Is fasting a quick fix or a healthy habit? We crave for answers.

• Fast’ is amongst the few words in the English language, which sounds and spells the same but has as many as four different meanings. If the context of fasting in terms of food is taken, it implies consuming no food or drink for a certain period of time. Surely, but another meaning of fast is deeply. That is how many people feel about their religion all over the world. So if it demands that at one or more points of the year fasting is required, they do it. Reasons can vary from loyalty to your own self to political and social causes.

More scientifically though, it has been proven that fasting for 24 hours in a week gives your digestive system the best break possible, lending the body more energy to function and improve your metabolism and immune system. Many a fitness trainer would testify to this.

The fat in the body not only stores carbohydrates, but also chemicals from the environment. Fasting ensures that the fat burns down and those harmful substances are excreted out via our urine. To top it all, it ensures greater lifespan in the long run since the mitochondria functions better, a part of the body cells that converts ATP (adenosine triphosphate) into usable energy. Empowered cells ensure less chances of aging and cancer.

However with each pro, comes a con. Fasting isn’t something which you can choose to do as per your whims and fancies. It needs to be timed and planned properly to be followed consistently. If your schedule is busy and unpredictable, chances are that due to fasting, your body fat can increase. It is because a stoppage in the regular intake of carbohydrates will make the body work harder to store that fat.

The same mitochondria gets more active, resulting in ‘left over’ calories that you incur once your fasting period ends. A constant fluctuation in weight is an outcome from it, which isn’t good for the heart.

Besides, low protein and blood levels of sugar will deny your body the ability to alleviate pain easily and can make you feel lethargic and tired. This goes more for professional athletes. Water or juice fasting is recommended more.

Fasting in itself, isn’t good or bad. It’s how you go about it that determines its worth. Taking care of the body is the main goal. Many Fitness Centre in Mumbai have trainers and counsellors who can suggest you the ideal amount and period for fasting, depending on your schedule and body capacity and requirements.

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