“Intermittent Fasting”, in my own life, has yielded great benefits in both drawing near to God and also in my physical body. The Bible is such a great resource to learn about why people fasted and what Jesus the Messiah (Yeshua) said about fasting (see scripture references below). The first-century Believers probably knew a lot more about it than we do because it was more common then. But, I want to share with you a few really great benefits of fasting. I could write on and on about spiritual benefits of fasting and what that has meant in my life and give testimony of the power of fasting and seeking the LORD during certain seasons. It should be no surprise that seasons of fasting would yield great benefits in our lives on many levels! Intermittent Fasting is most commonly categorized as eating during an 8-hr window during the day, and fasting for the other 16 hrs (during which you can drink water or unsweet black or herbal teas (iced or hot) which won’t cause you to “break” your fast). There are MANY types of fasting, doing even shorter windows of eating and fasting the rest of the time can be very effective as well. Intermittent fasting can help with: Reducing inflammation, decreasing hunger and cravings, enhancing cognitive function and protecting your memory, increasing HDL cholesterol and decreasing the more negative LDL and triglycerides, improve your blood sugar levels, and help you shed extra pounds you might be carrying. Extra weight eventually takes a toll on how your joints feel & function, and tends to be associated with increased blood pressure as well. Of course, if you have blood sugar issues, particularly bouts with low blood sugar, you have to be extremely careful about extending periods of going without food and you should not engage in fasting. However, a great number of us can allow our digestive systems to “rest” for longer periods with no negative, only positive effects!
**The following link from draxe.com is an incredible practical resource guide to the different options of fasting and when it’s appropriate to fast and knowing risk factors before you begin fasting! https://draxe.com/intermittent-fasting-benefits/
References to “Fasting” in the Bible