Fasting is probably one of the oldest traditions. It exists in every culture and religion on earth. And it is often associated with words such as “cleansing”, “purification” and “detoxification”. There is no doubt that Calorie restriction is good for our bodies. And its advantages go beyond just losing weight and burning fat but can also preserve and heal the gut microbiome.
Over the past few decades, research has shown that the gut is more than just an organ that plays a role in the supply of nutrients of the immune cells are in the small and large intestine and almost all defense reactions take place here.
Gut microbiome and intermittent fasting are part of our evolution.
In the course of evolution, humans have developed several genes to help them adapt to physical activity and food shortages. Hunter-gatherers roamed the wild and consumed every food they could find.
In early human history, access to food was difficult. This food shortage led to natural fasting periods, which in turn led to changes within human evolution. The human body, including the brain, had become accustomed to this regularly recurring food shortage.
Even in early modern times, we ate irregularly due to wars, insect infestation, and diseases. the access to food was limited and people went hungry. Periods without regular access to food often lasted longer than you think. These difficult times show why one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse is famine.
In these hard times, fasting and gut bacteria were very important factors for our survival. the fasting was involuntary but our body was caple to adapt to it. and the gut biota handled with efficiency the nutrients.
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intermittent fasting can optimize metabolism.
Metabolic flexibility is the process of switching from burning sugar to burning, depending on the internal and external conditions. The circadian clock helps our body correlate between nutrient availability and the most efficient metabolic state. For example at night when glucose is no longer available. It is more reasonable to use fat. Unfortunately, this clock is far from perfect, can be influenced by external stimuli such as food, temperature, and, social signals.
Research has found that intermittent fasting can help us better regulate our body weight and energy metabolism. according to the Annual Review of Nutrition interval fasting can even help to set better circadian rhythms in people with jet lag or insomnia. It can improve melatonin levels, sleep behavior, and metabolic health.
The importance of the circadian clock
The role of the circadian clock seems simple but it is extremely important for the body to perform in an optimal state. The daytime plays a major in most physiological processes such as metabolism, hormonal secretion patterns, and physical coordination.
Feeding signals are the most important factor that influences the peripheral clocks. So, consuming energy outside the normal feeding period may reset the clocks and disrupt the energy balance. And there is a large number of studies that associate that with increased risks of cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and obesity.
What do gut bacteria have to do with all of this?
Believe it or not, the gut bacteria also have a circadian rhythm. Many types of intestinal microbes change their activity during the day.
Basically, by disturbing the biological clock, the circadian clock of the intestinal bacteria gets affected too. When we eat against our biological clock. Eating sweets in the evening despite lower glucose processing (insulin resistance) or consuming a lot of carbohydrates could lead to complications. And the circadian clock of the intestinal bacteria gets affected too.
How can Intermittent fasting improve gut bacteria’s metabolism?
As we said before the circadian rhythm of the gut bacteria and the biological clock of the body is extremely connected. So to improve the quality of your gut fauna you need to take care first of the whole picture.
Fortunately, research has found evidence that maintaining a normal nutritional rhythm can help maintain or restore at least the rhythm and activity of the gut bacteria. and Intermittent fasting is a great way to force that. because mostly we don’t eat because we’re hungry but because of the force o habit.
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Intermittent fasting promotes good bacteria.
The microbiota in our intestines is a double-edged sword. Some of them are beneficial. And others are considered harmful and can cause illness. Researchers are currently still working on an exact differentiation between the two.
Lactobacilli, eubacteria, and bifidobacteria have rather positive health effects and are often used to build up the intestinal flora. Enterococci, enterobacteria, or clostridia, on the other hand, are examples of harmful intestinal germs.
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Intermittent Fasting the Answer to Leaky Gut.
Our gut is protected with a wall of cells When working properly, it forms a tight barrier that controls what gets absorbed into the bloodstream.
So a Leaky gut means nothing else than a permeable intestine during the disease, the protective function of the intestinal wall against pathogens and toxins is severely impaired. allowing undigested food and toxins, to penetrate the tissues beneath it.
Also due to my irritable bowel, there is unfortunately also a risk of a difficult and thus reduced absorption of vitamins and minerals.
According to many studies, Intermittent fasting can help not only with irritable bowel but also with other intestinal problems. And It made sense that the intestines have more time to regenerate, heal, and fight inflammation due to the long fasting phase.
After just over a week you’ll be used to the long fasting period, and you will notice a significant improvement in your bowels. The daily burning sensation in the lower abdomen will be completely gone after 2 weeks, the digestion will be regulated and the overall well-being will be noticeably better.
