting neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are known to be avoided and at the same time it also helps to improve your memory and mood.

6. Overcome addictions

Some studies say that fasting can help addicts reduce their cravings for nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and other substance abuse. Although other regimens will be needed together with this to resolve addictions; fasting can play a role.

7. Rests the digestive system

When fasting the digestive organs rest and the normal digestive functions are conducted at a reduced rate.

Breakdown of food is done at steady rates and release of energy follows a gradual pattern.

8. Promotes detoxification

A lot food these days contain additives which may become toxins in the body. Most of these toxins are stored as fat and fat is burnt during fasting especially when it is prolonged and hence the toxins are released. The liver, kidneys and other organs in the body are also involved in detoxification.

The benefits mentioned above are not an exhaustive list and hence the benefits are immediate and obvious.

Furthermore it gives your body more energy, lightness and also helps to elevate mood levels.