10 Benefits of Fasting That Will Surprise You

Fasting is not a new thing. For centuries, the practice has played a central role in several religions and cultures. The month of Ramadan is known all over the world as a month of fasting for Muslims. Catholics fast on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday. Jews observe six days of fasting, the most known of which is Yom Kippur. Hindus observe a fast during the new moon and during festivals such as Puja, Saraswati and Shivarati. The Mormons observe a fast on the first Sunday of each month. Several other religions, including Buddhism, Taoism and Jainism have their own fasting practices. Many of these religions practice fasting because they believe that there is a connection between the physical and the spiritual state. In the last few decades, there has been an upsurge in the popularity of fasting. However, many of those who are adopting this age-old practice today are not doing so for religious reasons. They are doing it for health reasons. While people used to fast for spiritual reasons in the past, scientists and researchers have confirmed that fasting also provides numerous health benefits. Below are 10 benefits of fasting that will surprise you and hopefully give you the motivation you need to get started with the practice. FASTING HELPS YOU LOSE WEIGHT For those looking to lose some weight, fasting is one of the quickest and safest ways to get you there. Normally, when you eat, your body burns the food you ate to provide fuel for your body. Any extra food that does not get used up as fuel is converted into fats and stored within the body for future use. This is what leads to weight gain. When you start fasting, there is less food to convert into energy, therefore your body is forced to […]

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