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Hunger serves a clear purpose: it signals our need to consume food to sustain our bodies. However, in a world where food is readily available and mealtimes are often dictated by social norms, but..
Do we really need a reminder to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
While our society has evolved to offer abundant opportunities for eating, our bodies primarily prioritize the maintenance of their well-being.
Many individuals tend to eat based on visual cues, such as the size of their plates and bowls, and feel compelled to finish everything on them.
Developing mindfulness and the ability to recognize feelings of hunger and fullness can assist people in discerning genuine hunger cues. By comprehending the scientific principles underlying these practices and embracing the influence of our body's internal clock, we can embark on a transformative journey toward a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
The Science Of FASTING and how it's the best detox strategy
Fasting, or the practice of abstaining from food for a specific period of time, has been recognized for its potential health benefits. Here are a few reasons why fasting is considered important:
1.Weight management
Fasting can help with weight loss and weight maintenance by reducing calorie intake and promoting fat burning. It restricts the window of time during which you can eat, making it easier to consume fewer calories overall.
2. Insulin regulation
Fasting has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and regulate blood sugar levels.
By giving your body a break from constant food intake, fasting can help prevent insulin resistance and reduce the risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes.
3. Cellular repair and autophagy:
When you fast, your body undergoes a process called autophagy, which involves the recycling and repair of damaged cells.
This cellular cleanup can have anti-aging effects and may help protect against certain diseases.
4. Hormonal balance:
Fasting can influence the production of various hormones in the body, including human growth hormone (HGH). Increased levels of HGH during fasting can support muscle growth, fat burning, and overall vitality.
❝Fasting, the practice of abstaining from food for a specific period, offers important health benefits. It aids in weight management, improves insulin regulation, promotes cellular repair, and influences hormonal balance for enhanced vitality.❞
The ‘Eat When You’re Hungry’ Approach: Listening To Your Body's Cues
This approach revolves around the concept of honoring our body's signals, eating when we're hungry, and stopping when we're full.
"The concept of eating when hungry and listening to your body's cues aligns with the physiological signals and mechanisms involved in regulating appetite and food intake."
Our body has intricate systems that communicate hunger and satiety signals to maintain energy balance and ensure adequate nutrient intake. Let’s look at why it is important-
The Carnivore Era: Embracing Our Ancestral Eating Patterns
During the carnivore era, which is also known as the Paleolithic era or Stone Age, our ancestors primarily relied on hunting animals and gathering plants for sustenance.
They had a predominantly meat-based diet, as hunting provided a significant portion of their food.
"However, it's worth noting that the exact composition of their diets varied depending on the region and availability of resources. Hunter-gatherers obtained their food by foraging wild plants, berries, nuts, and seeds, along with hunting game animals for meat."
Their diet typically consisted of a wide range of animal protein, including meat from large mammals, fish, birds, and insects.
They also consumed a variety of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, tubers, and edible roots. The hunter-gatherer lifestyle required constant movement and physical activity, and their diet was naturally low in carbohydrates, especially refined sugars and grains.
They obtained most of their calories from protein and fat sources, which provided sustained energy and satiety due to their nutrient density.
❝The hunter-gatherer lifestyle required constant movement and physical activity, and their diet was naturally low in carbohydrates, especially refined sugars and grains. They obtained most of their calories from protein and fat sources, which provided sustained energy and satiety due to their nutrient density.❞
The Role Of Leptin And Ghrelin:
Leptin and ghrelin are two important hormones that play a significant role in our body's regulation of hunger, satiety, and metabolism.
Understanding how these hormones interact can shed light on the benefits of both intuitive eating and intermittent fasting.
Leptin: Leptin is often referred to as the "satiety hormone" because it signals to the brain that we are full and satisfied.
Produced by fat cells, leptin acts as a feedback mechanism to regulate energy balance. However, chronic overeating and obesity can lead to a condition called leptin resistance, where the brain becomes less responsive to the hormone's signals.
This can disrupt the body's ability to regulate appetite and may contribute to ongoing overeating.
"Intuitive eating helps restore sensitivity to leptin by promoting mindful eating and reconnecting with our body's natural cues of hunger and fullness."
By listening to our body's signals and eating when we're truly hungry, we can support a healthy leptin response and optimize our body's energy balance.
Ghrelin: Ghrelin, often known as the "hunger hormone," is produced primarily in the stomach and stimulates appetite.
Ghrelin levels typically increase before meals and decrease after eating, signaling to the brain that it's time to eat. Intermittent fasting can have a beneficial impact on ghrelin levels.
"Research suggests that fasting periods can lead to a decrease in ghrelin production, resulting in reduced appetite and cravings. By practicing intermittent fasting, we can regulate ghrelin secretion and help reset our body's hunger signals."
Over time, this can lead to improved appetite control and a healthier relationship with food.
