To eat or not to eat, fasting is the Question.

On September 16, 1932, in his cell at Yerwada Jail in Pune, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi begins a hunger strike in protest of the British government’s decision to separate India’s electoral system by caste. Today in history, almost 90 years ago. What have we learned?

I find myself blogging a lot about things that are partially political, partly health and of course about food. Imagine opening a restaurant with a fasting theme. An absolute cash cow, no food cost, no labour cost, maybe a little juice or tea....lol.

But really what is fasting all about? The history, why to do it, how to do it...

Fasting is the willful refrainment from eating and sometimes drinking (see Water fasting and Juice fasting). From a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (see the "break fast"), or to the metabolic state achieved after complete digestion and absorption of a meal. Several metabolic adjustments occur during fasting. Some diagnostic tests are used to determine a fasting state. For example, a person is assumed to be fasting once 8–12 hours have elapsed since the last meal. Metabolic changes of the fasting state begin after absorption of a meal (typically 3–5 hours after eating).

The reasons are vast for fasting, political, spiritual, religious and of course for health and well being. Wiki gives a much better breakdown than I can; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting

9 Good Reasons to Fast

1. Promotes Blood Sugar Control by Reducing Insulin Resistance

2. Promotes Better Health by Fighting Inflammation

3. May Enhance Heart Health by Improving Blood Pressure, Triglycerides and Cholesterol Levels

4. May Boost Brain Function and Prevent Neurodegenerative Disorders

5. Aids Weight Loss by Limiting Calorie Intake and Boosting Metabolism

6. Increases Growth Hormone Secretion, Which Is Vital for Growth, Metabolism, Weight Loss and Muscle Strength

7. Could Delay Aging and Extend Longevity

8. May Aid in Cancer Prevention and Increase the Effectiveness of Chemotherapy

9. Acts to create mindfulness, patience and appreciation for what you have, and what others do not.

I personally day fast, basically it means I leave at least 12 hours before my last meal and my next meal. I can't really tell you what the benefits are entirely, but it works for me. I have also in the past fasted one day a week....this is a little more difficult. There are many advocates that can guide you in this, and plenty of reading materials available. Maybe give it a whirl, you only have one body to get you through this life, look after it! Cheers, and have a great day!