6 good reasons why you should fast in summer
Summer is finally here and we feel vital, exhilarated and full of zest for life.
Our 6 benefits in this article reveal why summer is a good time to fast . The process of autophagy (cell cleansing and renewal) is easily promoted by the properties of summer. Summer simply plays into our hands for this recycling process in the body. Find out why now.
The traditional Christian Lent is known to be between the end of Carnival (Ash Wednesday) and Easter. Other traditional fasting periods occur in the summer and the pre-Christmas period. Now in summer, detox, purification, and cleansing are at the top of the wish or to-do list for many women and men. It always means the same thing: cleansing, activating, and rejuvenating the body. From a medical perspective, the process of autophagy, cell regeneration, is the only scientifically proven process in fasting that most closely meets this requirement. For this reason, at SALUFAST, we often refer to it as autophagy.
However, the purpose of autophagy is not the simple elimination of materials, but instead, autophagy serves as a dynamic recycling system that produces new building blocks and energy for cellular renovation and homeostasis. Numerous in-depth studies have already explored this fascinating topic: However, the purpose of autophagy is not the simple elimination of materials, but instead, autophagy serves as a dynamic recycling system that produces new building blocks and energy for cellular renovation and homeostasis. Cell. 2011 Nov 11;147(4):728-41. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.10.026.
6 good reasons why you should fast in summer:
1. Natural cooling through therapeutic fasting
During a therapeutic fast, your body lowers its basal metabolic rate because meals generate less heat energy. The body lowers its "operating temperature" to conserve energy. This causes your body temperature to drop by a few tenths of a degree. This, in turn, leads to the sensation of cold that often occurs during fasting. This cooling effect is very welcome on hot summer days.
2. Warm weather – less appetite, more thirst
The higher temperatures and longer periods of light in summer affect our entire biological system. Often, not only our daily rhythms but also our eating habits change. Our appetite, hunger, and thirst naturally adapt to the season. We feel more craving light food and refreshing drinks. This natural and intrinsic need of our own body is met by our dietary-tailored meals and tea recommendations during therapeutic fasting. All our meals are light, very easy to digest, simple to prepare, nourishing, and pleasantly filling. Since the body is already strained enough by the heat, your summer meals should always be light and easily digestible.
3. Fasting is easier when we exercise.
The advantage of summer when it comes to exercise is clear. Hardly any other time of year offers so many different opportunities for outdoor exercise. Cycling, walking, running, swimming, paddling—the wonderful weather practically invites you to exercise. Fasting and exercise are inseparable and enormously important for the success of a fast. Only through exercise can acid be excreted more effectively and the muscles protected from protein breakdown. Autophagy, as well as the recovery of metabolic hormones such as insulin and leptin, which are overstimulated by overeating, are best promoted by fasting and exercise together.
4. Fasting in summer has a psychological advantage
In the colder seasons like autumn and winter, we long for warmth, retreat, and peace. Our bodies want to build up reserves and conserve energy; it's a season of preservation and retreat. In summer, however, we feel an inner drive to release our stored energy. We're active and want to be out in nature, bursting with energy. Spending time in nature not only stimulates our body's cleansing process, but also our psyche. There are now numerous studies that demonstrate how beneficial spending time in nature, or so-called forest bathing, is for body and mind. If not in the fresh air in summer—when then?
5. Light clothing – lighter weight? Lose weight with therapeutic fasting.
As soon as the temperatures change, we eagerly pull out our summer dresses, skirts, and lighter clothing. Sometimes it's only then that we realize that something is a little aching here and there. A kilo or two may still be too much to fit into our beloved summer outfit. Therapeutic fasting can effectively support you in regulating your body weight. Through conscious fasting with our dietary-balanced meals, your metabolism goes through various phases of adjustment, breaking down stored fat. So you lose weight, even if it's not the primary goal of therapeutic fasting. The first phase is the breakdown of stored sugar. Your body now learns to use its nutrient stores as an energy source. This phase is also known as glycogenolysis. Glucose is released from glycogen (the storage form of glucose) in the liver and muscles and used for further energy production. But these stores are limited and will soon be depleted, so your body must now learn to use stored fats to provide energy for body and nerve cells. Ketogenesis also begins in this second phase. Body fat is transported to the liver, where it produces so-called ketone bodies, which can then be used by nerve and muscle cells to generate energy. Some scientists also refer to this as a "super fuel," because ketone bodies are a better energy source than sugar for some diseased body cells.
6. Fresh, firm skin in summer?
One of the most noticeable effects of therapeutic fasting is the positive change in your skin's appearance. After just a few days, the detox also reaches the skin, which also serves as a storage area for our body. Thanks to the autophagy that occurs during fasting, your skin feels softer and smoother after just a short time. Circulation and metabolism are improved – your complexion is rosy and fresh, and impurities gradually disappear. Due to the regenerative time for the intestines, toxins are broken down and excreted more effectively during therapeutic fasting. They no longer have to be excreted exclusively through the skin. This is naturally noticeable in your skin's appearance. Inflammatory processes in the body, which are responsible for acne and impure skin, among other things, are alleviated by fasting. With our dietary meals, you also promote the development of a diverse intestinal flora during therapeutic fasting. The state of your intestinal health has a major influence on the condition of your skin.
Finally, here are the 6 advantages that speak for therapeutic fasting in summer:
1. Your body benefits from the cooling effect of fasting
2. Your appetite and hunger are lower
3. You have the greatest variety of exercise options in nature
4. You feel more energy and drive in your body
5. You lose weight quickly and effectively (bikini time)
6. You radiate freshness and relaxation through your skin
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