By Tonny Wandella
Fasting, in essence, rids our bodies of toxins and encourages cells to engage in processes that aren’t normally triggered when a regular supply of food is available. When we fast, our bodies don’t have access to glucose as they normally do, requiring our cells to find other ways to generate energy.
In general, the majority of fasts last between 24 and 72 hours. Intermittent fasting, entails cycling between eating and fasting phases that can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Fasting helps to manage blood sugar levels by lowering insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can be reduced by increasing your body’s sensitivity to insulin, allowing glucose to be transported more efficiently from your bloodstream to your cells.
This, together with the potential blood sugar-lowering effects of fasting, could help keep your blood sugar stable, minimising blood sugar spikes and crashes. Keep in mind, however, that fasting may affect blood sugar levels differently in men and women, according to some research.
Although acute inflammation is a natural immune response that aids in the fight against infection, persistent inflammation can have major health repercussions. Inflammation has been linked to the development of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis, according to research. Fasting has been shown in certain studies to help reduce inflammation and promote improved health. Many animal studies have discovered positive results when it comes to fasting’s possible longevity-extending effects. In one experiment, rats who fasted every other day had a slower rate of ageing and lived 83 percent longer than rats who did not fast. Other animal research have come to the same conclusion, claiming that fasting can improve longevity and survival chances. Current research, however, is still confined to animal studies. More research is needed to determine how fasting affects human longevity and ageing.
