Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from food for certain periods of time.
Studies have shown that fasting can be beneficial for better sleep, gut-health, weight loss, and lower blood sugar.
Fasting can be a great way to improve your health and longevity of life. Read our top 10 tips below for safe and successful fasting.
Drink plenty of water.
Staying hydrated is one of the most important factors of healthy fasting. Water helps to keep our cells, joints, digestive system, and more working properly.
You normally get extra water content from the food you eat so while fasting be sure to drink even more water than you normally would to make up for that loss.
Get enough sleep.
Our bodies do their best with adequate amounts of sleep and getting a full eight hours is especially important while fasting.
It is also best to avoid caffeine and other stimulants that can get in the way of restful sleep.
Don’t exercise strenuously.
While fasting it is best to stay moderately active and avoid vigorous or strenuous activity that could be too fatiguing.
Stick to walking or restorative yoga.
These tasks can also help take up time that you would normally spend eating during the day.
Practice deep breathing and meditation.
Keeping your mind engaged is a bit harder when we interrupt our normal daily schedules.
Deep breathing exercises and meditation helps to relax your mind and body and ease stress.
These mindful practices will help to complete a successful fast.
Eat plenty of fiber.
Fiber is important for digestive health.
It also can help to keep you feeling full longer than non-fibrous foods so it is a good idea to get plenty of fiber before and after a fast.
Don’t eat heavy food.
Eating heavy foods that are processed, sugary, or high in calories can be detrimental to your health and undo the effects of your fast.
It is best to stick to light, unprocessed, nutrient-dense foods before and right after a fast to optimize the effects of your fasting period.
Eat whole foods on non-fasting days.
Even on non-fasting days, the foods you eat can affect your fast. Stick to whole, unprocessed foods leading up to your fast so your body can be the most prepared for fasting.
Stick to what food you know makes you feel well leading up to the fast to best prepare your body.
Don’t overeat at the end of your fast.
At the end of your fast, you may be tempted to gorge on food since you will be hungry. Eating something light and in a normal portion is the best way to break your fast.
Eating too much or too fast could reverse the positive effects of the fast and make you feel sick.
Pay attention to how you feel.
It is important to pay attention to the signals your body is giving you during a fast. If you are feeling light-headed or dizzy to drinking a little extra water or take a rest.
It is normal to feel hungry, a bit fatigued, or irritable while fasting but if the feelings of light-headedness or dizziness persist and you feel unwell you should stop your fast and seek medical attention.
Take supplements or follow a supplemented fasting program.
Supplements can help nourish your body of nutrients lost during fasting.
A fasting program can help take the guesswork and planning out of fasting and provide you with the tools needed to see the benefits of fasting.
Check out our HDFU blog on the benefits of fasting and fasting-mimicking.
Or contact me today for more information on fasting.