Fast. Feast Repeat.

Lesson 1. Why fasting is more efficient than dieting.

According to common perception, eating less than what you usually do is the best way to lose weight. Scientifically, you are bound to slim down if you consume lesser calories than what your body requires. 

But Stephens in her book talks about the remarkable aspects of another weight loss process that is more effective than dieting – fasting. 

Fasting is a far more potent method because it reduces insulin levels in your body. Insulin is a hormone that initiates storage of excess carbohydrates as glycogen and fat. Presence of insulin therefore inhibits breakdown of your body’s fat reserves.

When you eat throughout the day, your insulin levels remain high. This inhibits fat breakdown. However, when you fast, your insulin levels drop which consequently promotes breakdown of fat reserves. 

There is another reason why dieting is disadvantageous to your weight loss process. When you eat less, your body takes it as a threat, and promotes secretion of ghrelin, while lowering the levels of leptin. Ghrelin is a hormone that makes you hungry, whereas leptin indicates whether you’ve eaten enough. 

Moreover, dieting simply reduces your metabolic rate. Your body adapts to your new diet, and begins to require less number of calories for its survival. Now, even though you’re eating less, there will no longer be the calorie deficit required for weight loss. 

On the other hand when you fast, your body reacts as if it’s experiencing starvation. It responds by using the stored fat for its energy requirements.  

Lesson 2. Other important health benefits of fasting.

Fasting has several other important benefits apart from promoting weight loss. 

A high insulin level in the body is associated with Type 2 diabetes, a serious and widespread disorder. Since fasting reduces insulin levels, you’ll be at a lesser risk of developing it. 

Fasting also reduces the chances of developing chronic inflammation, which is known to cause serious ailments like heart disease and cancer. A study conducted in 2008 revealed that individuals who fast for religious reasons, like Muslims during Ramadan, are less likely to develop coronary artery disease. 

Fasting also promotes autophagy, which refers to the process in which your body breaks down and recycles unwanted and damaged parts of cells. This helps prevent cancer and liver disease. 

Fasting is also known to slow down aging, and enhance longevity. Autophagy decreases as you grow older, which manifests itself in signs of aging. By promoting autophagy, fasting can help you lead a