Let Nature Be Your Doctor – Fasting For Natural Healing
Modern medicine may not consider fasting for natural healing, but it is an ancient practice that has been used by many cultures and societies. Hippocrates, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and Paracelsus were all proponents of the practice of fasting and believed in its potential to help with a variety of ailments. Paracelsus even went so far as to say that “fasting is the greatest remedy – the physician within”.1
We are genetically programmed to fast. Our ancestors often went through long stretches of time without eating, and fasting was a natural part of their daily life. However, we have strayed far from that lifestyle and are now suffering health consequences as a result.
Differing religions don’t agree on much, but they all agree that fasting is important. For example, fasting is a major part of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Fasting helps people to focus on spiritual matters and gives them an opportunity to reflect on their lives. It can also help people develop self-discipline and humility.
Fasting is a way to practice self-control and moderation. During fasting, people can learn to control their desires for food, drink, and other physical pleasures. This can help them to develop healthier eating and drinking habits, as well as a more balanced lifestyle.
Fasting is the quickest and most efficient way to get a healing response in the body. Fasting for natural healing allows the body to innately repair itself so it becomes stronger and more resilient.
In short, fasting is the oldest, most powerful biohack known to humankind.
The Miracle Of Fasting For Natural Healing
When you fast, your body is able to rest and repair itself because it isn’t bogged down with digesting food. During this period of rest, your body can focus its energy on healing itself through the process of autophagy, growth hormone secretion, and stem cell formation.
When done properly, fasting can be an incredibly beneficial health practice with a wide range of benefits. Fasting is best paired with a cellular detox and cleaning for maximum effect.
Fasting For Natural Healing Through The Process Of Autophagy
Fasting harnesses innate intelligence, allowing the body to remove bad cells through the process of autophagy. In this regard, fasting is so crucially important to good health, it is almost as important as sleeping.
Autophagy is the process in which cells break down their own macromolecules and components to fuel metabolic pathways. During autophagy, senescent cells, defined as cells that have stopped dividing and are no longer capable of undergoing further development or differentiation, are removed.
Senescent cells are associated with tissue remodeling, inflammation, and premature aging. Senescent cells have been shown to produce a wide range of pro-inflammatory molecules that can affect nearby healthy cells.2
Fasting For Natural Healing – Growth Hormone Secretion
Fasting has also been found to stimulate growth hormone (GH) secretion, which can help with tissue repair, muscle building, and fat burning. Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates cell reproduction, growth, and regeneration. It helps with maintaining healthy bones and muscles, as well as supporting the immune system. In addition, GH has anti-aging properties and can help improve energy levels and mental clarity.3
Fasting For Natural Healing – Stem Cell Formation
Fasting is also beneficial for the production of stem cells, which play an important role in repairing damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can differentiate into specialized cells such as muscle, brain, or cardiac tissue. During a fast, your body produces more stem cells, which can be used to repair and rejuvenate the body. This may help reduce inflammation, improve healing time, and protect against aging. Overall, fasting can have a positive effect on stem cell formation and support natural healing.4
Fasting And Ketosis
With prolonged fasting, the body will enter a state of ketosis which provides a host of health benefits. Ketosis is a metabolic state in which the body uses fat, rather than carbohydrates, as its primary source of energy. When the body enters ketosis, it breaks down stored fatty acids into molecules called ketones, which can then be used by cells for fuel. This process stabilizes blood sugar levels and helps to prevent spikes in insulin, which can lead to other health issues. The body enters ketosis when carbohydrate intake is low, allowing it to burn fat for fuel instead.
Fasting For Natural Healing And Weight Loss
More than 34% of adults in the United States are obese, putting them at a greater risk of developing several deadly diseases. Obesity is considered to be one of the leading factors in heart disease, and stroke.5 Read more about how to lose fat.
Calorie restriction is not an effective long-term method for managing weight. When calories are drastically limited, initial weight loss can be achieved; however, this is often accompanied by the burning of muscle mass. Additionally, as soon as old eating habits are resumed, the weight that was lost is often slowly regained. This is because the body has adapted to the new calorie-restricted environment and requires fewer calories to maintain the same weight as before.6
A recent study found that overweight individuals subject to multiple five-day water fasts over a six-month period lost an average of 8% of their body weight.7
Fasting For Natural Healing – Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance and obesity go hand in hand.8 When insulin-resistant individuals are prescribed insulin, they gain even more weight. Fasting helps to make cells more sensitive to insulin. Studies have shown that intermittent fasting can reduce insulin resistance and lead to weight loss.9
If you can’t lose weight no matter what you try, you may be suffering from weight loss resistance that stems from hormone dysfunction.
