Through micro-chemical communication between millions of neurons, the brain controls other body organs and processes such as breathing, motion, thinking, and memory. As such, it is essential to invest in our brain's health, to boost its functions and capabilities. Fasting is an excellent source of nourishment, not only for the soul, but also the brain. Have you ever thought how fasting affects the development of our brains? This is not just a thought, but an amazing scientific fact.
A fasting person refrains from eating and drinking for an average of 14 hours during the day. Whereas consuming food is essential for providing the body with the energy needed for efficient mental and physical performance, fasting gives us a different perspective. During fasting hours, the body switches to a different mode, in which it performs exceptional experiments in brain science and reaches exceptional conclusions. So, what does the brain do during fasting hours? And how does this mode foster brain development?
The human brain consumes up to 20% of total body energy daily thanks to this amazing mechanism:
- Consuming foods that contain carbohydrates and sugars.
- Carbohydrates break into a simpler form to produce glucose; the main source of energy in our bodies.
- Glucose breaks into Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) compounds, which serve as a battery to store energy and release it to the cells as needed.
- Excess glucose is stored in the liver and muscle cells in the form of protein compounds named glycogen.
- After the glycogen stores are full, the body stores excess glucose in the fat stores, which causes a person to gain weight.
So, what happens during fasting hours? And how does the brain get the needed energy?
This process depends on the quality and quantity of the food consumed during non-fasting hours. On average, the body switches into the fasting mode within three to four hours after the last meal and continues for 18 hours. First, the body uses the blood glucose, then it follows the same sequence explained above. It starts turning the glycogen stored in the liver into glucose to produce energy. As for muscles, they use the glycogen stored in their cells to secure the energy needed for muscle contraction and relaxation, as well as muscular motor coordination. At the end of this stage and up to the last hours of fasting, the glycogen stock becomes completely depleted. So, the body moves to burning the fats in its stores to get energy.
Since the brain is the first and most important organ that uses energy, fasting has benefits that enhance its capabilities and efficiency.
What are the benefits of fasting to the brain?
- Fasting stimulates the Nerve Growth Factors, a group of proteins and chemical compounds that contribute to developing the nervous system through nourishing the neurons and supporting their connections.
- Reducing the risk of developing neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's.
- Increased concentration and attention, growth of awareness and perception, and activating memory. Since other organs are at rest during fasting, most of the energy is available to the brain.
- Fasting increases the production of the serotonin hormone, which promotes happiness and improves the mood.
- Increased academic achievement and faster response to mathematical problems.
Fasting leads to positive transformations in the brain, which significantly affect its mental and emotional capabilities. It is not only a physical exercise, but rather a profound journey towards piety, contemplation, and healing. While the stomach is closed for business, there is an opportunity to open the doors of thought and creativity. So, let us reap the benefits of this spiritual journey, and keep a healthy lifestyle that elevates the health of our bodies and souls.
References
healthline.com
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534877/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3289210/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5505095/
nutritionistsblend.com
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