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The Benefits of Fasting and the Process of Autophagy

They will interrupt a lot

They will interrupt a lot, a religious ritual since ancient times, is in fashion today. It would be a benefit for body and mind and slow down the natural aging process. I decided to give it a try and ventured in three days against.

Autofagie

It was a impulsive decision. A friend of mine used to fast and sent me a video explaining what happens to your body when you don’t eat for a while. I was already somewhat familiar with the phenomenon and knew that during (long enough) fasting, our body starts a cleaning process, so to speak, called ‘autophagy’.

Because the body does not receive energy from outside, it starts to burn what it no longer needs, namely old, worn out and perhaps diseased cells. The result is: cell renewal! Fasting is also, according to the experts, anti-inflammatory and works against it insulin resistance. All in all, it is a welcome ‘reset’ of your body that also makes you very energetic and clear.

It is not clear exactly when the process of autofagie begins. Sometimes you read after 12 to 16 hours, according to other sources the entire process would only be completed after 72 hours. Hence my overconfident choice of three days of fasting, which I can already tell you that I did not achieve 🙂

They will interrupt a lot

I started kegging overnight – with the only preparation being a phone call to my GP for some information – and resolved not to eat for three days, which is 72 hours. It is actually better to live up to it and cut out sugar and animal proteins in the days before. In my enthusiasm I skipped this step. I was looking forward to this one challenge and wondered how I would respond to it not only physically but also mentally.

Day 1

Day 1 was effortless. Skipping breakfast is no problem for me. I had chosen not to drink coffee either. Opinions are divided on this. There is scientific research that shows that coffee actually promotes the process of autophagy. However, I also cut out coffee because I liked the idea of ​​giving my whole body a break. I missed my morning coffee less than expected and the expected headache did not occur. Exercising went without a problem, my body still had enough reserves. My lunch consisted of a few cups of warm water that I drank while watching a television series. The hardest part was skipping dinner which is always a welcome ritual for me. Instead, something that makes it easier, I took a walk around the city with my partner, who was fasting with me. Miraculously, I slept well that night.

Day 2

According to the experts and bloggers who have ventured into fasting, you could be dealing with ‘keto flu’ on day 2. ‘Keto’ is the moment when your body starts burning fats instead of carbohydrates. This switch can cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, headache, fatigue, feeling weak and cold. So keto flu. It didn’t bother me, but I did feel that my energy was starting to wane. I started exercising in the morning and still feel energetic, but towards the end of the afternoon of day 2 I started to feel very tired. The cups of hot water were starting to get boring, but I wasn’t hungry or even hungry. In the afternoon I went to bed – the advice is to keep calm on day 2 – and in the evening with yet another cup of warm water instead of dinner I watched YouTube videos about intermittent fasting to keep up the courage. . I also slept well that night.

Day 3

Day 3 started slowly. I was now very tired and even had difficulty getting up the stairs. A friend of mine – the same friend who had sent me the video that started me fasting – had said that by day 3 I would be incredibly clear and energetic and that it was an amazing feeling. There was not much to notice when waking up. I was as weak as a dishcloth and my partner also felt anything but fit. I added salt to my warm water to feel better (it is better to integrate with vitamins and minerals). We still had until 9pm but decided to break our fast at 1pm and treat ourselves to a light lunch. We would have fasted for 64 hours and that was quite an achievement for the first time. That morning we went to the supermarket for the first time in days, which was a treat in itself. To build it up slowly, we chose – a tip from an internet doctor – for bone broth that will help you gain strength quickly. The broth tasted wonderful and it really cheered me up.

That moment came unexpectedly euphoria. That same evening I felt extremely energetic, active and clear. And it was the same the next day. I felt like I could take on the whole world. It was a wonderful feeling. This would not only be caused by autophagy (read: detox of your cells but also of your brain), but by the production of more dopamine (messenger of pleasure, mood and motivation) during fasting.

What I thought of it?

A positive experience. A challenge but also a moment of awareness. I am more aware than ever that my meals are often a ritual, a moment of relaxation that (often) has to do with more than nutrition.

A few notes

Fasting can be a way to lose weight, but actually weight loss is more of a ‘temporary side effect’. If you really and steadily want to lose weight, a balanced and healthy diet with the right number of calories for your body (and a healthy lifestyle) is the way to go. Fasting is not suitable for children, teenagers, pregnant women and older people with sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass). Fasting is – according to the experts – an absolute no-no for people with an eating disorder. Furthermore, fasting can also disrupt your hormone balance, which can make women less fertile. If you want to fast safely, consult your doctor. Or keep it limited, for example with a 12/12 regimen – not eating for 12 hours – in combination with a few lean days (no sugar, animal proteins and alcohol).

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2023-11-12 01:23:37
#intermittent #fasting #happened

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