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You're probably already familiar with what fasting is by now. Essentially, intermittent fasting just sets scheduled eating windows that are broken up by fasting periods, AKA not eating. There are plenty of fasting models, like the popular 5:2, 16:8, or alternate-day fasting, and the one you choose depends on your goals, lifestyle, and mental strength!
There's a good reason why fasting has become such a craze in the wellness community and beyond. Rather than elongating your list of "no go" foods through restrictive dieting, intermittent fasting just defines whenyou eat to maximize your body's natural ability to burn fat. On top of weight loss, the overwhelmingly positive effects of fasting include:
The benefits of fasting are not limited to any one organ; it's more than just not eating to lose weight. As you'll see, it also has wonderful anti-aging benefits for the largest organ of our bodies, the skin!
There are lots of things that can damage our skin and affect its health. Genetics, hormones, stress, and lifestyle changes are all players in your skin health and sadly, some of these things are totally out of our hands. What we can control though is what and how we eat so that we wake up with gorgeous, glowing skin. While we may not know the exact cause of all of our skin conditions, we do some things that help keep skin healthy; one being collagen.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, including in the skin. Collagen works hand in hand with elastin to keep our skin springy, soft, and firm. When we don't have enough of it, or when the collagen proteins become damaged, our skin pays for it. Collagen proteins can become damaged through oxidative stress, AKA free radicals, but the bitter-sweet part of our diet can cause collagen to become unnecessarily damaged as well. It's our favorite frenemy sugar.
When we consume sugar, the glucose binds to fats and proteins to form harmful compounds called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). During this process (glycation) collagen is destroyed and becomes much flimsier, leading to more wrinkles.
Glycation isn't the only cause of skincare chaos. When we consume foods that are high in sugar, it sends our insulin levels soaring. A study published in Advances in Dermatology and Allergology found that when our insulin levels are high, it tells our hormones to start producing more sebum and oil that can clog our pores and cause acne. Other foods like dairy products have been proven to increase your likelihood of acne. Glycation and our body's natural decline in collagen production are both unavoidable, but there are things you can do to slow it down and boost your collagen back to healthy levels. This is where fasting and healthy nutrition come in!
Intermittent fasting is a form of controlling when we eat rather than what we eat. It’s a lifestyle that is optimized to follow our circadian rhythm. Really, what this means is that we tend to only eat during the day when we're active and fast during the idle times of evening and night. Studieshave shown that sticking to the circadian rhythm is incredibly important for your skin cells. Blood flow, transepidermal water loss, hydration, and inflammation are linked to circadian rhythms. What this means is that when we fast and limit our sugar, as well as our total caloric intake during the day, it can benefit the skin in the following ways:
Confused about what to eat in between fasting periods? Make the most out of your meals by getting plenty of collagen and antioxidants to refuel your entire body and improve the results of your fast. If you want to find a diet that's truly personalized to your body and your health and skincare needs, consider talking to a nutritionist or registered dietitian! They'll take all the guesswork out of your fasting routine and make sure everything you eat comes with a specific purpose.
This delicious and easy keto-friendly smoothie contains the best skincare ingredients in the biz! It's filling, nutritious, and fits into almost every diet and health goal, not just the skincare ones. This recipe contains highly bioavailable marine collagen for anti-aging, plenty of healthy fats and prebiotics for a healthy gut, and liposomal vitamin C for skin clarity, immune support, and to maximize the benefits of your collagen.
In a large blender, mix:
Intermittent fasting defines when you eat to maximize your body's natural ability to burn fat.
Collagen works hand in hand with elastin to keep our skin springy, soft, and firm.
When we consume sugar, the glucose binds to fats and proteins to form harmful compounds called advanced glycation end products (AGEs).
Studies have shown that sticking to the circadian rhythm is incredibly important for your skin cells.
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