Leptin Resistance Responds To Fasting
Leptin resistance also causes weight gain because the body is unable to signal itself that it is full. This occurs when the hormone leptin, which tells the brain when to stop eating and burning fat, stops working properly. As a result, people with leptin resistance gain weight even after they eat less food and exercise more.
Fasting can be a useful tool in treating leptin resistance. Research suggests that fasting can help reduce the body’s production of both insulin and leptin, which helps the body regain its normal response to hormones like leptin.10
This means that when you do eat, your body is better able to respond to signals from leptin, meaning it can burn more fat and promote weight loss.
Fasting For Natural Healing By Resetting The Microbiome
Studies have shown that by fasting, the diversity of microbes in the gut is restored to a more normal distribution, improving overall health.11
If you want to reset your gut health, fast.
Fasting For Natural Healing By Reducing Inflammation
Studies have found that regular fasting can reduce inflammation in the body and decrease oxidative damage. Fasting has been associated with a reduction in inflammation markers. Specifically, studies have shown that fasting can reduce levels of inflammatory proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). 12 13 14 15
Fasting For Natural Healing And Longevity
Fasting is an excellent way to slow down the aging process and increase longevity.16 Fasting can increase life expectancy by reducing inflammation, improving metabolic health, and supporting healthy aging.
Fasting For Natural Healing And Reducing Chronic Illnesses
Fasting can help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease by promoting healthy metabolism. Intermittent fasting can lead to increased longevity due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial function. All these benefits of fasting work together to provide a healthier, longer life for those who practice it.
Fasting helps to reduce the levels of triglycerides, which are fats in the bloodstream. Fasting can also lower cholesterol and improve insulin sensitivity.17 18
Fasting allows people to age slower, decreases inflammation, and best of all, it’s free.
Start By Intermittent Fasting
Start with intermittent fasting, a practice that involves going for extended periods of time without eating. The goal is to go 14 to 23 hours without food so you consume all of your calories within a 1-10 hour window.
The goal of intermittent fasting isn’t to eat less, it’s to eat less often.
Intermittent fasting is not just beneficial for metabolic and mitochondrial health, but also for overall fitness. As the body adapts to the stress of being in an extended fasting state, it gets stronger as bad cells die off and the healthier ones live on.
5-Day Water Fast For Natural Healing
A 5-day water fast is ideal for maximal natural healing. The first 3 days are the hardest. However, many people experience a breakthrough on day 4 of a water fast, when they achieve maximum autophagy, and on day 5, when they release the greatest number of stem cells. Day 5 of a water fast is also when Growth Hormone peaks.
Tips On Fasting For Natural Healing
To manage side effects from fasting, it is important to get plenty of rest. Make sure you are comfortable and avoid strenuous activities. Drink lots of water to help flush out toxins and stay hydrated. Additionally, try to relax and stay positive throughout the fasting experience. Taking breaks from work or other activities when feeling tired can help you recharge and be more productive in the long run. Make sure to consult a doctor or nutritionist before beginning any form of fasting as it may not be suitable for everyone.
Breaking The 5-Day Water Fast
Don’t put too much stress on your body after a fast, as this could actually kill off the newly formed stem cells. Your microbiome has been reset so don’t just jump back into your original diet right away. The HCL levels in your stomach will be low, as dietary secretions have been placed on hold. For this reason, don’t start eating full meals immediately.
When breaking the fast, it’s important to choose nourishing, nutrient-dense foods that will give your body the fuel it needs to become accustomed to eating again. Some of the best options include bone broth, soups, and smoothies.
Step By Step Process To Get The Most Out Of Fasting
In my book, Beyond Fasting, I describe the process of fasting for natural healing in detail. You will learn how to work up to a 5-day water fast with week-by-week instructions. My book will answer all of your questions. I have been participating in and helping clients through water fasts since the 1990s. If you are going to water fast, do it right to get the most out of it.
Do you want to know even more? Read more about the miraculous benefits of water fasting.
