Should I fast after feasting?

Learning about the benefits of fasting beyond weight loss

- HEALTHY EVER AFTER CHESHIRE QUE, RND, RN, RD

During prehistoric times, humans were already used to going for long periods without sustenance because food was not readily available. They had to hunt animal sources of food and gather plant sources of food. They were technically fasting during those times when they had to look for food.

In ancient times, fasting had already been practiced worldwide, primarily as part of spiritual practices and medical purposes that slowly evolved into a lifestyle for illness prevention, as well as weight management.

Fasting, however, is not just for losing weight. The benefits go beyond just the aesthetics. What exactly happens when the body goes on no food intake for hours or days? What does science have to say about the benefits of fasting?

A randomized controlled trial on intermittent fasting plus early-time restricted eating versus calorie restriction, and standard care in adults at risk of type 2 diabetes was published in 2023. It was conducted by Xiao Tong Teong and colleagues. Their study on 209 adult participants showed that incorporating advice for meal timing with prolonged fasting had a positive impact on postprandial glucose metabolism among adults who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Simply put, there is an improvement in the blood glucose or sugar level of the participants after meals. Individuals who have insulin resistance have higher blood glucose levels after meals because the cells are resistant to the hormone insulin. Insulin functions as the carrier or vehicle of glucose so that sugar can efficiently enter the cells to be utilized as energy. In the case of insulin resistance, a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, glucose remains in the blood, causing blood values to elevate abnormally.