We have all heard the phrase “you are what you eat.” It’s also true that we are what we don’t eat. Intermittent fasting, or avoiding food for periods of time, can drastically improve the body’s function and give us more mental clarity. In today’s cluttered world it is important to hit the reset button and find inner peace.
Whether you suffer from a sense of overwhelming pressure or find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, intermittent fasting can help improve mental health and give you renewed clarity, focus and purpose. The body and the brain are linked together. What is good for the body is often something that will help us have better mental health and improved clarity.
Intermittent fasting will benefit the body and the brain. We’ve outlined seven reasons why intermittent fasting is something that you should consider for improved health and well-being:
1. Your body will become more resistant to stress
There are plenty of things that cause stress and many of them are out of our control. Internet trolls, traffic accidents, difficult family members and money woes are just a few examples of the types of stress that we need to deal with every day.
Fortunately, there are a few stressors that are well within our control and fasting can help us regulate our stress and live more productive and fulfilling lives. Intermittent fasting reduces the existence of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are molecules that drift around the body and wreak havoc with your system.
2. Your brain will become more efficient
There is a reason why many of our ancestors incorporated intermittent fasting into almost every religious ritual and spiritual cleanse. Fasting allows our brains to function better. When we consume a lot of food our brains need to process all of the different sensations, tastes and smells of what we’re eating. The more immediate reward we get from the food, the more overloaded our brains become.
That’s why that plate of cheesy fries might seem like an amazing idea but it will only leave you feeling full, depressed and a little sad after you consume it.
When we fast, we trick our brains into going into “survival mode”. This allows it to focus intently on things that are the most important. Intermittent fasting can allow us to focus on more important tasks and maximize our time.
3. Your immune system will function more optimally
Our immune systems might be a physical part of our makeup, but anyone who has ever been sick knows that not feeling physically well can lead to decreased productivity and lowered quality of life. Even something as simple as a small sinus infection can have ripple effects on our mental health and overall mood.
Intermittent fasting helps our immune systems stay on-point. When your immune system is working it protects your body. Your mental health soars because you are firing on all cylinders. You are doing everything in your power to make sure that your physical and mental health is aligned.
4. Intermittent fasting can help decrease depression
Depression impacts millions of people worldwide. Although intermittent fasting is not a cure for depression and should never be used in the place of doctor-prescribed medications, depression is partially linked to an overwhelmed brain. Intermittent fasting can allow our brains to take a little hiatus from worrying about everything.
Our mental and physical health are linked together. Foods that cause us to feel sluggish and pack on the pounds also lead to energy and mood crashes. Doing something healthier for your body will also help your brain work more effectively, and could help keep the blues at bay!
5. Your willpower will be drastically improved
It takes willpower to intermittently fast. It is easy to reach for the chocolate lava cake or wind down with a glass of wine after work, but it takes some mental strength to forgo the short-term pleasure for longer-term benefits.
Willpower is a muscle just like any other one. When we flex and use it, we are able to increase it. It gets stronger. By exercising willpower over our food choices we make it more effective in other areas of our lives.
This will only benefit you moving forward. Think of all of the great things that you could do with your life if only you had a little bit more willpower.
6. Intermittent fasting helps increase dopamine production
This point goes hand-in-hand with how intermittent fasting aids in curtailing depression. Dopamine is the body’s “feel good” substance. It makes you feel happier, satisfied and more confident when taking on challenges. Beyond that, dopamine has been linked to a better quality of life.
Dopamine is a naturally-occurring substance that makes us feel better. We are able to focus on the things that matter and not sweat the small stuff! Intermittent fasting gives our bodies permission to produce more dopamine.
7. Your sleep will be better and more productive
Your diet impacts sleep more than you think. Anyone who has ever gotten terrible heartburn after eating a plate of hot wings at 10 pm can attest to the destructive power of fast food.
Intermittent fasting allows our bodies to reset and by more efficient. Part of this efficiency is getting better and more productive sleep. Although better sleep is generally seen a physical side-effect of intermittent fasting it is also a mental one. Getting a good night’s sleep is important for a productive and well-rounded life.
Intermittent fasting is very good for us. Our ancestors knew it and worked fasting into many different rituals designed to reach spiritual enlightenment. There are a plethora of reasons why we should incorporate intermittent fasting into our lives. Medically, our bodies produce more dopamine. Our brains operate on a new, sharper level and we are able to get a full eight hours of restorative sleep. Start small and you’ll see the positive effects of intermittent fasting!
If you enjoyed this article then please go ahead and share it with your friends and family. After all, sharing is caring.
Sources
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5153500/
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4790398/
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4725115/
Author: Scott Fanello
Scott Fanello writes for Eternaloak.com to help men and women build the body of their dreams by focusing on fasting and longevity diets. Bust through your weight plateau and grab your Free Checklist To Restart Fat Burning Through Fasting. Check out his Pinterest page.