Fasting to stimulate metabolism Thanks to biohackers like Dave Asprey, intermittent fasting (12-16 hours) has become an extremely popular health habit. Science is now discovering that if we fast a little longer, it has mental health benefits too. Fasting stimulates our metabolism to switch from burning sugar to burning fat, a state known as “ketosis.” During ketosis, body fat is converted to energy called “ketones,” and once this happens, a whole cascade of metabolic upgrades kick in. But first, I want to clarify something. Fasting research has been largely conducted on men and it was a commonly held belief that fasting wasn’t good for women, especially in their child-bearing years. Well! In her myth-busting book, Fast Like a Girl , Dr. Mindy Pelz shows women of all ages how they too can reap the benefits of fasting. Dr. Pelz educates women how they can metabolically switch on their fat-burning cycle according to
their hormonal cycle (the phase of their menstrual cycle). Both men and women can use fasting and diet as a powerful tool to maximize feel-good hormones like dopamine and oxytocin. Dr. Pelz says the production of ketones is the doorway out of depression and anxiety, and can also improve cognitive performance. This is because ketones are like jet fuel for the mitochondria in our neurons. Fasting periods as short as 12-16 hours or as long as 48 hours can boost our mood and help us break free from anxiety and depression — that’s powerful! It's no coincidence that fasting improves gut health, microbiome balance and mental well-being. Expect to see more exciting breakthroughs in microbiome research and its connection to mental health coming soon. Remember your breath Breathwork is quickly becoming a popular way to restore balance through deep regulation of our nervous system. As a breathwork facilitator, I guide others in a style of breath called Conscious Connected Breathing where the inhale and exhale are intentionally linked without pausing. This creates a continuous circle of breath. You can do breathwork on your own. I’ve found one of the most effective breathwork guiding apps is the “Wim Hof Method.” You can try it for free and a subscription is only $5 a month. I’m using this app to calm my nervous system, so I use it a little differently. continued >
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