It looks like we are about to survive another winter—the long, dark nights, no sun till 8:00 a.m., darkness when you drive home. But spring is just around the corner, and with it comes warmer temperatures, green lawns, Easter, and…no more snow!
Springtime is a perfect opportunity for a metabolic reset after months of winter stress and inactivity. It’s a great time to re-commit yourself to your health. Exercise is always easier when it is nice outside. Eating healthy just seems easier when there are fresh fruits and vegetables on the table. And jump-starting your day is quicker when there is sunshine to greet your morning. Sometimes we need a certain action to get that renewal going. I am going to suggest you consider going on a fast.
How Long Should You Fast?
A fast sounds daunting, doesn’t it? No food for what, a week? A month? 40 days like Jesus? Not necessarily that much, but at least 24 hours to see how your body manages it. Fasting is extremely healthy. Anytime you can give your digestive system a rest, it is beneficial. Fasting has many benefits that nothing else can replace, including increased energy, mental clarity, better insulin levels, lower blood glucose levels, lower cholesterol levels, possibly eliminating the need for diabetic medications, reduction of inflammation, and possible induction of ketosis.
Autophagy, Mitophagy, and Cellular Renewal
Monica and I have been doing a metabolic reset through a 48-hour fast once a month for a few years now after hearing Dr. Pradip Jamnadas explain how much it affects your health. Your body is more able to clean out old, tired cells and mitochondria, making you younger and healthier on the inside. Another important aspect is that cancer cells have an extremely hard time surviving when you fast for 48 hours. Fasting for 48 hours triggers a process called autophagy in which your body cleans out the old, tired cells and starts new ones. It also triggers mitophagy which does the same for your mitochondria, which are the energy sources of your cells. Fasting can be a simple, integral part of your nutrition routine.
How to Safely Begin a Short-Term Fast
When you fast, you can and should continue to drink water with electrolytes. Coffee and tea are okay as well as long as you do not put any sugar in them. When you do sit down to your first meal after a fast, make it a light one. Go for fish (broiled, not deep fried), and a nice light salad with some vegetables. You want to slowly wake up your digestive system, not overload it. Surprisingly, your hunger will go down quite a bit on the second day.
After you have done a few one-day fasts, you may want to consider longer ones. My longest has been a five-day fast. Remember, the reason you fast is not to lose weight, although you will definitely shed a few pounds as your body kicks into fat-burning mode. But you fast for the overall health benefits. The cancer-fighting, the regenerative aspect, and the overall energy restoration.
Fasting one of the most powerful ways to create a true metabolic reset and kick-start your metabolism. Fasting is not for everyone, however, so check with me or another qualified healthcare provider first on the right way to do it for you.
