March 17, 2023

Preparing for fasting is essential to ensure a smooth and healthy experience. Here are some of the basic fasting preparations in order to spend a smooth process are:

• Managing Sleep – Schedule sleep in a way to ensure that the body is getting enough rest before your fasting schedule.
• Drinking Enough Water – Hydration is essential during the fast and drinking more water before the fast can help the body retain fluids during the day.
• Adjusting Eating Habits – Gradually adjusting eating habits, which include reducing portion sizes and eating more nutrient-dense foods. Also plan meals ahead of time to ensure a balanced diet during the fast.

What Happens to the Body During Fasting Time?

During fasting, the body undergoes several changes that allow it to function properly despite the absence of food and water. These changes are:

• The body uses glucose stored in the liver and muscles for energy during fasting.
• After the glucose stores are depleted, the body starts to use ketones as an energy source, a process called ketosis.
• Hormones such as insulin and glucagon are regulated during fasting, which helps to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
• Fasting triggers the body’s detoxification process, which eliminates toxins and waste products from the body.
• During fasting, the digestive system gets a break, which can improve digestion and reduce inflammation in the gut.

Benefits of Fasting

Fasting has a lot of benefits for the body. Some of these benefits are:

• Improved insulin sensitivity: Fasting can improve insulin sensitivity, which is beneficial for people with diabetes.
• Weight loss: Fasting can lead to weight loss, as the body uses stored fat for energy during fasting.
• Reduced inflammation: Fasting can reduce inflammation in the body, which is linked to several chronic diseases.
• Lower blood pressure: Fasting can lower blood pressure, which is beneficial for people with hypertension.
• Improved mental health: Fasting can have several positive effects on mental health, including improved mood and reduced anxiety.
• Enhanced detoxification: Fasting triggers the body’s detoxification process, which can improve overall health.

Functional Medicine / Functional Nutrition During Fasting

Functional medicine is an approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of chronic diseases. It seeks to promote wellness and prevent illness by looking at the underlying imbalances in the body’s systems. During fasting, functional medicine can be particularly useful in helping individuals to maintain their health and well-being while fasting.

Some of the key functional medicine services that may be helpful during fasting include:

Nutritional counseling:

Functional medicine practitioners can guide how to eat a balanced and nutritious diet during fasting. They can help individuals to identify the right types of foods to eat, as well as the best times to eat them.

Stress management:

Fasting can be a stressful experience for some individuals, particularly if they are dealing with other health issues. Functional medicine practitioners can help individuals to develop strategies for managing stress, such as mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, or yoga.

Sleep support:

Fasting can also disrupt sleep patterns, particularly if individuals are waking up early for pre-dawn meals. Functional medicine practitioners can help individuals to develop healthy sleep habits and identify strategies for improving sleep quality.

How Can We Help?

In Dubai, the Osteopathic Health Centre is a leading provider of functional medicine services. The center offers a range of services to support health and well-being, including osteopathy, acupuncture, nutritional counseling, and functional medicine. Their functional medicine services are designed to help individuals identify the underlying causes of chronic health issues, and develop personalized treatment plans to address those issues.

At the Osteopathic Health Centre, functional medicine practitioners work closely with patients to understand their unique health challenges and develop tailored treatment plans. They use a range of diagnostic tools and techniques to identify underlying imbalances in the body’s systems, and they offer a range of interventions to promote healing and wellness. Whether you are looking to improve your health or at any other time of year, the Osteopathic Health Centre is a great resource for functional medicine services in Dubai.

Osteopathic Health Clinic is the first family-run osteopathic clinic in Dubai, UAE. Helping the community for over 20 years. Learn more about us, click here.