By Jackie Lauricella & Josh Perry
What if not eating anything first thing in the morning was actually better for the health of your brain? In fact, skipping meals all together can increase the health benefits and weight removal of a highly nutritious diet. Now considered a fad-diet tagline from miss-informed critics, fasting is a health hack used to increase longevity and quality of life that has been used for thousands of years. Of course, like any meal plan, it varies individually and a progressive approach should be taken, but the core principals of this way of eating and living are guaranteed to enhance your quality of life tremendously.
Before we discuss how to implement this brain-boosting practice, let’s discuss the facts. If you are a “sugar-burner”, aka if your body relies on regular intake of carbohydrates to keep fueled, you are going to NEED to make sure you eat breakfast. If you don’t, you will probably experience a drop in blood sugar (glucose) leaving you feeling cranky, run-down, anxious, depressed, headaches, cravings, and much more. On the other hand, if you are “fat-adapted”, meaning you’re able to burn stored and dietary fat, you can go without eating breakfast, remove unwanted body fat and weight easier than your sugar-burner friend, have more sustained energy, have less risk for disease, slow down the aging process, reduce inflammation in your body and brain, change the expression of your genes, and much more. If you’re a sugar burner, you’re not stuck there and are completely capable of becoming fat-adapted.
First, why do we fast? Fasting converts fat to fuel through ketone (BHB) production. Ketones are a super fuel for the brain and prevent gluconeogenesis (process of breaking down muscle for glucose/energy) and they are also more efficient in producing ATP (energy your body uses) than glucose. Using ketones, rather than carbs (glucose), for fuel results in inflammation reduction, improved antioxidant function, stimulated growth of new brain cells, and increased mitochondrial growth (energy powerhouses inside each cell of our body). Think of ketones as solar energy and carbohydrates (glucose) as a campfire. Simply put, fasting increases energy production and leads the way to better body and brain function, clarity, and resilience. Fasting also sets you up for effortless weight removal!
How do we become fat-adapted? First, we must eliminate grains, sugars, gluten, alcohol, and refined vegetable oils. Then we replace them with high-quality unrefined fats, moderate amounts of protein, a ton of low-starch above ground veggies, and quality supplements. Then, we to tie it all in by making lifestyle changes to reduce stress and promote weight removal. Finally, we can then incorporate fasting to eliminate cravings, improve mental clarity and optimize your brain.
Email us and let’s talk about optimizing your brain and enhancing your life. BtheChangeInfo@gmail.com