There are a lot of people that do fasts, and they do them various ways. Some people do them to lose weight, some people do them to detox chemicals from their bodies and others do them because they are getting blood work done. Whatever the reason, they come with some benefits.
Types
There are various types of fasts that people go through. Some of these include juice fasts, fruit fasts, raw food fasts and water fasts.
Rest
The digestive system is used to always breaking down food. In some cases, this food is high in fat, like red meat, for example. Fasting takes stress off the digestive system from having to work so hard.
Nutrients
In fruit fasts and juice fasts, nothing is eaten but fruits, vegetables and their juices. During this fast, the body can get a lot of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.
Fiber
The average American diet is low in dietary fiber. When doing a raw food or fruit fast, you can get a lot of fiber. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, women should get 20 g a day and men should get 30 g.
Cleansing
When you do not eat any toxic foods, the body has a chance to clean itself out. This would especially be the case with a water fast.
Warning
If you have bad eating habits and you do an extreme fast, be on guard for side effects. You can experience weakness, headaches and an upset stomach.
Tags: digestive system, fruit fasts, juice fasts, people them