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Is Fasting Suggested For Gut Issues?
Fasting has been a buzzword lately, and for good reason. Many people find that intermittent fasting improves their blood sugar levels, weight loss, and even improves their gut health. Gut health significantly impacts mental and physical health, and ensuring your gut is healthy can help keep your body and mind healthy. How can fasting impact your Gut Issues?
The Gut Microbiome
Your gut microbiome is a balance of viruses, bacteria, and fungi that live synergistically in the gut. A wide variety of bacteria influences your physical and mental health, and it’s essential to have a proper balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria. People who have been on antibiotics have altered gut flora since the antibiotics wipe out all the bacteria, whether they are good or bad. Fortunately, you can take steps to replenish the good bacteria in your gut.
How Fasting Impacts the Gut
Studies have shown that intermittent fasting can change the microbiome, with some beneficial changes. Fasting can help certain types of bacteria increase, as certain types of bacteria thrive on an empty gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria produce a substance called butyrate, which is very important for gut health.
Butyrate can help reduce symptoms and pain of gut dysfunction, sending anti-inflammatory signals to the body’s immune system and improving the gut barrier. A compromised gut barrier is often the cause of gastrointestinal conditions, including inflammatory bowel conditions. If intermittent fasting can quell inflammation, it may positively impact gut health.
How Fasting Impacts the Body
When you fast, your body gets a break from digesting food and can take that energy and divert it to cellular cleanup, which can positively impact many of the body’s systems. Fasting from food is a good break for the gut and body, and it can have benefits that extend beyond the gastrointestinal tract. Fasting can help improve mental clarity, aid with weight loss, and it puts your body into autophagy, where the cells digest and take care of any damaged parts.
Different Types of Fasting
Working with a knowledgeable doctor is essential when dealing with gut issues, as they can help guide you through fasting protocols to help improve your health. Many people will start with intermittent fasting, where they eat for specific periods, generally within eight hours. During the other hours of the day, they refrain from eating to give the body a break from digesting food. Other people will refrain from eating altogether from 24 hours to days, even weeks. There are many different ways to fast, and consulting your doctor to see which method is best for you is always advisable.
Work With The Gut Authority
Dr. Mashner at The Gut Authority and Daphne, Alabama can help lead you through your individual health journey. He digs deep to discover the root cause of your ailments and can develop a personalized treatment plan for your unique physiology. We look forward to working with you and helping you with any health concerns. Call us today to schedule your first appointment!
