If you were to introduce fasting into your regime, you’ll notice that it is fantastic for your brain. As it has incredible benefits for your brain!
If you have brain fog, memory problems or mental fatigue fasting is the best diet to implement into your life.
What fasting does for your brain?
Fasting stimulates a certain protein called BDNF by up to 400%
BDNF stands for Brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
“The BDNF gene provides instructions for making a protein found in the brain and spinal cord called brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This protein promotes the survival of nerve cells (neurons) by playing a role in the growth, maturation (differentiation), and maintenance of these cells.”https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/BDNF
This can resist oxidative stress that comes from eating too frequently.
When you eat and snack every few hours you are consistently raising insulin in the body, this is creating damage in the brain and your memory starts to decline
Now we know that high sugar will increase insulin and cause problems for the brain but so will the frequency of when we eat as well.
Conditions such as:
- Parkinsons
- Alzheimers
- Dementia
All the above stem from oxidative stress and fasting can counter this and the best thing about it is that its free to do.
Fasting will help stimulate neurogenesis which is the regrowing of nerve cells, it’s going to increase your memory, your focus and you’ll create new connections in the brain called synapses.
It’ll also increase mitochondria, as fasting can help the physical causes of memory loss
Lowering your Carbohydrate intake
People are starting to notice the effects of low carb on their focus and memory but they underestimate the power of fasting because every time you eat, you stimulate insulin.
Once you add fasting to your low carb lifestyle, you’ll notice a dramatic difference!
It’s a Gradual Process & OMAD (Not GOMAD, which is Gallon Of Milk A Day…)
The body was not meant to consume as frequently as mainstream media wants us to. So when you start intermittent fasting you want to start off gradually
You want to do three main meals.
- Breakfast to literally break your fast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Eventually you can go to two meals and if you are older and you have brain fog or memory problems I would highly recommend OMAD. One Meal A Day.
You’ll have to work up it and as you’ll see some powerful changes as you do it.
While introducing fasting you want to make this a gradual process and change of lifestyle and not eat unless you’re hungry, so some days you might fast longer depending on your hunger and you really want to try and pay attention to your body and how it reacts.
You’ll also need to pull yourself out of this habit of eating so frequently and not eat unless your actually hungry. As you do this your body is going to adapt and go longer and longer without food until you are finally eating one meal a day, if that is your goal
For someone with a slow metabolism, this is completely healthy for them. We’re not trying to starve the body we’re trying to heal it.
Fasting will allow the brain to get into a rejuvenation mode and you will have all of these positive things that will happen
Getting Into Fasting
As you are getting into fasting you may notice that you may have those hunger pangs and get a bit hangry (Hunger anger). If that is the case you should try and hold out and wait for the hunger to pass.
If it is too much to bear go for it and eat something but DO NOT EAT SNACK FOOD, EAT A PROPER MEAL.
I cannot make this any clearer if you are trying to get on this diet/lifestyle as your aim is to fast for at least 16 hours.
You should aim to increase your fast period each day or each week
12 hours is good, 14 is great and 16 is incredible.
As you increase your fasting time, you’ll see nothing but benefits and your brain and body will thank you for it
If you do decide to make this dietary change be sure to let your clinician know and check with them in case you are on any medications.