Fasting as a mindful dietary choice isn’t all about arbitrarily skipping meals or going without food for days. How often have you said this to yourself? “ I badly need a break!” Your body is just like you and, it needs to rest too. Taking breaks from food helps our body, get rid of unwanted toxins paving the path to better health. It also offers mental benefits you might not expect.
Mental Health Benefits of Fasting
When you fast, your body has less toxic materials flowing through the blood and lymphatic system, making it easier to think. While fasting, the energy you’d normally use to digest food is available to be used by the brain.
You likely won’t notice this mental change until the first few days of a fast because your body takes time to adjust. You might have headaches or pain points at the beginning of the process. But after your body clears itself of toxins, your brain has access to a cleaner bloodstream, resulting in clearer thoughts, better memory, and increased sharpness of your other senses. (https://www.webmd.com/diet/psychological-benefits-of-fasting)
According to another study, fasting affects brain function in a few different ways. It has been linked to neurogenesis or the development of new neurons, which can improve brain health and cognitive function.
Additionally, fasting increases something known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is important for learning, memory, and mood regulation.
Also, fasting can enhance concentration during prayers, meditation, and other spiritual practices. Fasting is believed to awaken the dormant energy centers or chakras within the body. The energy generated through fasting is thought to be channeled towards higher consciousness and self-realization.
The effects of fasting can vary from one individual to another based on what type of fasting you do. Shorter fasting periods may improve mental clarity and focus for some individuals. At the same time, prolonged or extreme fasting may contribute to mood disturbances and cognitive impairments.
Practical Tips to Follow
Top tips for newbies starting to fast:
- Start slow, trying gradual restrictions.
- Once you get the hang of it, try to stay consistent in terms of the windows you choose
- Pay attention to what you eat in your eating window, focusing on nutrient-rich food that will sustain and energize you
- Be patient with yourself as you transition toward longer fasting windows
- Remember that it takes time for the body to adapt
Keep in mind that everyone is different and it’s up to each of us to decide what works best for our body, in terms of how long to fast, what type of fasting to try, and whether to continue fasting at all
To sum up, When you’re not eating, you’re fixing things in your body.
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