Oh, it's so in vogue right now to do a cleanse, a juice fast, intermittent fasting, etc. How do we know if they are good for us or not? The 3 day Hollywood diet has celebrities smiling, Beyonce went on the water, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper cleanse to lose her post baby weight rapidly. So what is the deal here?
Fasting is not eating anything at all, or in some cases, one will drink water, like for religious reasons. Intermittent fasting is planned eating in a window of time, and then there is a planned time for not eating at all, but water intake is ok. Studies show that the benefits from intermittent fasting anywhere from 12-24 hours, one day or more a week. An example of this is to have a large healthy dinner, and then eat nothing until lunch time the next day. If one eats a high percentage healthy dietary fats at that meal (60-90% fat), the fat burning as fuel will begin to work and we will feel satiated until our next meal intake. Some folks prefer to fast like this every day. Another option is to eat a meal and then not eat until the same time the next day, so close to 24 hours in between. The research suggests this is effective 1 or 2 times a week, not consecutively. The organs in the digestive system get a rest, and our focus is really sharp, especially if we consumed enough fats when we do eat.
I enjoy a green veggie juice cleanse a couple of times a year. The phytochemicals from the greens are alive, the enzymes give me zip, but no fiber and therefore my digestive system gets a rest, while by body absorbs super amounts of nutrients. It takes a bushel of veggies to make one quart of fresh squeezed green juice (no fruit).
On the other hand, there is a limit as to how often and how long we can consume very little calories without it eventually doing metabolic damage to our homeostasis (our body's systems desiring to be in balance). Perform these cleanses and fasts continuously without breaks for weeks on end, and we may feel lethargic, moody, or ill, even. When we come off these fasts, our body will hang on to every bit of food we feed it and turn it into fat because it is protecting us from future bouts of starvation. That's right, it is STARVATION. There are many pro-anorexia messages being sent to our society, both intentionally and unintentionally. Another term young people use for starvation is the hip word, THINSPO or THINSPIRATION.
The internet can be a blessing or a curse in this area. As always, I suggest you do your own research from non-biased health websites, that aren't selling you potions, powders, bars, or promises.
Comment? Question? Sign up on the contact form on this website.
I want to hear from you.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
Fasting is not eating anything at all, or in some cases, one will drink water, like for religious reasons. Intermittent fasting is planned eating in a window of time, and then there is a planned time for not eating at all, but water intake is ok. Studies show that the benefits from intermittent fasting anywhere from 12-24 hours, one day or more a week. An example of this is to have a large healthy dinner, and then eat nothing until lunch time the next day. If one eats a high percentage healthy dietary fats at that meal (60-90% fat), the fat burning as fuel will begin to work and we will feel satiated until our next meal intake. Some folks prefer to fast like this every day. Another option is to eat a meal and then not eat until the same time the next day, so close to 24 hours in between. The research suggests this is effective 1 or 2 times a week, not consecutively. The organs in the digestive system get a rest, and our focus is really sharp, especially if we consumed enough fats when we do eat.
I enjoy a green veggie juice cleanse a couple of times a year. The phytochemicals from the greens are alive, the enzymes give me zip, but no fiber and therefore my digestive system gets a rest, while by body absorbs super amounts of nutrients. It takes a bushel of veggies to make one quart of fresh squeezed green juice (no fruit).
On the other hand, there is a limit as to how often and how long we can consume very little calories without it eventually doing metabolic damage to our homeostasis (our body's systems desiring to be in balance). Perform these cleanses and fasts continuously without breaks for weeks on end, and we may feel lethargic, moody, or ill, even. When we come off these fasts, our body will hang on to every bit of food we feed it and turn it into fat because it is protecting us from future bouts of starvation. That's right, it is STARVATION. There are many pro-anorexia messages being sent to our society, both intentionally and unintentionally. Another term young people use for starvation is the hip word, THINSPO or THINSPIRATION.
The internet can be a blessing or a curse in this area. As always, I suggest you do your own research from non-biased health websites, that aren't selling you potions, powders, bars, or promises.
Comment? Question? Sign up on the contact form on this website.
I want to hear from you.
Blessings,
KJ Landis
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