There is pretty much in the air about the risks and benefits of occasional dieting, and it is quite hard to draw a demarcation line. To get a clear idea of what happens in the human body during a brief fasting period, a group of scientists from Great Britain has held a research.

Lack of food triggers oxidative stress processes inside the body, during which cell membranes become more sensitive to insulin. Scientists believe that we should activate this evolutionary protective mechanism more regularly. Apart from its direct designation, which is protection of the most vital tissues and organs when the body is low on nutrients, fasting gives our body a kind of rousing, resets the natural clock and slows down aging processes.

What happens inside the human body during fasting days can be described as a complex purification. It is during this time that some hormones are released, including the growth hormone, which is actually the main one.

According to research, occasional fasting reduces inflammatory reactions, boosts immunity and causes regenerative processes to go several times faster. Twelve hours between breakfast and supper is the most optimal length of a fast to start with. Later, you can try to spend sixteen to eighteen hours and maximum – twenty four hours without food. However, this should not be more than once a week.

Fasting can protect you against viral infections, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol and, last, but not least – finish detoxication processes, which take place in your liver. It takes at least eight hours for your liver to fully dispose of unhealthy substances accumulating in it. The whole complex of fasting measures, scientists say, slows down aging processes significantly.

Experts recommend that in the days following the fasting day you should eat five to six times each day andin small portions. This regime guarantees better digestion and provides a sufficient amount of calories for the body to function properly.