Research has shown potential connections between fasting and lower risks for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s.
Fasting, the voluntary abstinence from food and drink, has been practiced for centuries as part of religious rituals and cultural traditions.
In recent years it has seen a surge in popularity due to emerging research on its potential health benefits.
While fasting practices take many forms, from observing certain days of the week to abstaining from food altogether for 24-72 hours at a time, the basic premise involves cycling between periods of eating and periods of fasting.
One popular approach is intermittent fasting, alternating between fasting and normal eating each day or week.
Proponents claim fasting may provide benefits like weight loss, better brain function, and disease prevention.
Here are eight key benefits of fasting supported by scientific research:
1. Improves blood sugar by reducing insulin resistance
Fasting, particularly intermittent fasting, shows promise for improving blood sugar regulation. This may benefit those at risk for diabetes.
Recent research in 2023 found that intermittent fasting just 3 days per week can reduce diabetes risk by increasing insulin sensitivity. This enables insulin to more efficiently transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells, keeping blood sugar stable.
Other studies also indicate intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding, where eating is limited to set hours, can reduce factors linked to metabolic syndrome. This group of 5 risk factors increases the chances of developing diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
The suspected mechanisms relate to decreasing insulin resistance through fasting. This increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin and prevents blood sugar spikes and crashes.
However, more research is still needed comparing fasting to simply restricting calories.
