The Benefit of Fasting Over 24 Hours and Evidences

There are several theories as to why fasting provides physiological benefits, they’ve been studied extensively, and have had experiments designed to test cells that are under a mild stress and how they respond to the stress, and cope with stress and possibly resist disease.

Though the word “stress” is often used in a negative sense, challenging the body and mind has benefits. Consider intense exercises, which extensively stress various muscles groups and the cardiovascular system. As long as you give your body time to recover, it will grow stronger. There is considerable similarity between how cells respond to the stress of exercise and how cells respond to fasting.

What is fast?

To improve health, the goal should be to lose weight by reducing the total caloric intake rather than focusing on when those calories are consumed. A fast starts with restricted eating for some days and then further to limit what you eat the other days. Periods of voluntary abstinence from food and drink have been practiced since earliest of ancient times by people around the globe. Fasting is a practice that dates back centuries and plays a fundamental role in many cultures and religions. In general, most types of fasts are performed over 24–72 hours.

What is Autophagy? Fasting stimulates the activity of autophagy.

The mechanisms of autophagy was revealed by a Japanese cell biologist, Yoshinori Osumi who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2016 for his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy. “Auto” means “self” and “phagy” means “eat”. Autophagy is the body’s defence mechanism that destroys inferior cells and recycles them. Knowing the mechanisms of autophagy is important in order to understand our body’s response to starvation and infection, and cause of disease. Studies have shown that the activity of autophagy was detected after 24 hours of fasting and it increased significantly after 48 hours of fasting. Another study shows that autophagy can reduce side effects of cancer treatments and increase the effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy on tumor cells.

Other benefits of fasting over 24 hours

Fasting has been shown to have many health benefits, from increased weight loss to better brain function. Another benefit in the studies has shown to promote blood sugar control by reducing insulin resistance. Several studies have found that fasting may improve blood sugar control, which could be especially useful for those at risk of diabetes.

Primarily, fasting aids in weight loss by limiting calorie intake and boosting metabolism. Theoretically, withholding from all or certain foods and beverages should decrease your overall calorie intake, which could lead to increased weight loss over time. Some research has also found that short-term fasting may boost metabolism by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which could boost weight loss.

Fasting may help the body increase metabolism and help preserve muscle tissue to reduce body weight and body fat, studies have also shown a delay in aging and an extension of longevity, where several animal studies have found promising results on the potential lifespan-extending effects of fasting.

It’s best to talk to your doctor first if you have any underlying health conditions or are planning to fast for more than 24 hours. Additionally, fasting is not generally recommended without medical supervision for older adults, adolescents or people who are underweight. If you decide to try fasting, be sure to stay well-hydrated and fill your diet with nutrient-dense foods during your eating periods to maximize the potential health benefits.

You may reduce the risk of fasting by adding R’s KOSO. This way, you can rest your digestive system and improve your gut health without cutting the source of energy and nutrients completely.

Conclusion

Fasting is a practice that has been associated with a wide array of potential health benefits, including stimulation of autophagy, blood sugar control, and weight loss, when coupled with a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle, incorporating fasting into your routine could benefit your health. In order to maximise the benefit of autophagy, fasting over 24 hours is recommended as the activities of autophagy seem to increase dramatically after 24 hours of fasting. Adding R’s KOSO is a great way to replenish to reap in the benefits of quality nutrients, probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes to further nourish the body to support gut health and digestion. Their ingredients come in a great range to help fully bring the body into a replenished state after a fast.

References

1. An Ultradian Feeding Schedule in Rats Affects Metabolic Gene Expression in Liver, Brown Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle with Only Mild Effects on Circadian Clocks

Paul de Goede, Satish Sen, Yan Su, Ewout Foppen, Vincent-Joseph Poirel