References
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2 Antunes F, Erustes AG, Costa AJ, Nascimento AC, Bincoletto C, Ureshino RP, Pereira GJS, Smaili SS. Autophagy and intermittent fasting: the connection for cancer therapy? Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2018 Dec 10;73(suppl 1):e814s. doi: 10.6061/clinics/2018/e814s. PMID: 30540126; PMCID: PMC6257056.
3 Ho KY, Veldhuis JD, Johnson ML, Furlanetto R, Evans WS, Alberti KG, Thorner MO. Fasting enhances growth hormone secretion and amplifies the complex rhythms of growth hormone secretion in man. J Clin Invest. 1988 Apr;81(4):968-75. doi: 10.1172/JCI113450. PMID: 3127426; PMCID: PMC329619.
4 Wu, S. (2018, February 5). Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system. USC News. https://news.usc.edu/63669/fasting-triggers-stem-cell-regeneration-of-damaged-old-immune-system/
5 “Adult Obesity Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html.
6 Mozaffarian, Dariush, Tao Hao, Eric B. Rimm, Walter C. Willett, and Frank B. Hu. “Changes in Diet and Lifestyle and Long-Term Weight Gain in Women and Men.” New England Journal of Medicine 364, no. 25 (June 23, 2011): 2392-404. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1014296. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1014296?query=TOC#t=articleTop.
7 Heilbronn LK, de Jonge L, Frisard MI, et al. Effect of 6-month calorie restriction on biomarkers of longevity, metabolic adaptation, and oxidative stress in overweight individuals: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006;295(13):1539-1548.
8 Barazzoni R, Gortan Cappellari G, Ragni M, Nisoli E. Insulin resistance in obesity: an overview of fundamental alterations. Eat Weight Disord. 2018 Apr;23(2):149-157. doi: 10.1007/s40519-018-0481-6. Epub 2018 Feb 3. PMID: 29397563.
9 Kajimura S, Zingaretti MC, McLaughlin T, et al. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) governs the developmental switch of brown adipocytes by regulating the PRDM16-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1alpha) pathway. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2011;286(17):15484-15491.
10 Longo, V. D., & Mattson, M. P. (2014). Fasting: molecular mechanisms and clinical applications. Cell metabolism, 19(2), 181–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2013.12.008
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12 Youm, Yun-Hee, Kim Y Nguyen, Ryan W Grant, Emily L Goldberg, Monica Bodogai, Dongin Kim, Dominic D’Agostino, et al. “The Ketone Metabolite β-Hydroxybutyrate Blocks NLRP3 Inflammasome–mediated Inflammatory Disease.” Nature Medicine 21, no. 3 (February 16, 2015): 263–69. doi:10.1038/nm.3804.
13 Aksungar, Fehime B., Aynur E. Topkaya, and Mahmut Akyildiz. “Interleukin-6, C-Reactive Protein and Biochemical Parameters During Prolonged Intermittent Fasting.” Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 51, no. 1 (March 19, 2007): 88–95. doi:10.1159/000100954. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17374948.
14 Lavin, D. N., Joesting, J. J., Chiu, G. S., Moon, M. L., Meng, J., Dilger, R. N., & Freund, G. G. (2011). Fasting induces an anti-inflammatory effect on the neuroimmune system which a high-fat diet prevents. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 19(8), 1586–1594. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2011.73
15 Camhi, S. M., Stefanick, M. L., Ridker, P. M., & Young, D. R. (2010). Changes in C-reactive protein from low-fat diet and/or physical activity in men and women with and without metabolic syndrome. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, 59(1), 54–61.
16 Brandhorst, Sebastian, In Young Choi, Min Wei, Chia Wei Cheng, Sargis Sedrakyan, Gerardo Navarrete, Louis Dubeau, et al. “A Periodic Diet That Mimics Fasting Promotes Multi-System Regeneration, Enhanced Cognitive Performance, and Healthspan.” Cell Metabolism: Clinical and Translational Report 22, no. 1 (July 2015): 86–99. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2015.05.012. http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/pdfExtended/S1550-4131(15)00224-7
17 Whiteman, Honor. “Fasting: Health Benefits and Risks.” Medical News Today: Health News. July, 2015. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295914.php
18 Brown, J. E., M. Mosley, and S. Aldred. “Intermittent Fasting: A Dietary Intervention for Prevention of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease?” The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease 13, no. 2 (March 1, 2013): 68–72. doi:10.1177/1474651413486496. http://dvd.sagepub.com/content/13/2/68.full.pdf+html.
