The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell – as we have all been taught in school. It is the job of the mitochondria to regulate and generate enough energy in the cells for proper functioning, which in turn ensures healthy processes throughout your body. Needless to say, keeping your mitochondria in check is one of the keys to long lasting health and vibrancy, both physically and mentally!
What you might not have known is that intermittent fasting can help you recharge your mitochondria and support healthy bodily processes. That’s why today we are going to talk about the benefits of intermittent fasting and how you can use it best for mitochondrial health and long-term wellbeing.
Here’s what you should know.
Choose your fasting period
Intermittent fasting is all about food restriction on a smaller scale, meaning that you don’t want to deprive your body of essential nutrients, rather, you want to give your body a chance to rest, recuperate, and heal. When you eat often, you’re forcing your body to work constantly, and your cells work hard producing the energy needed to digest all that food and support all other processes in your body.
This can be taxing for your liver, gut, and other vital organs, which is where intermittent fasting comes as a way to safeguard your long-term health. It’s also a good way to keep cortisol down and balance your hormones. But to reap the benefits of IF, you need to choose and stick to a fasting window.
Typically, a good fasting window for most would be a 16/8 ratio. This means that you are eating for only eight hours a day while fasting for the other 16 hours. You can start there and adjust over time.
Choose the most nutritious foods
Intermittent fasting, like any other approach to nutrition, can only deliver the health results you want to achieve if you choose healthy food sources. Complementing your feeding window with nutrient-rich foods that support cellular health, reduce inflammation, and battle the free radicals in your body is a great way to support your mitochondria over the long term.
With that in mind, be sure to stock your fridge and pantry with plenty of nutritious nuts and seeds, veggies and fruits that will support your mental health as well as your physical wellbeing.
Add a mitochondrial supplement while fasting
You might not be eating during the fasting period of the day, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be giving your body the nutrients it needs to feed your mitochondria. These nutrients shouldn’t come in the form of solid foods that would force your cells and your vital organs to work too much, rather, they should come in the form of healthy, natural supplementation.
These supplements, such as Mito Multi, will keep you in your fasted state while providing the mitochondria the micronutrients they need to produce ample amounts of energy in the cells and keep you feeling energized and vibrant all day long. Supplement once daily and then use your feeding window to give yourself even more nutrients that will support your cellular function!
Hydrate your cells throughout
Just as it’s important to supplement during your fasting period of the day, it is equally important to keep your cells hydrated. Proper hydration will not have any negative effect on your fasting schedule, nor will it impede the effects of intermittent fasting in any way.
On the contrary, drinking plenty of fresh water throughout the day will keep you feeling full and will prevent unwanted food cravings. Most importantly for mitochondrial health, however, proper hydration will ensure your cells are getting that crucial water intake they need to function properly.
So, grab a water bottle and don’t forget to take it with you wherever you go!
Monitor your progress and adjust
Last but not least, always remember that intermittent fasting is a process and a lifestyle you should enjoy, not endure. When done properly, intermittent fasting can have a myriad of positive effects on your mind and body.
You can use it to cleanse your mind and de-stress, but also to revitalize your body and perform better in everyday tasks. That said, you can only do this if you stay flexible in your approach and adapt over time.
Listen to your body and let it speak to you. Hear it out when it’s telling you that you need to change something, and try out different food combinations and feeding windows to see what works best for you. After all, we’re all slightly different, and that’s what makes us beautiful and unique.
Intermittent fasting can have a profound impact on your health by supporting your mitochondria and ensuring proper cellular function. Now that you know the benefits of IF and how to use it to enhance your mental and physical state, you can use intermittent fasting as a tool to achieve lifelong health and wellbeing.