Are you at present fasting for health benefits? I know from practical knowledge when men and women think of not eating food they usually think about or deprivation. Abstaining from food isn’t something we spontaneously do because food is so plentiful and who would really wantto give up all the delicious goodies that are readily available to us? It takes a lot for folks to just simply say "I want to abstain from food today" because we have been trained we need four things in this life to survive. Those four things are air, drinking water, housing, and of course food to eat! So, it makes it very challenging to modify our mindset to abstain from food in order to realize the wonderful health benefits it provides. But…was it always like that?
Many years ago, our predecessors frequently fasted just because they had to as they did not have supermarkets where they could select food off racks and put it in their shopping carts. It just wasn’t like that so whatever they ate in most circumstances had to be trapped or picked and they could go for long durations of time without ensnaring or picking anything. See, if you had to capture or pick your cuisine you could fall into stretches of time where you just can’t entrap or find things to eat. It’s just how things go. I’ve encountered this myself where I’ve had the best intent of going out to catch fish and after spending 4 or five hrs on the boat, all I’m left with are receptacles of worms and a sun tan. You just come up empty sometimes but unlike my predecessors, I have the the convenience of being able to walk into a supermarket and purchase the the type of fish I didn’t catch a fewhours ago. It just wasn’t like this for our ancestors and forefathers so if they did not trap or pick anything to feed on they would have to fast until they were able to finally find a meal. I bet if you could take a picture of what they looked like back then, none of them would be obese.You can’t say that at this point int time,now can you?
There is some amazing data as to why you may want to begin starting a fast for health benefits and I thought I would write about a few for you today. Some of these are scientific but some of them are things I have noticed from my own knowledge with fasting on a frequent basis.
1. Reduced Insulin levels and lowered insulin sensitivity – Most individuals today have high insulin levels as a result of the increased amounts of sugar they are taking in. Processed white sugar and high fructose corn syrup are in most perishable goods today which was never heard of in earlier times. This is one of the major reasons why there is a high blood sugar epidemic in the United States because with the increase of sugar, the pancreas has to secrete more and more insulin to force blood sugar levels down. This usually results in insulin sensitivity which turns into diabetes and being overweight. Abstaining from food helps increase the normalizing of insulin levels in the our bodies.
2.Rise in Growth Hormone Levels – Abstaining from food helps to increase growth hormone levels. This is essential if you want to generate more muscle, feel better and look more youthful. It’s the all-natural way to do it without using fake hormones.
3. Digestive System – Abstaining from food for short periods of time gives your digestive system time to rest and can also reduce gas and bloating in the body. It can also eliminate constipation.
4. Cleansing the Body – By fasting, you can cleanse the body’s lymphatic system which will give you reinvigorated mental awareness and focus. This is one of the major reasons why fasting has been connected to higher awareness.
5. High Blood Pressure – Starting a fast is a terrific way to reduce hypertension.
6. Food addiction – Many individuals are addicted to food in our culture. We are inundated with food at family get togethers, work, and everywhere else. Going on a fast is a great tool to help control the natural tendency to eat for no reason. This has been a big help to me personally to steer clear of unnecessary eating when I am not feeling hungry.
7. Reduction In Body Fat Levels and Weight – You can strategically use abstaining from food to lose body fat and get to the weight you desire.
8. Energy – Going on a fast can give you more vitality! It may sound weird but I’ve experienced this myself when I’ve felt like I caught my second wind after going on a fast for an really short period of time.
9. Longevity – In the latest studies, people who intermittent fast on a periodic basis live a longer life.
Bonus – Reduction in Excess Weight – You can use fasting as a way to splurge on your eating. I recently used this during the Thanksgiving holiday as I fasted part of the day and when it was time to partake of dinner, I consumed what I wanted without worrying about putting on any pounds!
Starting a fast for really short periods used to be considered a weird thing to do, but judging by the way our society looks today it can be considered the right thing to do to increase your health. Starting a fast has been sitting right under our noses for many years but no one ever looked at it as a way to boost health and vitality. Most of the time the answers are simple but modern society complicates them as a means to boost profit and keep individuals confused. Always keep things straight forward and one way to do this is to start going on a fast for health and wellness benefits.
Disclaimer: The preceding post is for informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medical advice.