Fasting is one of the healthiest thing you can do. It may seem counter-intuitive because of the constant barrage of pro-eating advertising and relentless conditioning but it’s  true. Fasting is simple, accessible, zero cost and empowering. Fasting is so good for us that it is the 4th part of my optimal health strategy. Let’s take a closer look at why.

The benefits of fasting

The benefits of fasting are numerous and are closely linked to those of my Optimal Health Strategy 3: Nutritional Ketosis. Everyone knows that you can lose weight by fasting, but the closer we look the more we can see that this is of relatively less importance. Most people historically fasting out of necessity or for religious reasons may not have been aware of the many advantages they were getting. Fasting…

Improves mental clarity and our ability to mentally focus

Improves metabolic fat burning

Induces body fat loss

Improves insulin sensitivity

Increases energy

Extends lifespan by reversing the ageing process

Is a powerful tool for self mastery

Prevents Alzheimer’s disease

And decreases inflammation

Lowers blood cholesterol

On top of these desirable benefits, fasting has several huge advantages as a health strategy.

Advantages of fasting

* It’s simple to do. In fact, it couldn’t be simpler than not eating anything.

* It FREE! There is nothing to buy, there is no equipment, no accessories, nothing you need to get. In fact, you save money because you reduce your monthly food bill.

* It’s convenient. You can fast anytime, anywhere, and it does not impact on your lifestyle in any way. On the contrary, it frees you up and gives you more time because you do not have to spend time buying food, preparing it, eating it, and then clearing up afterwards. If you are travelling you can avoid all the difficulty of sourcing healthy food as well. Fasting is a massive way to simplify life over the fasting period.

* It works with any diet. It doesn’t matter what diet you follow, whatever your eating habits are you can benefit from fasting.

* It’s totally flexible. You can fast for as long or as short a time as you like. There is no strict regime, nothing to remember, no schedule to stick to. You can fast whenever you want to and stop fasting whenever you want to. Plus, you can everything that you normally do without any inconvenience.

* It’s a powerful means to reverse disease. Fasting can bring about major results with chronic conditions such as diabetes more effectively than any other intervention. When weight loss stalls with other methods fasting can push through the barriers. There is no upper limit to fasting, no maximum dose. Within reason and provided a few caveats are observed you can fast as long as you like.

* PLUS you get to enjoy the pleasure of eating! This could be a big one for many people who struggle with changing eating habits. Although eating real healthy food is essential, it is not necessary to ‘give up’ desserts forever. For all but a few, it is unrealistic to follow that Ketogenic diet if you have a wedding to attend or a specific celebration to attend. Fasting allows us to balance our eating habits. It’s not about feasts and famine, it’s about feasting and fasting.

What is fasting?

Fasting is the voluntary abstention from food. It is a deliberate and conscious choice in the context of there being plenty to eat. It is absolutely not starving our selves. Starving is when you do not know where your next meal is coming from, perhaps in times of famine or war or incarceration. The crucial distinction here is between the chosen, the voluntary, and something that is not chosen, something that is forced upon us by circumstances or otherwise.