Fasting has been a part of holistic religious practices since ancient times. During Navratri, women in India wear nine different colours on each day and observe fast. Sacrificing food during Navratri is an act of denial for materialistic needs to attain higher spiritual quests and receive the almighty’s blessing. While the idea of fasting can be overwhelming, especially if you haven’t done it before, your body behaves differently when you fast. Curious to know what happens to your body when you fast? Read on!

Improved Digestion

When you fast, you give the microbes a break from their duties. This not only improves the gut bacteria profile but the fasting period also allows the gut lining to heal and recover. Plus, fasting improves the barrier function of the gut which is vital in filtering toxins and pathogens ingested.

Higher Energy

You must have heard that fasting dips your energy levels but it does the opposite. The process of digestion draws so much energy from your body so when your body does not have to expel any energy in the digestion front, you’ll feel peppier. The Benefits of Fasting; Why Observing Vrat or Upvas is Good for Health.

Lower Insulin Production

Your insulin level goes up when you eat. Insulin stores sugar as glycogen in the liver, and also turns on fat production in the liver. To lose weight, you need to decrease insulin so when you are fasting, you automatically lose some weight.

Metabolism Boost

With the decrease in insulin levels, the metabolic rate raises by up to 16 percent. When this happens, your body automatically starts burning the fat stored for energy. Fasting Can Improve Your Overall Health, Here's How.

Better Focus

Initially, when you start fasting you may feel lightheaded and dizzy but at the same time, you will experience increased laser-focus and attention. So if you are doing something that demands concentration, your brain does not need to be alert to hunt.

No Bloating

When you are fasting, you will be drinking more water, which is often the unsung hero to many digestive issues. Drinking more water will also keep the bloating away. Tired of Bloating and Indigestion? Heal Your Stomach With These Home Remedies.

During the periods in which you are eating, you will still want to focus mainly on healthy fats, clean protein, and carbohydrates from whole food sources. But this isn’t an excuse to load up on sugar the rest of the time!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2019 04:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).