“This pause allows the body to focus on healing and repair processes, such as autophagy.”
JG: Fasting, whether intermittent or extended, has profound effects on the body. One of the biggest benefits is the reset it offers to your hormonal balance. Fasting helps lower cortisol, the stress hormone, and can naturally optimize hormones like insulin, which regulates blood sugar. It also supports the production of human growth hormone, which is crucial for cellular repair, muscle growth, and fat metabolism.
JG: When you fast, your body finally gets a break from constant digestion, which usually takes up to 60 to 70% of your energy. This pause allows the body to focus on healing and repair processes, such as autophagy. Autophagy is the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells and recycling their components to create new, healthy cells. It’s like a deep clean for your system, helping prevent diseases and even potentially reverse damage at a cellular level. This process is key in slowing aging and boosting overall health.
JG: Intermittent fasting is when you restrict eating to a certain window of time each day. A common approach is a 16:8 window, where you fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8-hour window. This practice gives your digestive system a rest and promotes metabolic health. Extended water-only fasting, on the other hand, typically lasts three days or more. It has even deeper benefits, like resetting the immune system and enhancing the body’s natural healing mechanisms, but it requires more preparation and is best done under guidance if you’re new to fasting.
JG: Women, in particular, deal with many hormonal challenges due to endocrine disruptors like microplastics and environmental toxins. Fasting can help reset these imbalances. A three-day water-only fast, for example, can significantly improve hormone regulation and reduce the toxic load affecting the endocrine system. However, it’s crucial to start slowly, perhaps with intermittent fasting, before diving into longer fasts.
JG: Most people can benefit from some form of fasting, but it’s important to listen to your body. Start small — try a 12-hour fast overnight and gradually extend to 16 hours. For extended water-only fasts, consider working with a healthcare provider, especially if you have underlying health conditions. Fasting is powerful, but it must be done correctly to support rather than stress your body.
Dr. Jonathan Group, RD, DC and his brother, Dr. Edward Group, DC founded Global Healing Center in 1998 as a wellness clinic. They have both been Chiropractors for over 25 years and have been dedicated to teaching the world about the root cause of disease and detoxification. It is still family and Chiropractor owned. Buy direct and through your favorite practitioner portals such as Fullscript, Emerson Ecologies, and Golden Needle Online. To sign up for a wholesale account, please visit www.globalhealing. com/wholesale, www.fullscript.com and www.goldenneedleonline.com
