Most all types of fasting are natural and healthy. Animals, including humans, are designed to thrive for long periods of time without any food at all! Think about it, when we don't eat for a couple days, we basically gain super powers. We begin to regenerate incredibly fast, we have more energy than normal, we need less sleep, we learn better, we are happier, we look and feel amazing.
As a species, many believe we evolved as endurance predator/hunters. We can literally run our prey to exhaustion and finish it off with a stone on the ground. There are still indigenous tribes around today that will chase prey, on foot with only a knife for days, sometimes running dozens of miles until their prey overheats and cannot move anymore, then they simply executed the exhausted creature... the incredible human then carries the prize on his/her back to the tribe to be prepared for a meal. The hunters sometimes expend over 10,000 calories on a chase and return, no food breaks or pit stops!
How is this super human feat even possible? The answer is fasting/ketosis. Our fat is a huge energy reserve. Each pound of body fat stores approximately 3,500 calories of energy. In the chase mentioned above, the hunters burned about 3 lbs of body fat on the hunt.
Humans (and many other animals) can go days, week, even months without food!
Angus Barbieri was a Scottish man who fasted for 382 days. He lost 276 pounds (125 kg) and set a record for the length of a fast.
Snakes and frogs are known for going years without food. We have fat to store energy for times between meals. There is nothing wrong with having fat and the only secret you need to know to burn fat is to STOP EATING!
Being in a fasted state has tons of benefits!
1. Improved mental clarity: Fasting can help improve mental clarity by providing relief from stress and anxiety. Studies have found that fasting can help reduce cortisol levels and increase the production of endorphins, which are hormones that can help reduce stress and improve mood.
2. Improved energy levels: Fasting can also help improve energy levels. When you fast, your body is able to rest and use the energy it has stored in fat cells to fuel your activities. This can help to improve your overall energy levels and make you more productive.
3. Weight loss: One of the main benefits of fasting is that it can help to promote weight loss. Studies have found that fasting can help reduce appetite, boost metabolism and burn fat more efficiently.
4. Improved immune system: Fasting can help to strengthen the immune system. Studies have found that fasting can help to reduce inflammation and boost the production of white blood cells, which can help to reduce the risk of infections and disease.
5. Improved cardiovascular health: Fasting can help to improve cardiovascular health. Studies have found that fasting can help to reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, which can help to reduce the risk of heart disease.