Intermittent Fasting
If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”
—HIPPOCRATES
Intermittent Fasting: Part 1
Rhythmic Eating. No Deprivation.
I never liked the term intermittent fasting. To me, it sounds like constant deprivation and focus of when you were NOT “permitted to eat”. But, if you think about it, this method of eating, no matter what you call it, parallels your natural rhythms, and is mindful of optimal metabolism time and the focus to sleep and digest mindfully.
Think about it. Our body runs on a circadian rhythm.... that is, we have an internal biological clock that is influenced by the light of the sun and darkness. These changes and the environment affect our digestive process, blood pressure, body temperature, and the release of our sleep hormone, melatonin. New research shows that we should coordinate our daily habits with our “rhythms” for our best health.
And if we think about our eating habits and lifestyles....they are often out of whack to our daily “rhythms”. How?
WE EAT FOR A LONG TIME!
If we sleep for 8 hours (and most of us sleep less than that!), more than 16 hours of waking time is available for eating; our access to food is easy. Our bodies however, were made to only digest foods for 8-10 hours, and often the process will take longer, with fats and sugars being processed inefficiently. Plus, there is no time for cell repair and actual rejuvenation.
MINDLESS EATING!
So many of us are eating constantly, grabbing food that is around, especially while on the go, or on a stressful schedule. Intermittent fasting ensures you are mindful of what goes in your body, and eating for the right reasons. We are eating too much, and this creates a way for us to get back on track.
TOO MUCH BLUE LIGHT AFFECTS OUR SLEEP PATTERNS, AND OUR EATING HABITS.
The blue light that comes on our screens mimics daylight, plus our more intense daily schedules due to the internet and social media can disrupt our sleep hormone, and inevitably, our sleep patterns. Lack of sleep leads to rises in cortisol, which leads to our propensity to do some late night snacking and extra calories.
So intermittent fasting, or what I like to call it “rhythmic eating” really is a great tool to get you back on track—it can help with weight loss and fat loss; plus, it helps with portion control, and with building new healthy habits.
Will we sometimes get o track due to a special event or weekend or celebration? Of course, But being AWARE and knowing you get back to an optimal schedule is a great first step!