❝Research suggests that fasting periods can lead to a decrease in ghrelin production, resulting in reduced appetite and cravings. By practicing intermittent fasting, we can regulate ghrelin secretion and help reset our body's hunger signals. Over time, this can lead to improved appetite control and a healthier relationship with food.❞
The Power Of Your Body's Clock:
Our bodies have an internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, which regulates various physiological processes, including metabolism and digestion.
"Honoring our body's clock and aligning our eating patterns with our natural rhythms can enhance the benefits of both intuitive eating and intermittent fasting."
Research suggests that eating in sync with our circadian rhythm improves metabolic function, hormonal balance, and sleep quality. By timing our meals and adjusting our eating window to match our body's internal cues, we tap into the power of our body's clock and optimize our health.
This is because our circadian rhythm influences the expression of genes involved in energy metabolism and nutrient utilization.
By respecting our body's clock and aligning our eating patterns accordingly, we can potentially optimize our metabolism, promote better digestion, and support overall well-being.
The Correct Way To Do Intermittent Fasting:
While there are different fasting protocols to choose from, the correct way to do intermittent fasting is ultimately subjective and should be tailored to fit individual preferences and needs.
One common approach to intermittent fasting is the 16/8 method, where you fast for 16 hours and have an 8-hour eating window each day.
Regardless of the specific fasting schedule chosen, the key principle to remember is to listen to your body's hunger signals.
"This means eating when you genuinely feel hungry and stopping when you feel comfortably full."
It's important not to ignore genuine hunger or force yourself to eat when you're not hungry just because it's within your designated eating window.
By paying attention to your body's natural hunger and satiety cues, you promote a healthy relationship with food. This approach encourages mindful eating, where you savor and appreciate the food you consume.
It also allows you to be in tune with your body's needs, ensuring you provide it with nourishment when required. Moreover, intermittent fasting shouldn't be seen as a license to overindulge in unhealthy foods during your eating window.
❝Regardless of the specific fasting schedule chosen, the key principle to remember is to listen to your body's hunger signals. This means eating when you genuinely feel hungry and stopping when you feel comfortably full.It's important not to ignore genuine hunger or force yourself to eat when you're not hungry just because it's within your designated eating window.❞
Should Intermittent Fasting Be Paired With Keto?
Certainly! Fat and protein have distinct characteristics that contribute to a longer-lasting feeling of fullness or satiety:
Slower digestion and sustained source of energy over an extended period.
- Both fat and protein take longer to digest compared to carbohydrates. When you consume fat and protein, they undergo a slower breakdown process in the digestive system, requiring more time and energy.
- This slow digestion rate means that the nutrients are released gradually into the bloodstream, providing a steady and sustained source of energy over an extended period.
Hormonal regulation that promotes satiety.
- Fat and protein can influence the release of hormones that regulate appetite and satiety.
- For example, protein-rich foods stimulate the release of hormones like peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which send signals to the brain to reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness. Similarly, dietary fat can trigger the release of cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone that promotes satiety.
Nutrient density and reduced drive to overeat
- Both fat and protein are nutrient-dense macronutrients that provide essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. When your body receives an adequate amount of these nutrients, it signals satisfaction and reduces the drive to continue eating.
Reduced insulin response
Compared to carbohydrates, fat and protein have a minimal impact on insulin secretion. Consuming carbohydrates, especially in the form of refined sugars and processed grains, can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, followed by a subsequent insulin surge.
This cycle of blood sugar spikes and crashes can trigger hunger and cravings. In contrast, fat and protein have a lower glycemic impact, promoting a more stable blood sugar response and reducing the likelihood of experiencing hunger pangs.
❝ Both fat and protein take longer to digest compared to carbohydrates. When you consume fat and protein, they undergo a slower breakdown process in the digestive system, requiring more time and energy. This slow digestion rate means that the nutrients are released gradually into the bloodstream, providing a steady and sustained source of energy over an extended period.❞
We Say
When the ketogenic diet is combined with intermittent fasting, which also depletes glycogen stores, the body becomes more adept at utilizing stored fat for energy.
This increased efficiency can potentially result in fat loss and improved overall body composition.
"The combination of a high-fat ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting can help control appetite and reduce cravings."
Fat and protein have a satiating effect, which can lead to reduced hunger and increased feelings of fullness. Additionally, the steady and sustained energy provided by the ketogenic diet, along with the hormonal effects of fasting, can help curb excessive snacking and overeating
When we consume a carbohydrate-based diet, it often consists of processed foods and refined sugars that can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. This can lead to subsequent crashes in blood sugar, triggering feelings of hunger and cravings for more carbohydrates.
"On the other hand, a ketogenic (keto) diet, which is high in fat and moderate in protein, can promote a more stable blood sugar response and provide longer-lasting satiety. Fat and protein take longer to digest and can help keep you feeling full for a longer period."