by Neha Borkar
Fasting should not always be associated with religious beliefs. And it shouldn’t be observed to lose weight. Fasting is a great way to flush out unwanted toxins from your body. Here are 11 benefits of how fasting can add a decade to your life…
1. Fasting compels your body to stop using glucose as a fuel to burn fat
Glucose is not considered as a good fuel to burn fat. When you stop providing glucose to your body, the cells in your body become more swift and the fat burning process starts at a faster pace.
2. Fasting normalises insulin and leptin sensitivity
Leptin is a hormone that is secreted by fat cells. Consuming less calories on a regular basis can lower sensitivity to leptin, which leads to fat loss.
3. Eating right after fasting is equally important
Your fast goes for a complete toss, if you don’t combine proper food with it. For instance, breaking your fast with a meal filled with fats is not going to trigger weight loss, but it will increase your kilos.
4. It regenerates your immune system
Fasting helps regeneration of new immune system cells. The scientists at University of Southern California suggested that fasting can be beneficial for cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.
5. You can fast without giving a religious angle to it
Fasting is mostly associated with religious beliefs. However, fasting can be done just to detoxify your digestive system by observing an intermittent fast.
6. It increases your metabolic rate
Studies suggest that short term fasting increases the metabolic rate by 3.6-14%. This results in quick digestion and quick calorie burn.
7. It lowers the risk of Type 2 diabetes
Fasting is beneficial for insulin resistance which leads to a great cut on blood sugar levels.
8. It improves brain health
Not consuming calories triggers addition in the levels of a brain hormone called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a deficiency of which causes depression and other brain problems.
9. It extends your life span
Prahlad Jani, a sadhu, claims to have lived without food and water since 1940! He was kept under observation for 10 days, where he was perfectly fine without food and water.
10. It helps you realise your wrong eating patterns
We keep hogging on food even when we aren’t hungry. But when you fast, you realise that you can survive without that intake of 1000 calories a day.
11. It reduces oxidative stress and inflammation
Oxidative stress is one of the reasons you look older than you actually are. Fasting reduces puffiness and inflammation of the body, making it more resistant to stress.
ALSO READ Why Do We Fast or Keep Upvasa/Vrats
