My thoughts after a 36 hour fast:
I have dabbled with fasting intermittently for about 8 months now, and after experiencing the countless great benefits of time-restricted eating, I have become increasingly interested in long-term fasting.
Simply stated, it's very clear to me now why people would engage in a prolonged fast, ones ranging from 2-7 days. Outside of the numerous health benefits, like the major increase in autophagy (cell recycling), insulin reduction and total glycogen depletion (the main components of fat loss), and digestive system recuperation, I can see why a long fast would be performed for psychological(ish) reasons. I won't continue on about the health benefits because there are hundreds of people who can articulate better than myself, but there's a lot of solid scientific research to be discovered. In a nut shell, there is a lot of research to greatly promote fasting.
Firstly, is the challenge of will power - breaking a life long habit of constant eating. Kellog's 1944 advertisement campaign of breakfast being the most meal of the day really did its job well. It seems like something unthinkable and counterintuitive - how can I not eat for days? Like, many aspects of science, it may be counterintuitive, but that's only because of life long habits and traditions. Just because something seems odd, it does not deem it untrue (as we can see through every scientific breakthrough in history). Therefore, it can be quite liberating to see if you're competent enough for the challenge, for its not easy for anyone. But it's interesting making your body perform tasks it normally does not, and it's wonderful form of catharsis for the mind.
Secondly, outside the surface level reward of testing will power and feeling accomplished, there is a rewarding immediate physiological as well. Roughly after the 24 hour mark, I felt an unreal boost of energy and clarity. As my body was in its sympathetic state, I noticed my mind becoming sharply focused and alert. And this makes perfect scientific sense - your body is in fight or flight because it wants you to hunt or gather a meal, thus making you hyper-focused for the task (rather than a digestive state, which requires over half of your body's energy, leaving us tired and groggy). Consider this in evolutionary light. How often did our ancestors eat?
Lastly, from almost a "spiritual" perspective (never crazy about using that word), it also makes sense. Aside from my clarity, I also felt exceedingly calm and relieved. Yes, energetic, but in a uniquely relaxed way. It felt more like my energy was directed into mental clarity, while my body was feeling relaxed. I say this makes sense spiritually, because it was able to lead to profound cognition. My ability to think was disturbingly clear , which can result in some remarkable discoveries about the self and the world. So, it makes sense why almost every religion practices some sort of fasting ritual. There seems to certainly be something to it.
Overall, it's a challenge I was looking forward to beginning to see how my body and mind would adapt to the change. It seems to be a helpful tool for long-term health benefits, short term clarity and focus, as well as a reset button to teach myself how to listen to my body again, so I can possibly remember what's its like to eat when I'm actually hungry and not just craving food. In some time, I would like to continue long-term fasting (perhaps once every couple months) and see how far I can push my body and mind, and note how I feel along the way.
For anything I didn't clarify, I encourage you to do your own research of the benefits of fasting, for there is countless information available upon the internet.
dededos
2087
snowghoul
kaledo-art