By: Kumar EcoAgorist Bendrake
Fasting (the process of abstaining from all food) is not a new phenomena. It has been used by many cultures and religions for centuries to help cleanse the mind and body. Yet fasting diets are often criticized by nutritionists as somehow unhealthy. The science says otherwise. A new study by researchers at the University of Southern California shows fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of a damaged or old immune system. In fact, fasting for as little as three days can regenerate your entire immune system. Score 1 for ancient wisdom; and 0 for modern consumerism.
As it turns out, prolonged fasting forces the body to use stores of glucose, fat and ketones, but it also breaks down a significant portion of white blood cells. This depletion of white blood cells induces changes that trigger stem cell-based regeneration of new immune system cells. Additionally, prolonged fasting reduces the enzyme PKA. Lowering PKA extends longevity and has been linked to enhanced stem cell self-renewal— in other words, the potential for one cell to develop into a variety of different cell types. These cells can then repair damaged organs in the human body.
Intermittent Fasting for the Win
Long term fasting is not the only practice showing promise, new studies show intermittent fasting, as well as faux fasting have been found to not only induce weight loss and improve metabolism, but can help reverse types 1 and 2 diabetes, or even extend your life. Furthermore, intermittent fasts, fast as short as 10 to 12 hours, share many of the health benefits of prolonged fasting and have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Studies like those held by a research team led by Hoon-Ki Sung of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto in Ontario have demonstrated that intermittent fasting increases insulin sensitivity and protects nerve cells from certain types of damage. It may also slow aging and reduce the risk of age-related diseases.
With all this exciting new information, are you ready to start your fast? You might be saying to yourself, “That all sounds great, but I just don’t have that kind or will power”. Am I right?
How Kratom Can Help
Enter Kratom, the plant that when used responsibly, will help reduce your appetite and focus your mind. As most kratom users can attest, many strains of kratom can have appetite suppressing effects,and unlike some diet pills, the appetite suppression from kratom won’t sour your stomach or cause negative side effects. You simply just don’t feel as hungry as you used to, and since kratom has been shown to reduce pain, you’ll likely feel less hunger pain.
There are many beneficial effects of kratom, both psychological and physical; and many people overlook how effective these characteristics can be for weight loss and fasting. Unlike risky stimulants and diet pills, kratom is entirely natural and can have other beneficial impacts on your health. In fact the appetite suppression from kratom is quite noticeable after only a few uses, and later in this article, we will talk about what strains are best for this purpose.
Kratom works to reduce hunger through various means, both directly and indirectly, which make it entirely unique in comparison to the commercial supplements pushed for dieting and weight loss. The most noticeable of these include: appetite suppression, craving reduction, both directly and indirectly through it’s increased potency when used on an empty stomach.
So now that we know a little more about kratom and its benefits, we need to pick the right strains. Traditional wisdom says the best strains/types for this purpose are green, white, and yellow. Overall, white strains tend to be the most effective at appetite suppression due to their stimulating adrenergic properties.
However if using kratom for long term fasting (3 days or longer) is your goal, this can require a great deal of sleep, rest and recovery. So relaxing red veins, Indo strains, Borneo strains and Bali strains, are ideal, since they often tend to be more sedating.
Suggested Use
How much to use is unique to the individual, and an important factor when it comes to fasting. However, the ideal amount can vary from person to person, as each individual has unique chemistry. So always start slowly until you discover your personal comfort zone. Just like too much coffee can make some people nervous of jittery, too much kratom may become just as uncomfortable.
With that said,below is a simplified guide to usage. Low – 1 to 2 grams Moderate – 2 to 5 grams High – 5 to 7 grams
*Other items proven keep you feeling good over the course of your fast, are plenty of your favorite water, a teaspoon a day of Himalayan pink salt, and 2 teaspoons a day of Potassium chloride (the ingredient in Morton Salt Substitute, Nu-Salt, and Nosalt)That will give you important electrolytes you need for the day, up to 4 TBS of raw apple cider vinegar a day (one example would be Bragg Raw Apple Cider Vinegar but there are too many to mention) The cider vinegar is calorie free, but has pectin; vitamins B1, B2, and B6; biotin; folic acid; niacin; pantothenic acid; and vitamin C. It also contains small amounts of the minerals sodium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium. The Apple Pectinwill have the additional benefit of keeping you satiated, and if you enjoy have as much cayenne pepper as you like. Cayenne contains Capsaicin which is known to boost metabolism, causing the body toproduce extra heat and burn more calories for fuel.
Ending your fast
Don’t just “wing it”. You will want to follow a few guidelines when breaking your fast, Your intestines and gut have adapted to the abstinence of food and it’s important not to shock your system. If you are not a vegan, start with some organic grass fed bone broth. Bone broth is amazing because it has a ton of electrolytes and packed with collagen. Collagen protein is what most of your body is made of – your joints, nails, hair, skin – it helps to keep you more youthful and elastic. After a good fast and a release of stem cells, your body is ready to put these nutrients to work.
If you are into the ketogenic diet, take some MCT oil. MCTs get converted into energy faster because the fatty acids in it bypass the liver and go straight to the bloodstream. This is beneficial because you’ll also prolong the effects of fat burning and stay in ketosis for longer even after having consumed calories.
To exit ketosis, a metabolic state in which your body derives energy from fat in your body, go in this order.
- fruit and vegetable juices
- Fruit, beginning with raw fibrous fruits like apple, watermelon or cantaloupe
- Cooked vegetables
- Yogurt (or other living, cultured milk products), unsweetened
- Raw vegetables
- Well cooked grains and beans
- Nuts and eggs
- You can now resume your standard diet.
So there you have it, kratom fasting in a nutshell!
*On a personal note, as an experienced faster, I know from my own experience, there is a brand new you, waiting for you at the end of your fast. Just start slowly and work up to a goal, and wait to take the kratom until it actually starts to hurt. Some say it’s cheating, but Mother Nature wants to help you through this new experience, and back you up in this process. She’s there for you. The first three tries are the hardest, but after that, once you see the benefits and your body is able to make the critical changes more easily, you will want to keep this practice as something to come back to in times of renewal.
If you want to fast don’t get discouraged, it took me over a month to work up the courage, and don’t let anyone talk you out of it either. Remember the food industry wants you spending money on diet gimmicks and processed diet dinners that don’t work. Big Pharma wants to sell you addictive pills with side effects. Both these groups have the money to control almost everything we see and here. Look around you and I’m sure you’ll realize, what they’ve done to load their coffers is fill the internet and airwaves with bad advice.
With that I’ll leave you the obligatory legal disclaimer.
Medical disclaimer: This Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Before starting any diet, you should speak to your doctor. You must not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.