About 10 percent of Americans deal with some form of chronic digestion problem today. Digestion problems can range from mild to severe. They can be uncomfortable or can be bothersome enough to keep you at home and unable to go to work or social events. When you’re dealing with digestive problems, your whole life can revolve around food, what you can eat, what you can’t eat and how far from a bathroom you can travel.
Digestive problems often include:
- Heartburn and reflux
- Bloating
- Diarrhea and constipation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Incontinence
People of all ages and both men and women can struggle with digestive problems, and as many as ⅔ of all people have suffered from them at some point in their life. While medications, special diets, surgeries and therapies all offer the promise of relief, they are not cures.
People are eating more than ever before, they are gaining weight, and they are miserable.
Could giving your digestive system a break be the real answer?
Intermittent fasting is not just another diet. It’s a lifestyle. Each time you eat, your body releases insulin, a hormone that converts food into energy. If you don’t need the energy right away, your body will store the extra energy. You can store some of the energy in your muscles, and the rest goes in the fat. Unfortunately, unless you tap into that fat for energy, you won’t break it down again. It will remain stored there indefinitely.
This is where intermittent fasting comes into play. When you use IF, your body taps into stored energy supplies, and you can burn through fat faster. For many people, it’s a great way to supercharge weight loss and transform your body composition. That’s not all it does, however.
IF also gives your body a break.
When you’re not digesting, your digestive system has time to repair the damage on a cellular level. Studies show that IF can stop inflammation, lower LDL and improve blood pressure. It does this through a process called autophagy, and that’s the same process that might just improve your digestive problems as well.
During autophagy, old cells are broken down, swept away and replaced by new cells. This process can help combat inflammation throughout the body but especially in the digestive system and intestines.
Of course, when you break your fast, what you put in your body still matters for healthy digestion. If you put junk in, your digestive system will revolt, and you’ll be back to square one. Feed your body the best foods you can. When practicing intermittent fasting, some great choices are paleo, keto and low carb. Keep it clean with minimally processed foods. Support healthy digestion with digestive enzymes and probiotics, which can help repopulate your intestines with the healthy bacteria they need to break down food. If you prefer intermittent dry fasting, make sure to rehydrate using the purest spring waters.
You might just be surprised by how good you’ll feel while practicing intermittent fasting.