Discovering the Truth About Fasting: Three Things You Didn't Know
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People are so afraid of fasting or being in a fasted state, and I was like this too until I realized that there were some misconceptions I had. I had been struggling to reach a certain fat percentage, and now because I was able to build the discipline around food, not only am I below that fat percentage, but I am also able to easily maintain it because of the habits I formed while fasting.
In this post, I will be writing about a few of the thought changes I had to realize while fasting and how it changed everything for me.
The Stomach Needs Food
Leisure illustrations by Storyset
Even though I had read before in physiology that the stomach cannot tell the difference between food and water, I always assumed that it did not apply to me. In reality, our stomach does not have the ability to differentiate between the two.
All the stomach wants to do is break down food and absorb nutrients, and when water gets into the stomach, it carries out the same processes it would with food.
The stomach mechanically and chemically breaks down food by churning the content and mixing its content and secreting breakdown enzymes. Once the food is broken down, it moves to the small intestine.
The major difference is that when we take liquid into the stomach, the transit time is much faster than the slow transit time seen with food.
What I found is that if I was hungry and you gave me a soft drink within the day, I immediately felt better. "Feeling better" starts with just handing me the drink in sometimes even.
I also remember from physiology that when you hand a person food, secretions all throughout the gut start without the food even being present. This is why our mouths get watery at the sight of food.
Meaning it is not even the case that food itself makes us satisfied to an extent, it is the expectation of what food is that really works for us. Just the same way the stomach cannot tell the difference and the we start to make modifications in our GI, it is the same way with water.
While I did intermittent fasting, I was able to stay fasted with this knowledge.
Hunter-Gatherers Were Mostly Hungry
Leisure illustrations by Storyset
Before humans were smart enough to domesticate animals and cultivate crops, it is believed that we were hunter-gatherers. I mean, if you don’t believe that we were, what do you think it means that humans are capable of outrunning almost every four-legged creature over a span of days to hours?
I think as apex predators, we had to have gone through this phase. The components of being a hunter-gatherer would most likely have included periods of prolonged hunger.
Those are the humans we evolved from. The ones who would set out early in the morning with empty stomachs and high spirits and begin tracking deer for days, often surviving with just water.
One additional thing people say is that they cannot go on a fast because of hypoglycemia, and they wouldn’t be able to concentrate over a long period. Imagine what it took those hunters to go through their day with nothing but water, analyzing and tracing deer miles away, and doing so for days.
The very act of hunting is to outsmart the animal in a game of wit or lose a battle that has been fought for days…and probably go home to your tribe with nothing.
Going home would have been another mental task. These hunters would have to use the stars as their guide back home. I don’t even know what it means that humans have the ability to do that and how that was passed down from generation to generation.
This made me feel less sorry for myself whenever I had to go through long periods of fasting.
My Health While Fasting
Leisure illustrations by Storyset
Besides the plasmodial illnesses I have had (and I take full accountability for when I allowed my room to be a breeding ground for mosquitoes), I have had fewer cases of diarrhea and ulcer episodes.
This is very contrary to most of what literature says about ulcers anyway, so I don’t advise anyone to quote me on this one. What I do know is that we have healthy bacteria in our gut, meaning they are seen in normal healthy people, and fasting helps grow these bacteria.
I have not had to worry about weight loss either; it just happens as part of my body’s metabolism. I utilize fat within the day as I am supposed to. There is also literature on the increased growth hormone secretion while fasted and reduced chronic inflammatory conditions like cancer and arthritis having less effect while fasting.
Besides the physical health benefits, there are benefits I noticed in my mind. I seemed to have more clarity of thought, and I could fully focus on tasks. This was partly due to the fact that I knew I would not be eating anything during the time, including snacks or soft drinks.
The discipline I have built through fasting has also helped me to be able to say no to certain foods and drinks (including soft drinks).
Do you struggle with discipline when it comes to food? Do you wish you could talk to someone about it?
You can send me a message on WhatsApp at +2348134530293, and we can have a conversation, or you can speak with a licensed therapist.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fasting has numerous benefits both for physical and mental health. It helps to build discipline, which in turn makes it easier to say no to certain foods and drinks. Fasting can also help to reduce chronic inflammatory conditions such as cancer and arthritis, as well as promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria. Additionally, fasting can increase growth hormone secretion and promote weight loss.
It's important to recognize that the stomach cannot differentiate between food and water, and that our hunter-gatherer ancestors likely went through periods of prolonged hunger while hunting. By understanding these concepts, we can appreciate the mental and physical strength required to hunt and survive without food for days on end.
If you struggle with discipline when it comes to food, fasting may be a helpful tool to help build self-control and achieve your health and fitness goals. However, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional before beginning any type of fasting regimen, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.