Fasting, or intermittent fasting, has many supporters and opponents today. Interest in this kind of starvation diets increased after the Japanese biologist Yoshinori Osumi received the Nobel Prize for the study of autophagy in October 2016. Autophagy is the process of disposing and recycling unnecessary parts of a cell – various “garbage” accumulated in it. We often eat not the most suitable food, which is difficult to digest, and its remnants clog our bodies. The body spends colossal amounts of energy and enzymes digesting and assimilating food. And we also strongly interfere with this, taking refined food with a strong deficiency of fiber, vitamins, and enzymes, mixing complex molecules, eating huge portions at a time, which we practically do not chew! So undigested and undigested food becomes poison, poisoning our cells.
How does fasting work?
When we “starve”, our body begins to “extract” nutrients and energy, digesting “diseased” cells, harmful deposits, and even tumors. But, like any technique, fasting should be carefully studied and applied, gradually increasing the impact. This should be done under the supervision of a specialist and taking into account your health condition and contraindications.
Of course, many people are afraid of hunger and starvation. But our body has reserves sufficient for 45 days of lack of food without irreversible consequences. True, here one should not confuse forced hunger and conscious starvation mode according to a special method.
Applying medical and health-improving fasting, it is very important to establish an active release of toxins and poisons from the body. Therefore, during fasting, one should not reduce, but rather even increase exercise. Try to walk more in the fresh air (preferably 6-8 km a day). You need to take a shower every morning and evening, cleanse the intestines, apply breathing exercises, and massage (self-massage). You also need to drink plenty of water – three to four liters a day.
The way out of fasting is especially dangerous. Indeed, during the absence of food in our body, the function of enzymes fades away, and it is not restored immediately. Therefore, it is important to introduce different foods gradually – over a period of time equal to the period of complete abstinence from food. It is during the wrong exit from fasting that severe complications and unpleasant side effects can occur.
Where to start intermittent fasting?
As prophylaxis of diseases and for recovery, you can start with a period of abstinence from food intake for 16 hours (this is 4 hours before sleep, 8 hours after sleep, and 4 hours after sleep), which is well tolerated by the body. If in the morning you still really want to eat, you can consume fresh fruits or berries, because they are very easily and quickly absorbed, practically without requiring the participation of enzyme systems. You can also arrange fasting periods day for yourself once a week on the water (you can use lemon juice). For example, from dinner to dinner. But dinner after a fasting day should be light, without animal proteins. It can consist of a glass of carrot and apple juice and a salad of fresh vegetables, best of all, white cabbage.
And yet, the main advantage of intermittent fasting is that you do not need to give up eating at all, you can only skip 10-2 meals a day – breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Your brain will not have time to understand what is happening, and will not begin to crave for food, as it happens with a fast diet. In addition, there are no restrictions on the diet healthy recipes: you can eat sweet, fatty, baked goods. So, there is no reason to refuse a birthday cake or a stake with co-workers or friends and during lunch or other most social occasions.
Potential health benefits of starvation diet
Dosed fasting not only cleanses the body, restores health, helps with weight loss, but also deeply affects mental abilities! Perhaps this explains its popularity in scientific centers in the United States and among business elites. This nutritional principle reduces inflammation in the body and regulates blood sugar levels, as well as blood pressure, and metabolism. And if you combine intermittent fasting with training, you can lose weight and get relief muscles in a short time. Moreover, your train your self-control and discipline.
Cons of intermittent food intake
If you have any stomach problems, slower metabolism, disordered eating issues, you should definitely consult with your doctor before switching to intermittent fasting. Fasting is strictly contraindicated for people with gastritis, those who have problems with the adrenal glands, pregnant and lactating mothers.
Also, an extreme eating plan may cause eating disorder, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, dehydration, tiredness, lack of energy. This is why intermittent fasting gets mixed reviews from those who already tried it. But the point is that you can avoid any of these nutrition problems when you starve if you consult with a registered dietitian and stick to balanced healthy eating and start with two days a week, gradually increasing the time you limit yourself. You can stop when you reach your goal of weight loss or cleansing of the entire intestine, but once more, do it gradually and better under the supervision of a doctor.