When you think of fasting, you probably picture awkward individuals locking themselves away from food and drink for hours on end.

While that might be the case for some versions of fasting, there are also many more benefits of fasting than one might expect.

Fasting is an increasingly popular practice not just from a religious standpoint, but also as a way to improve your health and well-being.

When done responsibly and with expert guidance, it can have numerous benefits for your body, mind and soul.

Here are some surprising benefits of fasting that you probably never expected.

1. You Can Lose Weight By Fasting

Generally, if you’re trying to lose weight, it’s a good idea to cut back on calories. While some people do this with a strict diet that limits their food intake, others might opt for intermittent fasting (IF).

As the name suggests, you’re temporarily going without food, often for around 16 hours each day.

The idea behind IF is that you’re giving your body a break from the constant demand for food and calories.

If you’re fasting, however, you can also get this benefit without cutting out any calories at all.

As long as you’re restricting your food intake for at least 12 hours, you’ll kickstart the body’s natural fat-burning systems, burning through your stored fat for energy at a much faster rate than normal.

2. Fasting Can Be A Form Of Self-care

Practicing self-care is all about looking after yourself, putting yourself first, and making time to prioritize your mental, emotional, and physical health.

For some people, this might involve booking a massage, getting plenty of sleep, or simply spending time with friends and loved ones. For others, it might mean fasting.

While this may seem counterintuitive at first, many people find that fasting is a powerful source of self-care.

By turning your attention away from food, and toward your mind and body, you can create a space for self-reflection and deeper healing.

3. Fasting Can Improve Your Mood And Mental Health

When you’re in a state of hunger, your body naturally releases the hormone cortisol. This is known as the “fight or flight” hormone and is released in response to stress and anxiety.

As cortisol is a powerful hormone, it can have lasting effects on your mood and mental health.

For example, it may leave you feeling irritable, anxious, or unable to concentrate. While fasting, however, your body will release a different hormone called human growth hormone (HGH).

This is a hormone that encourages tissue repair and regeneration and has been linked to improved mood and mental health. You Just have to have enough patience to get over the initial hunger pang.

4. Fasting Strengthens Your Body’s Natural Defenses

Throughout your life, your body has been exposed to various germs, viruses and infections.

Some of these you’ve likely been vaccinated against, but others you might have been lucky enough to dodge.

However, your body is constantly evolving and adapting to protect you from potential threats.

One way that your body does this is by building up your immune cells, antibodies, and other defenses.

When you’re fasting, your body is essentially tricked into thinking that it’s in a state of danger. It, therefore, ramps up its defenses, allowing them to build up even stronger than before.

5. Fasting Helps You Reconnect With Yourself And Your Emotions

In today’s busy world, many of us are constantly on the go, whether that’s at work, school, or home with family and friends.

We’re always rushing to the next thing and might feel that there’s never enough time in the day to do everything we have to do.

While this is normal to an extent, it can also mean that we’re frequently running on empty, both physically and emotionally.

By fasting, you can create the space to slow down and reconnect with your emotions and feelings.

You’ll also be better able to tune into your body, allowing you to discover physical sensations that you may have otherwise ignored.

Conclusion

To conclude, fasting is a practice that has been used for thousands of years by people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

There are many different types of fasting, each of which has unique benefits.

From helping you lose weight to improving your mental health, fasting has many health benefits. When done with expert guidance, fasting can be an incredibly beneficial practice.