Chapter 6
You will discover many unexpected beneficial effects when you begin to fast. One thing fasting does is to make more of your energy available, so that your body can heal itself naturally. Fasting can be used as remedy for the way we often over indulge. Food is made to be enjoyed, but sometimes we overdo it. Too much food over a long period of time takes its toll on your body. Your body suffers if it is forced to handle more than what is comfortable and appropriate for it. When your body is forced to do too much, it needs a break. In the same way you need a vacation after a tough season at work, your body is tired, over worked, and underappreciated. A time of fasting rests your system from the constant assault of food and drinks. Food …show more content…
When you fast, your sleep gets better, you become more creative, and your complexion improves. Your senses of vision, hearing, and taste improve. You may find an increased sense of mental and emotional clarity. Some people discover new ideas, have more energy, and feel more relaxed. You may find a reduction of your allergy and digestive symptoms. Weight loss is another positive side effect you may experience from fasting.
The 2016 Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine was Yoshinori Ohsumi, a scientist whose work directly impacts the knowledge of fasting’s benefits. Dr.Ohsumi studied autophagy, or the way cells break down their content. Autophagy is a natural process called that is literally translated to mean “self-eating." It is the body’s process of cleaning house. Your cells create membranes that hunt out scraps of dead, diseased, or worn-out cells. They eat them; strip out their usable parts; and use the resulting molecules for energy or to make new cell …show more content…
Scientists who study this have reported finding improvements in mood, mental clarity, vigilance, a sense of improved well-being, and sometimes euphoria.
It is stressful to go without food but this is not an uncommon occurrence. The mood-boosting effects of fasting may be an evolutionary adaptive mechanism for periods of famine. In other words, when food is scarce our bodies release chemicals to help protect our brains from the negative effects. These chemicals can put us in a good mood. As anyone knows who has skipped a meal or two, it takes a few days.
During the first week of fasting, the body begins to adapt to starvation by releasing massive amounts of catecholamines including epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine, and dopamine as well as gluco-corticoids, steroid hormones involved in regulating the immune response and glucose metabolism. All of these chemicals are also released during the ‘fight or flight’ response. After a while, our body responds to this stress through a boost of feel-good and protective
You will discover many unexpected beneficial effects when you begin to fast. One thing fasting does is to make more of your energy available, so that your body can heal itself naturally. Fasting can be used as remedy for the way we often over indulge. Food is made to be enjoyed, but sometimes we overdo it. Too much food over a long period of time takes its toll on your body. Your body suffers if it is forced to handle more than what is comfortable and appropriate for it. When your body is forced to do too much, it needs a break. In the same way you need a vacation after a tough season at work, your body is tired, over worked, and underappreciated. A time of fasting rests your system from the constant assault of food and drinks. Food …show more content…
When you fast, your sleep gets better, you become more creative, and your complexion improves. Your senses of vision, hearing, and taste improve. You may find an increased sense of mental and emotional clarity. Some people discover new ideas, have more energy, and feel more relaxed. You may find a reduction of your allergy and digestive symptoms. Weight loss is another positive side effect you may experience from fasting.
The 2016 Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine was Yoshinori Ohsumi, a scientist whose work directly impacts the knowledge of fasting’s benefits. Dr.Ohsumi studied autophagy, or the way cells break down their content. Autophagy is a natural process called that is literally translated to mean “self-eating." It is the body’s process of cleaning house. Your cells create membranes that hunt out scraps of dead, diseased, or worn-out cells. They eat them; strip out their usable parts; and use the resulting molecules for energy or to make new cell …show more content…
Scientists who study this have reported finding improvements in mood, mental clarity, vigilance, a sense of improved well-being, and sometimes euphoria.
It is stressful to go without food but this is not an uncommon occurrence. The mood-boosting effects of fasting may be an evolutionary adaptive mechanism for periods of famine. In other words, when food is scarce our bodies release chemicals to help protect our brains from the negative effects. These chemicals can put us in a good mood. As anyone knows who has skipped a meal or two, it takes a few days.
During the first week of fasting, the body begins to adapt to starvation by releasing massive amounts of catecholamines including epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine, and dopamine as well as gluco-corticoids, steroid hormones involved in regulating the immune response and glucose metabolism. All of these chemicals are also released during the ‘fight or flight’ response. After a while, our body responds to this stress through a boost of feel-good and protective