Fasting And Metabolism
Question about metabolism damage by fasting
If I completed a 30 day fast, how damaging would it be to my metabolism. I mean right now my metabolism is fairly decent I think. But from what I’ve read, a fast will slow it down. How would one get my metabolism back to normal?
Thanks so much.
Nathan
One of the most common questions asked is about fasting and metabolism. The fear is that while fasting, the metabolism will slow down and afterward there will be more weight gained than before the fast.
Initially, any calorie reduction will cause a lowering in the BMR or base metabolic rate. The body becomes more efficient with calories which increases the longer you fast. The body becomes more efficient in it use of vitamins, minerals, proteins and calories and therefor the metabolism is “slower” or more efficient.
After a fast, the colon walls have been cleansed of impacted feces, allowing improved absorption of nutrients. The pancreas, gall and liver also heal and therefor metabolize food better. These are physical improvements but if after the fast, if you return to a diet high in concentrated carbohydrates that are calorie dense, you will gain weight more quickly than before the fast.
Cleansing will bring health that will increase metabolic performance but also energy output. If you are burned out tired and eating burgers and fries you and not too excited about exercise, sports, walking, or just moving period. After a fast, you will eat less and feel more energetic. Healthy people burn more calories. They also eat less because they are more active and feel better about themselves. They don’t need food as a security blanket and want to continue being healthy.
Exercise Increases Metabolism
The greatest impact you can have on increasing your resting metabolism is exercise. After a workout, you can be sitting on the couch reading while burning calories, as the muscles are grabbing glucose from the blood to replace glycogen supplies. The key to weight loss is fewer calories and more exercise. A diet high in raw food provides fewer, low-density calories, and higher-fiber, more-filling foods.
Oh, by the way, a slower more efficient metabolism diminishes aging.
A tortoise can live to 400 hundred years of age.
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I am 46 years old, have a daughter that is 8 years old. O.K., here it is, I am 5’6” and weigh 350 lbs. My hip dislocates, my knees need replacing, I am an almost if not already diabetic, my body has toxins that are coming out of my skin, I have cellulite all over, hanging flesh and have zero energy. I am in horrible pain just from walking, my lower back is devastated, my ankles are constantly swollen, I fall asleep easily during the day in the most awkward places. My gall bladder has no elasticity, I urinate frequently during the night so it’s impossible to get any real sleep (REM) to reach alpha waves. I don’t have the energy to meditate. I recently gave up cigarettes and beer, I have no energy to even do the dishes. I am constantly hungry, crave sugar, milk, chocolate, cereal, anything sweet. I experience real hunger pains constantly, which are horrible, just horrible, they bend me in pain and I cry like a baby. Now my daughter is getting fat! because of my sedentary life. I HAD ENOUGH!!! i WAS A MEGA ATHLETE AND NOW AM DUMBO? NO MORE!! AM FASTING FOR 40 DAYS STARTING TODAY WITH CITRUS AND HEALING HERBS.
Hi Loren,
Your certainly have enough motivation, but your disciple level may not been to attain that goal. I would buy a juicer and do a few days on juice first just to get your feet wet. Healing will come, just go slow and build discipline.
Tom
Hi tom I have decided 2 fast now I need your advice ! How do I get started? Were should I begin
Hi Mayra,
Buy a juicer, get excited. Do not tell friends and family and keep up posted. After a few days of fasting you will be carried by the fast and it gets easier.
Tom
what diet do you recommend after a fast? I’ve read that raw food diet is the best, but how does one get the protein they need? With the metabolism being slower I am concerned about gaining weight.
Thanks!
Hi Kelli
I am not a vegetarian. So I recommend, cold water fish (less contaminates and more omega oils), chicken with the skin removed and the fat boiled off. You can eat as many egg whites as you want as they have no cholesterol. For the strict vegans, sprouted soybeans, almonds and nuts, and spirulina. Hemp seed protein is excellent.
I personally embarked on a 18 day water fast in 2007, and lost 16 pounds. I ate sensibly afterwards (healthy, and in normal quantities), and did not gain ONE POUND BACK. So, based on my own personal experience, as long as you ensure that you eat healthy and properly after the fast, you will not gain any weight back.
wow this was a while ago, lol. But for those who are reading. A raw food diet obviously would be ideal after a fast. it is the way Christ teaches it and also raw organics foods contain much less toxins and toxic by-products. Now the concern was how do you get your protein. Now there’s a great protein myth going around that says we need EXUBERANT amopunts of protein to saty healthy. Studies prove this to be untrue. thegardendiet.com is a site of a raw VEGAN family. The husband is actually a raw vegan body builder. He has put on muscle and increased his strenth gaining about 20? lbs of muscle since switching to the raw vegan diet. Protein is found just about every food available including fruits, nuts, seeds, veggies etc. Now you can get most of the protein you need from sprouts if thats your thang. you knw that if you combine beans and grains you get a high quailty protien, just sprout the beans and grains and you’ll be fine. Also don’t be fooled by “complete proteins, they done come just from animal sources. Grains such as quinoa and buckwheat are complete proteins, and when sprouted actually INCREASE the nutrition and availablity of it. Normally beans and grains contain phytates which bind minerals making them VERY hard to absorb, however sprouting them decreses the phytate contain DRAMATICALLY making everything much more bioavailable. Also there are alot of foods they fall just short of the foolish “line” between complete protein and incomplete. Things like wheatgrass and spinach and alot of herbs have plenty of proetin available. Another thing to consider is that and a raw vegetarian diet, you’re going to be eating MORE food because alot of fruits and veggies are low in calories (but high in nutrition). The bulk of your calories can be supplied by fatty foods like soaked(easier to digest) nuts/seeds or coconuts.
Personally i plan to follow these Essene Gospel of Peace in dietary guidelines so I will be experimenting with Raw Milk and seeing how it reacts in my body, otherwise i will try coconuts and almonds. Also if you’re worried about B12 in a vegan diet, you can use Raw Honey (make sure it says unheated) which contains B12 in sufficient amounts. Also Raw Eggs can be used as well. The yolk contains iodine, omega fats, healthy cholesterol and biotin. The white actually contain an enzyme inhibitor which prevents the absorbtion of biotin so if you’re looking for that avoid the whites, if not take em. Personally i choose not to eats eggs, but they’re just as good for nutrition.
-Now you know
GI Joe: AND KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE
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