You may have seen in recent months, numerous articles around the topic of fasting. FASTING THERAPY, as advocated by traditional Naturopathy, can lead to enhanced health, weight loss and a greater sense of wellbeing. Fasting gives our digestive organs ample time to restore optimal functioning that have been disturbed with poor food choices and sedentary lifestyles.
The Health Benefits of Fasting.
Fasting has various health benefits that include:
improved cardiovascular health
better insulin sensitivity and decreased blood sugar levels
improved mitochondrial energy
and enhanced detoxification.
In a nutshell, fasting enables us to listen to the needs of our body and make healthy choices to ensure longevity and good health.
Intermittent Fasting (also known as ‘Time-Restricted Feeding’) is the practice of extending periods of non-eating (between 12 - 16 hours) so that glucose and glycogen stores are fully utilised before the next meal is consumed.
Simply put, if you finish eating dinner at 6 pm, don’t eat a single morsel of food again until at least 7 am. Drinking water is permitted.
Studies of intermittent fasting show that not only do people see improvements in blood pressure and their cholesterol levels, but it can also act as a breast cancer preventative, and reduce insulin sensitivity (which relates to type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome).
What’s more, couple this with healthy food choices, regular exercise and stress management and you have a recipe to help achieve optimal health once more.
Intermittent fasting is not for everyone and is not recommended during pregnancy or whilst breast-feeding. Planning and organisation are the key and knowing whether this is appropriate for you. Knowing what to eat and portion control is important.
It is recommended to consult a qualified naturopath or nutritionist if you are planning on starting any diet regime. Let us help you achieve your health goals starting NOW!