Revolutionising Eating Habits in Darwen: The Rise of Intermittent Fasting
In Darwen, and indeed around the world, constant access to food is a relatively recent phenomenon. For the majority of human history, food was something that had to be foraged for or hunted down, with limited options for long-term storage. Nowadays, food is much easier to come by, leading to round-the-clock eating habits that can affect our health.
One reason why intermittent fasting is gaining popularity in Darwen is that 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.
The Importance of Gut Health
Gut troubles are hard to ignore and can have a significant impact on your quality of life. A healthy gut can also support your mood and brain function, as well as help ward off other health issues.
Diet is usually the first thing people turn to for supporting gut health. Eating a variety of microbiome-friendly foods like whole grains, vegetables, yogurt, and fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut is crucial for a healthy, happy gut.
Research is also showing 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 more and more evident 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 can benefit gut health:
1. Supports the Microbiome
The gut is home to millions of microorganisms. 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 simple way to improve digestion is to 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 a while (at least 12 hours) since you’ve eaten, your body gets some R&R, aka, rest and repair. This process, known as autophagy, involves the removal or repair of 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 certain hormones and neurotransmitters related to digestive processes, like appetite, hunger, and even mood. Intermittent fasting helps your body maintain an overall healthy balance, which is one reason it gets easier to stick to once you’ve adjusted to the new schedule.
The Easier Route to Intermittent Fasting
Unicity’s Feel Great program was launched, in part, as a way to make intermittent fasting easier so more people in Darwen and beyond can experience its amazing benefits. Products like Balance and Unimate help extend the time between dinner and your first meal the next day, while also 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.