Fasting can boost metabolism and help ward off diseases

Fasting has numerous health benefits other than just weight loss. Here are some of them.

Editorial Team | Updated: February 11, 2019 3:03 pm

Fasting has plenty of health benefits ©Shutterstock

Fasting is not just for weight loss. A new research suggests that fasting can boost your metabolic activity, generate antioxidants, and reverse some effects of ageing. A new study by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and Kyoto University in Japan says that fasting, well known for its weight loss benefits, is also good for boosting metabolism. According to the study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports, fasting can enhance the metabolism of purine and pyrimidine, chemical substances which play key roles in gene expression and protein synthesis. There are many other benefits of fasting that have been documented by scientific research. Here are some of them:

1. Fasting can lead to improved health and provide protection against aging-associated diseases, a recent study suggests. According to the research, fasting affects circadian clocks in the liver and skeletal muscle, causing them to rewire their metabolism, which can ultimately lead to improved health and protection against ageing-associated diseases. The study was published recently in Cell Reports.
2. Intermittent fasting could inhibit the development and progression of the most common type of childhood leukaemia. The research by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in the US suggests that fasting could reduce the level of leptin circulating in the bloodstream as well as decrease the leptin levels in the bone marrow.
3. A study by the University of San Diego in the US suggests that breast cancer survivors can cut their risk of the deadly disease from recurring by fasting for longer at night or how many hours they avoid food for at night. The findings showed that a short ‘night fast’ of less than 13 hours led to a 36 per cent greater chance of tumours returning in women treated for early-stage breast cancer.
4. A research led by the University Of Florida explained that skipping meals or simply reducing overall caloric intake helps in increasing the life span. Fasting can cause a slight increase to SIRT 3, a well-known gene that promotes longevity.
5. The same research said that intermittent fasting decreased insulin levels in the research participants, which meant that the diet could have an anti-diabetic effect as well. The research is published in the Journal Rejuvenation Research.
6. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that a compound produced by the body when dieting or fasting can block a part of the immune system involved in several inflammatory disorders such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Published: February 11, 2019 2:24 pm | Updated:February 11, 2019 3:03 pm

Disclaimer: TheHealthSite.com does not guarantee any specific results as a result of the procedures mentioned here and the results may vary from person to person. The topics in these pages including text, graphics, videos and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only and not to be substituted for professional medical advice.

Marijuana edibles can affect the cardiovascular system among elderly, reveals study

New heated tobacco devices equally harmful as traditional smoking, e-cigarettes: Study

About The health Site

Useful Links