What Really Happens to Your Body When You Fast?
For those looking to lose weight, a meal plan that incorporates intermittent fasting (aka time-restricted feeding) may sound like a smart choice. After all, prolonged calorie restriction has been linked to benefits for brain function, gut health, energy levels and metabolism. But how much do we really know when it comes to fasting’s effects?
“Fasting activates an evolutionary program in which our body diverts nutrients normally used for growth and reproduction toward mechanisms for repair and survival,” says Whitney English, RDN, a Los Angeles-based nutritionist and founder of the practice Whitney E. RD.
Translation: Abstaining from food for set periods of time may result in weight loss, but it also rewires your whole system. Here’s what we know about fasting’s effects on the body, from head to toe.
Excerpted from Live Strong
