How Fasting One Day A Week Is Good For Your Health

Fasting is the act of voluntarily abstaining from food and/or drink for a predetermined period. The concept of fasting has gained recognition in Europe and the US only during the last decade or so but it has been a prominent part of our Indian lifestyle for thousands of years.

All the major Indian religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism have fasting as part of many religious observances and rituals. Fasting has been closely linked to physical, mental, and emotional cleansing and purification.

Abstaining from food for a prolonged period can have adverse effects on your health, but fasting once in a while (intermittent fasting) has a positive impact on your health.

Here are some of the health benefits of fasting once a week.

The famous 5:2 diet plan suggests that you eat your regular meals for 5 days in a week and fast for the other 2 days.

Intermittent Fasting Aids Digestion

Our digestive system is constantly at work breaking down and absorbing the food we eat. The process of digestion requires quite a good bit of energy which is why our appetite generally diminishes when we are ill – so that stored energy can be used to repair and heal our bodies instead of being used to digest food.

When you fast, your digestive system gets a rest and you will find that you are more alert and energetic. You will also find it easier to deal with stress and control your inner freak!

Detoxification Through Fasting

The human body produces toxins when it breaks down food and so going on a one day a week



fast will help to detoxify your entire system. Some people increase the amount of water they drink as this helps to get rid of hunger pangs and it also helps to get rid of the build-up of toxins within the body.

Some of the most common symptoms of the build-up of toxins in the body are indigestion, sinus congestion, headaches, insomnia, and weight gain.

Fasting can help to get rid of these health problems and thus improve your overall health.

In addition to fasting, there are other ways to ways to detox your body and get healthy.

Weight Loss Through Fasting

Fasting reduces your calorie intake which is why intermittent fasting on a regular basis will aid weight loss.

If you are new to fasting, you should start out slow – the first time you fast, include two or more glasses of fresh vegetable juice in your diet; this is one of the best tips for fasting, especially if you are a beginner as it will help to ease your hunger pangs so that you are not tempted to binge.

The famous 5:2 diet plan suggests that you eat your regular meals for 5 days in a week and fast for the other 2 days.

According to the 5 2 diet, during the 2 fasting days, you should not refrain from all food but instead keep your calorie intake at approximately 400–500 calories (for women) or 500–600 calories (for men).

For the remaining 5 days, people would follow their regular diet. A fasting diet can have tremendous health benefits for almost anyone but it is not recommended for pregnant women, children, diabetes patients, and those with cardiovascular ailments.