One of the best things about fasting is that, if done correctly, it can improve your health in a lot of different areas. A wealth of peer reviewed research suggests that fasting is one of the few areas of main stream health agendas that lives up to the hype. According to Elson M Haas, M.D., “Fasting is the single greatest healing therapy…” and there’s research to back that up.
What you can Expect from Fasting for Health Benefits
Here’s a quick list of some of the health improvements you can expect from effective intermittent fasting:
- Decreased insulin levels and increased insulin sensitivity
- Increased fat oxidation and lypolysis
- Increased growth hormone production
- Decreased blood glucose levels
- Decreased body fat and weight
- Maintenance of skeletal muscle mass and a higher percentage of lean tissue
- Increased glucagon levels
And many more.
Fasting can be potential dangerous for people with medical conditions, but for generally healthy people it carries a host of health benefits.
What does the Research Say?
So how do we know all this? How are we so sure of the health benefits of fasting? Large-scale studies on religious groups during their fasts, along with a host of controlled lab studies, population studies and so on.
A quick search on CSA’s research database turns up almost 6000 peer-reviewed studies relating to fasting and health. Now that’s not to say there’s 6000 studies that specifically conclude fasting is the best thing since sliced bread (most studies are very narrowly focused) but you get the idea. Intermittent fasting works. It comes with numerous health benefits, along with proper diet it’s the quickest way to lose weight safely.
How Often Should I Fast?
Different things work for different people, but as a general guideline, fasting weekly for weight loss or health benefits seems to work best. This is assuming you fast for 18-30 hours. Some people like to fast less often, such as once a month, or as often as twice a week. If you’re a generally health person, just give it a try and see how you feel.
If you have any medical conditions and are worried about any other complications, consult a medical professional before beginning a fasting regimen. For some people, fasting leads to problems such a eating disorders, blood sugar issues and rare potassium deficiencies, all of which should be treated seriously.