How does fasting help your gut?

During fasting, the “bad” bacteria become weak and the “good” gut bacteria could boost immunity by cleansing the small intestine. Cleansing of our small intestine is activated after fasting for more than 4 hours or for longer periods. The cleansing results in decreasing the number of bacteria in the organ, leading to a reduction in fermentation, bloating, and all the other unpleasant symptoms. Daily fasting leads to the activation of the gene that strengthens the gut barrier to protect us from harmful toxins and waste that can trigger immune reactions. Fasting for longer periods can also stimulate autophagy (triggered after about 16-18 hours of fasting) and stem cell regeneration (triggered after 4 to 5 days of fasting), two more mechanisms that could help to heal a damaged gut. Fasting also a way to allow our digestion system to take a break and relax to reboot the gut and provide better performance.

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How does fasting help your “pooh”?

Some people might have constipation after doing intermittent fasting in the first few weeks, but it is a temporary effect. This usually resolves itself as your body adjusts to consistent fasting. During intermittent fasting, your body is away from absorbing any nutrients and it becomes not used to it which often results in changes to your pooh to be hard, dry, not in banana shape, and irregular.

During intermittent fasting, you are changing your diet at the same time such as mostly consume foods that are high in fiber. Fiber adds bulk to your pooh and too much fiber could lead to hard pooh, making it difficult to pass, especially if you are not drinking enough water.

‍Dehydration can easily occur if you aren’t mindful of your water intake. In addition, consume adequate water to offset the extra fiber. Hence, adequate water and fiber are essential during intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting is not a diet, it is a way of planning your meals. Intermittent fasting is not the way that will change what you eat, it changes when you eat. Intermittent fasting could lead to fat loss. There are 2 states of intermittent fasting which are the fed state and the fasted state. During digestion and absorption is when your body is in the fed state. Usually, the fed state starts when you start to eat and lasts for 3 to 5 hours as your body digests and absorbs the food. During the fed state, your body hard to burn fat due to the production of insulin is high. After some time, body in the fed state will then change to post–absorptive state, where the digestion system is not digesting. The post–absorptive state could last until 8 to 12 hours after your last meal, which is when you enter the fasted state. This is the state where your body starts to burn fat (fasted state) due to the production of insulin is low. There are a few different types of intermittent fasting that works for your lifestyle.

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Culture fasting

There are few types of fasting among Malaysians. During puasa month, Malaysians are using intermittent fasting for a month where they will schedule the time of fasting by 3 types, 15 hours fasting : 9 hours eating , 20 hours fasting : 4 hours eating and 23 hours fasting :1 hours eating. Plan your intermittent fasting by lengthen the time of fasting and shorten the time of eating to have better fasting during puasa month.

In Buddhism, fasting is an important practice for Buddhists. They generally fast from noon to dawn of the following day. Depending on the preferences and time you planned to fast for approximately 18 hours every day to practice self-control. Fasting in Buddhism is consuming your entire daily calorie intake before noon. For some people who are not used to it could feel difficult to adapt and might interfere with their social and professional life. Buddhist diet mostly consists of plant-based food that could lack of certain vitamins and minerals, particularly iron and vitamin B12. Hence, fasting in Buddhism may not suit everyone.

Fasting is also practiced in Hinduism. In the Hindu religion, fasting is a moral and spiritual act where the aim is to purify the body and mind and acquire divine grace. There are different forms of fasting that are strict and difficult to follow, and which are different based on personal, family, and community beliefs. Hinduism is differentiated by a few periods of fasting. The most observed fasting is Ekadashi, which is respected approximately 2 times in a month, on the 11^th day of each ascending and descending moon. The celebration at the beginning of the year, in honour of Shiva, is another important occasion. During the months of July and August, many Hindus adopt a vegetarian diet and fast on Mondays and Saturdays until the evening. Also, on every Mondays, many Hindu women fast to have a good husband.