For years, I suffered from digestive problems that had me feeling bloated and uncomfortable. Despite my best efforts to manage the issue with diets, supplements, and medications nothing seemed to work! Planning meals around avoiding certain foods was a way of life for far too long; however, finally, there is hope on the horizon.
After years of struggling with digestive issues in which I wrote the about previously, I discovered the surprising power of a 24-hour fast to bring relief.
Despite initial hesitation due to being told that skipping meals was bad for my health, I eventually decided to try a 24-hour fast when suggested by a friend. My doubts were allayed as they pointed out that fasting is in fact an innate process that our bodies are equipped to handle.
So, I decided to give it a shot. My plan was to pick a day when I didn’t have any social engagements or work obligations and could focus solely on the fast. I made sure to hydrate throughout the day with water and herbal tea, and when it came time to break the fast, I made sure to ease back into eating slowly and with foods that were easy on my digestive system.
To my surprise, the 24-hour fast was much easier than I expected. While I did get hungry throughout the day, it wasn’t the unbearable hunger pains that I had always imagined when I thought of fasting. Instead, it was more of a background sensation that I was able to ignore relatively easily.
But what really blew me away was the way my gut and digestion felt after the fast. I had expected it to take a while to feel any sort of relief, but almost immediately after breaking the fast, I noticed my bloating had decreased significantly. I also noticed that I felt less constipated and that bowel movements were much easier.
In the days following the fast, I continued to feel much better than normal. Foods that had previously caused me discomfort and bloating no longer seemed to have the same effect on my body. I felt like I had uncovered some sort of magic trick for my gut.
Since that first 24-hour fast, I have continued to incorporate intermittent and extended fasting into my life. Of course, I have always made sure to listen to my body and make sure that I’m nourishing myself properly during eating periods.
Fasting has been a revelation for my digestive health, giving me greater control over how and care for myself. For those struggling with digestion-related issues, it could be the answer they’ve been looking for – why not give it a go? It just might make all the difference!
How a 24-hour fast can help with digestion issues
Have you ever tried fasting for 24 hours? Fasting, which involves abstaining from eating food or drinking anything other than water and herbal tea, has been growing in popularity as a natural way to improve digestive health. While initially, it may seem counterintuitive to skip meals when trying to improve your digestion, research shows that taking a break from eating can be beneficial for restoring balance in your gut and improving your overall digestive health.
Researchers have recently uncovered the potential of intermittent fasting, such as Ramadan-style fasting, to repair and maintain a healthy gut microbiome. By examining 12 or 16-hour fasts that are popular in today’s diet trends, Dr Maikel Peppelenbosch from Erasmus University Medical Center found certain types of bacteria increased during periods of abstinence – indicating positive changes within the body.
Dr. Peppelenbosch has discovered that intermittent fasting can increase the population of a bacteria called Lachnospiraceae in our gut, which is beneficial for reducing inflammation and improving intestinal barrier function – key symptoms associated with common gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. This suggests potential therapeutic implications from regular periods of fasting!
Fasting plans have been linked to helpful bacteria such as Lachnospiraceae, yet science still has a lot of unanswered questions. Interestingly enough, the guts of those with digestive disorders don’t seem to react in the same way that healthy volunteers do when partaking in fasting – researchers are now working hard at understanding why this is so.
Intermittent fasting has been linked to numerous health benefits, including shifts in the microbiome and a phenomenon called the migrating motor complex. This is an ongoing cycle of contractions that sweep through the gut every 90 minutes; when we fast, it becomes more frequent and helps rebalance bacteria levels in our gastrointestinal tract. However, this process stops as soon as food enters our system again.
A leading expert has warned of the damaging effects that modern eating habits, like ‘grazing’ and snacking throughout the day, can have on our bodies. These lifestyle changes disrupt important functions in our gut such as cleansing and rebalancing bacteria levels which are necessary for optimal health.
Experts are recommending a 12-14 hour time-restricted eating program to allow the digestive system some rest. This could potentially help undo gut damage or treat existing dysfunction, however, it’s not yet been proven if this is an effective method. To adhere to these guidelines people should stick with three meals each day and avoid snacking in between them (or at night).
Fasting can be incredibly beneficial for digestive health, though it should always be done in consultation with a healthcare professional. I would recommend reading this article by Betterme. It is an interesting account of fasting and strengthening your will power. If you’re struggling to manage your digestion and want to give intermittent or extended fasting a try, make sure to listen to your body and start slow. Who knows, it just might make all the difference!
Take away
Intermittent fasting can be a powerful tool for improving digestive health. By giving your body and gut some time to rest, you may be able to improve the balance of bacteria in your system and reduce inflammation. Studies have shown that even short-term fasts such as 12 or 16 hours are beneficial for our bodies, but we still don’t know all there is about this practice yet. However, if you’re struggling with digestion issues it could certainly be worth trying out – who knows? It might just make all the difference!