We all know fasting is good for your body.
But what about the psychological benefits of fasting? As it turns out, there are many!
Mental Clarity
Want to feel clear headed? Try fasting!
The digestive process takes up so much of our energy. But when you’re fasting, digestion takes a break.
So there’s much more energy available for the brain. Which means more mental clarity for you.
Much of the standard western diet is inflammatory.
And that inflammation affects the brain, too. Gut health is linked to brain health.
So many of us walk around in a constant state of brain fog.
But fasting can reduce that inflammation and clear up all that nasty brain fog.
The brain much prefers ketones over sugar.
Think about it: when our ancestors got hungry and went out for the hunt, they had to be mentally sharp. This is how we’re wired.
The fed state tends to relax us and dull our cognitive processes, while the fasted state makes us mentally sharp.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Yes, fasting is a stressor on the body, but it’s a positive stressor.
Fasting helps to balance hormones.
Some of those hormones, such as cortisol, are directly related to stress and anxiety.
Fasting can reduce the level of anxiety that you feel, even when things in your life are stressful.
And on a very practical level, think about the time and energy we spend on food and meal prep every day.
Shopping for food. Cooking and serving food. Eating out. What to eat? When to eat? Where to eat?
It can be exhausting and stressful.
When you’re fasting, it takes much of that off your plate (literally), and frees you up to focus on other things.
Of course if you have a family that you cook for, you’ll still be doing some food stuff, but maybe not as much.
Empowerment
Let’s face it, fasting is no walk in the park. Many of us have battled with food addictions all our lives.
When we fast, we discover that we have power over food. We understand that we are the ones in control.
This can really boost our self-confidence. You realize that you are capable of much more than you ever gave yourself credit for.
And that affects other areas of your life, as well.
Because if you can fast, you can do pretty much anything.
Can Help Depression
Same as with anxiety and stress, depression is often linked to hormones.
And balancing those hormones can reduce depression.
Obesity and obesity-related health issues can also lead to depression.
Diet after diet fails us, and we get into self-blame and end up feeling depressed.
Fasting promotes weight loss and can reduce or even reverse metabolic health issues, which in turn can lift that depression and make us feel better about life.
Euphoria
Many fasters experience a state they refer to as euphoria.
Especially those who do Extended Fasting, but it can happen for Intermittent Fasters, or even those on a Low Carb/Keto diet, as well.
An intense feeling of total peace and happiness. Who wouldn’t welcome that?
Although the exact cause of this euphoria isn’t known, it is generally attributed to ketosis.
Not a cure-all
As powerful as fasting is, it won’t fix everything.
And in some cases, fasting can even make things worse.
Your mental health is important. If you have a mental illness or if you are suffering from depression, there is help available to you.
Please speak to your health care provider or someone you trust.
And of course always consult with your doctor before you begin fasting.
Fasting is the total package!
As you can see, fasting not only benefits us physically, it also has some wonderful psychological benefits, as well.
We hope that you will give fasting a try for your overall health and wellbeing.
Author: Roo Black
Roo is a fasting coach with over 5 years of experience. She leads the admin team of the Official Fasting for Weight Loss Facebook group – one of the largest fasting communities on social media with over 125,000 members. We highly recommend this group for anyone who is looking for fasting advice or coaching.
