The Importance of Intermittent Fasting for Gut Health in Blackburn
Constant access to food is a relatively recent phenomenon. For most of our history, food had to be foraged for or hunted down, with limited options for long-term storage. Today in Blackburn and beyond, food is much easier to come by, leading to round-the-clock eating habits that can affect our health.
This is one reason why intermittent fasting is gaining popularity in Blackburn. By spending less time each day eating, we’re doing more than just consuming fewer calories; we’re giving our bodies a break from constantly digesting food, which helps us out in many ways.
One of the Benefits of Fasting: Supporting Gut Health
What you eat, and when you eat, has a significant effect on your microbiome and your digestive system as a whole. Here’s why gut health is important:
Why Gut Health Matters in Blackburn
Gut troubles are hard to ignore and can significantly impact your quality of life. A healthy gut can support mood and brain function and help ward off other health issues. In Blackburn, many people have begun to focus on maintaining a healthy gut for an overall healthier lifestyle.
Diet is usually the first source we turn to for supporting gut health. Eating various microbiome-friendly foods like whole grains, vegetables, yogurt, and fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut is crucial for a healthy, happy gut. However, research also shows that the timing of our meals, not just the contents, can impact gut health too.
3 Ways Intermittent Fasting Benefits Gut Health
When it comes to gut health, most of the focus is on the foods we eat. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that when you eat (or rather, when you don’t eat) can play a significant role in gut health too. Here are three ways intermittent fasting supports your gut:
1. Supports the Microbiome
The gut is home to millions of microorganisms, and the gut microbiome can change in response to what we eat, when we eat, and other health factors. These changes in the microbiome can be beneficial; diversity in the gut is something our bodies need. Intermittent fasting can improve gut microbiome diversity by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and reducing the growth of harmful bacteria.
2. Improves Digestion
One way to improve digestion? Give your body breaks from having to digest food. Digestion uses up a lot of energy, and if we’re eating all the time, our bodies have to dedicate extra energy to it. When it’s been at least 12 hours since you’ve eaten, your body gets some R&R, also known as rest and repair. This process, called autophagy, involves removing or repairing old or damaged cells, which can help strengthen the gut lining and support the digestive system.
3. Supports a Healthy Gut-Brain Balance
There’s a strong link between gut health and brain health. It’s not uncommon to hear the gut referred to as the “second brain.” One benefit of intermittent fasting is that it helps modulate specific hormones and neurotransmitters related to digestive processes like appetite and hunger (and even mood). Intermittent fasting helps your body maintain an overall healthy balance, which is one reason it gets easier to follow once you’ve adjusted to a new schedule.
The Easier Route to Intermittent Fasting in Blackburn
Unicity’s Feel Great program was launched, in part, to make intermittent fasting easier so more people can experience its benefits. Balance and Unimate help extend the time between dinner and your first meal the next day, providing nutrients that promote proper digestion.
Intermittent fasting can be a safe and effective way to support your overall health. However, if you have any health conditions or are pregnant or nursing, please consult your healthcare provider beforehand. Learn more about Feel Great today, and how it can help you meet your health goals.