Fasting and Mental Health

Have you ever wondered if fasting makes you think more precisely and keeps you away from stress? No, right? Many of you think that fasting is for losing weight and for religious reasons only. Still, there are several other benefits too of fasting. One of the best uses of fasting is on your mental health. Fasting helps you with stress and anxiety.

Earlier, when there used to be no direct sources of food, your ancestors had to rely on hunting and storing nuts, berries, and other edible things. They used to go fasting for long periods, which made their liver use the stored fat for energy. But it was all when humans did not know how to farm, and they used to survive on hunting. Now you have food readily available in markets, online stores, or in your garden.

The benefits of fasting


1. Rejuvenation: Do you know? Every time you were fasting, you were actually in a rejuvenating period with your body. While fasting, your body dissolves the diseased cells, leaves the essential minerals and vitamins behind, and eliminates all the toxins, dead tissues, and body waste.
2. Increased Willpower: When you choose to fast, there is always an ultimate goal that you want to achieve. And after achieving that goal, there is an instant feeling of satisfaction. And due to this satisfaction, you continue to do what you like to do, i.e. indirectly; it increases your willpower to fast for the end results.
3. Mental Health: Your body takes time to adjust to the patterns of fasting. That is why it is advised to always pay attention to what you are thinking. Fasting is more of a mental task than a physical one. Not eating does not mean that it is all about fasting. You have to prepare your mind for that. Your mind uses energy to process your thoughts. When you fast, your brain has access to a cleaner bloodstream, and that allows you to have clear thoughts, better memory, and enhanced sharpness of your other sense organs.
4. Anxiety or Depression: Many studies have shown that intermittent fasting shows positive results for those who are suffering from anxiety or depression. People fast for different reasons. And when it is related to religion, they take fasting even more seriously, which is also why they see the positive effects of fasting in anxiety and depression.

Things to keep in mind while fasting


1. You are fasting for a reason, and reminding yourself of the reason to fast will significantly help you satiate your hunger.
2. Go for a walk - Distracting yourself is a great way of keeping yourself on track of not breaking the fast. And walking makes you feel good and distracts your mind from hunger.
3. Try exercising - If you are a gym freak or like to keep indulging in physical activities, try meditation or light yoga poses
4. Get 8 hours of sleep - It is essential to get proper sleep, if you fast or not. When fasting, you should be feeling well rested.
5. Train your mind - Whether you believe it or not, we are continuously surrounded by food items. Everywhere you see, you can find things related to food. Whether it is watching reels on Instagram or the magazines sitting at your side table. Try avoiding these kinds of stimuli and find some good distractions to your eyes and mind. And while fasting, these will work as a trigger to your hunger.

Fasting is the best way to get your desired results. Still, it is always advisable to consult your healthcare professional before practising it or including fasting in your daily routine. It is best to ask your nutritionist how often you should fast and what to eat or not eat during that period if you are breastfeeding, nursing, or on any medication.