INTERMITTENT FASTING

Fasting is a hot topic today.

Everybody seems to want to get on the fasting bandwagon these days. Actually, that is a good thing because proper fasting has been medically and scientifically proven to have huge health benefits. The major questions are what exactly is fasting and how do you do it safely. For complete details and protocols I would like to refer you to our free downloadable book entitled THERAPEUTIC AND SPIRITUAL FASTING available in our bookstore at. www.theveganjourney.org.

This blog is intended to discuss the popular practice and term called "intermittent fasting". There are many definitions and protocols of fasting such as a water fast, a juice fast, the grapefruit fast and on and on. The main intent, and concept of fasting is to create a radical change in your dietary habits. Classically this is true, BUT, for our purpose we will define fasting as simply refraining from solid foods. We might also include anything that must be processed by the liver and activate insulin secretion. This would include juices, and most other liquids except water. But remember your fast should be constructed to fit your lifestyle and objectives. We find a green juice fast quite practical for most people.

Back to the subject at hand, INTERMITTENT FASTING. This is a popular term used today to describe a daily routine of limiting your eating time to an "eating window" while just consuming water the rest of the time. Various people have limited their eating window anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. For example a 2 hour eating window may be from 4-6 pm, while an 8 hour eating window may be from noon to 8 pm. It is up to the individual as to what they wish to do.

So here is the issue. the true purpose of FASTING is to enhance the state of autophagy. Autophagy is the body's natural ability to sort of "self cleanse" by consuming faulty cells and by products of metabolism in the body. As part of normal everyday physiologic and metabolic function we create by-products as well as things such as cancerous growths, and even infections. Autophagy is sort of a cannabalistic process of consuming these and cleaning it up so it can be carried out of the body. Sort of like the garbage truck in your neighborhood. I realize this is an oversimplification but hopefully it tells the story.

So here comes the good stuff. Possibly the greatest benefit of TRUE FASTING (not intermittent fasting)  is that it puts the body into a supercharged state of autophagy, sort of like a powerful vacuum cleaner in the body. But here is the catch, this process of supercharging actually starts around the third day of not eating solid foods. Therefore intermittent fasting is not what I call true fasting but rather what we prefer to call TIME RESTRICTED EATING (TRE), which does in fact have significant benefits.

Some of the general benefits of TIME RESTRICTED EATING (TRE) are as follows:
1. Can help stabilize blood glucose levels.
2. If you eat healthy foods can help to restrict total calorie intake.
3. Rests the digestive system for a significant amount of time on a daily basis.
4. May help with weight control.
5. Does enhance autophagy a bit.
6. may improve insulin sensitivity.
7. Studues show it reduced body fat while maintaining muscle mass.

These are just a few possible benefits of TRE, there are many more for consideration, I suggest you do some more research.

Our suggested TRE schedule for the average person is to schedule your eating window from noon to 8pm while not eating from 8pm through noon the next day. This gives you an 8 hour eating window and a 16 hour non eating time. However based on your lifestyle and personal schedule you can adjust this to suit yourself. Of course during your eating window eat as healthy as possible.

If you decide to give this a try let us know how it goes.

May peace be with you.



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