The Benefits of Fasting
Recently I’ve been asked about the health benefits of fasting. A few years ago, when I researched the subject for a possible book topic, studies showed a person needed to fast from food for at least three days in order to gain a notable health benefit—not something the average person does.
Also, the studies I did come across at that time focused primarily on preparing cancer patients to endure the hardship of chemotherapy. According to those studies, when fasting from food was endured for this very prolonged period of time, damaged cells in the body were observed to be systematically broken down and their “parts” used to construct healthy cells in their place. This process was theorized to aid the cancer patient by having them begin chemo in a healthier cellular state.
I declined writing a book on that subject back then because no one I knew personally had the stamina for that sort of fasting, even if it did hold the promise of improved health. The friends I know who do practice fasting from time to time, myself included, often just skip a meal to empower their prayer time, or might, on the more “extreme” end of the spectrum, fast from food for a 24-hour period (from dinner one night to the next) in order to petition God for a significant need.
Apart from a spiritual reason for fasting (for which I can personally attest to its power), scientists have more recently been discovering health benefits which are associated with even short term, or intermittent, fasting. Isn’t it just like God to command that we fast/deny ourselves for a Kingdom purpose and then add in a physical bonus in the wake of our obedience?!
These are four of the physical health benefits researchers have now confirmed to be related to both short and long term fasting from food:
- Body and Brain Cell Repair-as I mentioned above, damaged cells are broken down and harmful protein build up inside of cells are “swept clean” and other “fresh” cells are formed in their place.
- Marked Improvement in Insulin Response-the level of one’s circulating insulin is reduced and the body’s response to the insulin which is in circulation is re-sensitized.
- Significant Uptick in Human Growth Hormone-responsible, in adults, for the maintenance of bone and muscle mass, firmness of our skin, and also fat loss.
- Our Genetic Coding is Altered-improved function of certain genes which are related to disease suppression and longevity.
Interestingly, centenarians (people who live to be 100+ years old) often report engaging in times of fasting for spiritual reasons or having endured periods of time throughout their lives of significant calorie reduction for economic reasons. Maybe regular, intermittent fasting is a new avenue of wellness for you and I to consider.*