I am on a slimming diet and I am worried about the upcoming holidays. As far as I know that I can manage on the first and second day of Christmas, Christmas Eve scares me. I always fast on that day and eat only Christmas Eve dinner. It’s a tradition, so I will definitely do the same this year. Will this one-day fast be bad for your weight loss process? Patrycja 28 l.
What’s happening in the body during fasting?
During the fast, the natural reserves are initially burned the body, i.e. glycogen in the liver and muscles. Then, burning occurs: accumulated fat and proteins, and toxins are removed from the body. But it’s not everything, during fasting, the blood glucose level drops and the body switches to the sparing mode. We may feel tired, sleepy and weak.
Fasting and various types of fasting have been the subject of research by scientists for years and there is no such thing unequivocal opinion about their harmfulness or beneficial effect on the body. Found you can both test results proving the benefits of using one-day fasts, as well as talking about their negative impact on health.
W 2007 r w The Americal Journal of Clinical Nutrition the results were published animal studies showing that it is cyclical one-day fasts may be important in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and diseases circulation and cancer.
In recent years, the intermittent fasting method has also gained a lot of support (IF) – that is, nutrition involving the use of occasional fasts. It has been proven that short-term fasting can trigger the repair genes which action delays the aging process and prevents the development of diseases. Published this year in the journal Ageing research reviews the results of the study showed that the use of the IF method can effectively help with weight loss and can improve health indicators such as such as: insulin resistance, as well as reduce risk factors for system diseases cardiovascular. The IF method has a positive effect on health and counteracts it disease processes by activating cellular pathways in response to stress that occurs when food is not delivered. It’s good affects mitochondrial DNA and supports the regeneration of stem cells.
It also turns out that short-term fasts can be aggravating the effect of conventional cancer therapy. Dr. Gary K. Michelson, co-founder of the Michelson Medical Research Foundation, cooperating with The University of Southern California believes that:
It is a remarkable medical finding that short periods of fasting before chemotherapy can significantly alleviate its undesirable side effects. The mechanism of action of this phenomenon has not yet been fully understood, but it is obvious that our body has remarkable adaptability that can help fight the disease.
In turn, other studies show that skipping meals and taking starvation can contribute to the accumulation of adipose tissue in the area belly. She has already written about the results of research conducted at the University of Ohio Justyna Piechocka, a dietitian, in the article “By skipping meals, you accumulate abdominal fat!”.
There are also publications talking about adverse impacts starvation for health. For example, in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition the results of research showing that that skipping breakfast worsens tissue sensitivity to insulin and has a negative effect lipid profile. All this can lead not only to weight gain, but also increase the risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
So what about Christmas Eve by post?
For many people, fasting on Christmas Eve is an element of tradition and it is hard to expect that it should be abandoned due to the use of a slimming diet. Christmas deviations from the diet, as long as they are carried out in moderation, will not be wasted the effects so far. It is not only the preceding post itself that is important celebration, but also what and how much we will eat during Christmas Eve dinner and during other public holidays.
Of course, keep in mind that such a post is not safe for everyone. Absolutely abandon it should:
- dzieci
- pregnant and lactating women
- elder people
- sick people (e.g. with diabetes, system diseases cardiovascular disease, kidney and liver disease).
Bibliography: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163716302513
http://michelsonmedical.org/gary-michelson/
http://www.umb.edu.pl/photo/pliki/medyk/zdrowie/z_3.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15699226