Intermittent fasting is a term that refers to occasional fasting. People generally fast due to their religious beliefs or if they want to detoxify their bodies, lose weight to promote good health. Fasting is considered good for the entire body. It helps eliminate of toxic and harmful substances. The person who fasts pays attention on what he/she consumes and this way avoids intake of any potentially harmful substances. Apart from abstaining from food people who are engaged in intermittent fasting may also abstain from sex and they may engage in meditation in order to achieve perfect balance of the body and the mind.
How long does it last?
When we say intermittent fasting we mean fasting in periods. Some people choose to fast more frequently while others fast only a few times a year. Still, in majority of cases the length of the intermittent fast is approximately 24 to 48 hours and is performed once every week. After this period a person returns to his/her normal eating habits. It is not possible to lose weight if fasting lasts only a day or two. On the other hand, even during this short period of time the body can get rid of many harmful substances and cleanse properly.
In some cases people abstain from the food in general and only drink water. This is not recommendable for people who are suffering from certain illnesses and prior starting fasting one is supposed to consult his/her health care provider. On the other hand, the fast may include food usually in a form of one meal per day. This meal most commonly includes fruits only. Once the fast is over people may return to normal eating habits but a day or two after the fast they should not eat anything spicy or oily.
Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
Fasting is an excellent way to prevent many illnesses and it is also recommended in case people are already suffering from certain medical conditions. For example, fasting reduces risk of Altzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, it may reduce risk of certain types of cancer and it definitely reduces risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
People who engage in occasional fasting have normal blood sugar levels, their body detoxifies and eliminates all the harmful substances. The blood pressure is under control and cognitive functions significantly improve. The person may feel more energetic and become even mentally calmer. All in all, there are many benefits from intermittent fasting and if there are no contraindications everyone should embrace fasting once in a while.
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