What Happens to Your Body When You Fast?

This post is all about what happens to your body when you fast and the many health benefits that can be gained.

Throughout recent years, fasting has gained attention for not only a weight loss method, but as a powerful tool to enhance overall physical and mental health.

While the concept of fasting is hundreds of years old, modern science is now uncovering the numerous ways it can benefit the body and mind. By focusing more on when you eat and not so much what you eat, your body has the ability to gain benefits you may not be able to achieve elsewhere.

In this post, we will dive into the transformative effects of fasting on your body, mind and soul and explore its benefits from cellular repair to enhanced brain function.

1.) Autophagy: The Body’s Recycling Process

Autophagy, a term meaning “self-eating,” is a natural process of cell cleaning and recycling. Although autophagy can be activated during other activities such as exercise, calorie restriction or the ketogenic diet, fasting can take this process to a whole new level.

The key benefits of autophagy are:

• Decreases damage to your cells
• Prevents premature aging of cells
• Helps convert nutrients into energy
• Eliminates bacterial and viral pathogens and illnesses
• Helps prevent tumor and/or cancer formation
• Boosts immune function
• Decreases inflammation

2.) Weight Loss: Beyond Burning Calories

Normally, your body relies on glucose (from carbohydrates) for energy. When you fast, your glucose reserves become depleted, and your body begins using stored fat as its primary energy source. This process, known as ketosis, turns your body into a fat-burning machine.

Key aspects of this benefit includes:

• Enhances metabolic processes making your body better at burning fat and using it as energy
• Specifically reduces visceral (belly) fat
• Reduces hunger hormones which reduces cravings and appetite
• Prevents metabolic adaptation- when your metabolism slows down as you age
• Combined with exercise, it helps in maintaining muscle mass during weight loss

3.) Improved Blood Sugar Control

Fasting is a potent tool in regulating blood sugar and improving insulin sensitivity. Higher insulin sensitivity means your cells are able to use insulin more effectively, therefore, stabilizing blood sugars.

Its benefits of this include:

• Lowers the risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
• Prevents energy dips throughout the day
• Minimizes factors contributing to metabolic disorders such as non- alcoholic fatty liver disease, PCOS, kidney disease and neuropathy
• Faster weight loss
• Reduces swelling and inflammation caused by high blood sugars
• Regulates hormones that work in conjunction with insulin such as growth hormone and norepinepherine

4.) Enhancing Heart Health

Fasting positively impacts heart health by modifying risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases:

• Helps relax blood veseels contriubuting to high blood pressure
• Decreases LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) and triglyceride levels
• Increases HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels
• Lowers inflammatory markers of the heart

5.) Boosting Brain Function

Fasting benefits brain health in several ways that can contribute to improved cognitive function and neuroprotection:

• Activates “neurogenesis” which is the growth of new brain cells
• Increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor which is important for learning and memory
• Enhanced focus, concentration and faster information processing
• May lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
• Boosts the brain’s ability to cope with stress and easing anxiety and depression

Most of these benefits are due to the increased ketone production when fasting– this is the end product of using your own body’s fat instead of glucose for fuel. 

Many researchers believe that because ketones provide the brain and body so many benefits, that they are the brain’s preferred fuel source!

Final Thoughts

Fasting is more than a diet fad. It’s a direct pathway to holistic health that positively influences almost every aspect of your physical and mental well-being.

From the cellular rejuvenation of autophagy to the brain-boosting benefits, fasting offers a unique, natural, and effective way to enhance your health.

Remember, the journey to peak health is personal- what works wonders for one person might not for another. Therefore, it’s crucial to educate yourself further, listen to your body, be patient with the process, and adjust as needed.

Happy fasting!

*DISCLAIMER*

All of the information in this post is based on the members of The Holistic Biohackers‘ true and original experiences and extensive research from multiple sources.

We are not licensed medical doctors and none of the information in this post constitutes for medical advice in any way.

All diet and/or lifestyle decisions made based on the information in this post should be discussed and approved by your doctor beforehand.