The forty days of Lent before Easter are now not only observed for religious reasons, but are also felt by many to be necessary for good health. Is there a scientific basis for fasting, who can benefit from spring detox and who can’t, and how can we protect the health of our liver and bile all year round using natural methods?
With spring approaching, we increasingly desire to renew and refresh our bodies; thus, many people choose fasting as a way to do this. Intermittent fasting – alternating fasting and eating – is becoming increasingly popular, and there are many variations of it. One of the easiest to follow is to eat last in the early evening, then skip breakfast and eat the first meal in the late morning, known as the 16/8 fast. 24-hour fasting is done once or twice a week. On the other hand, there is the 5:2 diet, where you eat only 500-600 calories a day on two non-consecutive days, and eat as usual on the other days.
Who is fasting not recommended for?
Studies have shown that intermittent fasting not only contributes to weight loss, but also improves blood fat levels, insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammatory parameters. However, some researches have shown that these benefits are no greater than those of diets with a consistently lower calorie intake. Fasting is specifically not recommended in cases of malnutrition, eating disorders, gynecological problems, infertility, metabolic and circulatory diseases, tumors, and is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers or children.
Drink plenty of fluids.
The kidneys and liver are part of the body’s own elimination system, and their function is partly to ‘detoxify’ the body by excreting/breaking down substances that are ingested in the diet that cannot be used. The detoxification work of the kidneys is considered adequate with half a liter of urine per day, and this is achieved by consuming at least one and a half liters of water per day – more in hot weather. Experts point out that there is no proven detoxifying effect of enemas or even excessive fluid intake or diuretics, which, for example, only help to eliminate sodium and its associated water from the body.
The comprehensive laboratory tests offered by HR-Pharma in Szeged provide information about the condition of our kidneys and liver.
Liver and kidney protection with natural methods
There are foods that support the bile and liver, and thus their detoxifying function. These include garlic, grapefruit, beetroot, lemon, green tea, avocado, turmeric, apples, walnuts and broccoli, so it’s a good idea to eat more of these as spring arrives, preferably raw or gently steamed. To protect the health of the liver, avoid alcohol, refined sugars and reduce the proportion of processed foods in your diet.
The most important thing to support the kidneys’ excretory function is to drink plenty of fluids (2.5-3.5 liters), because if you don’t drink enough water, waste products can accumulate in the body. Horsetail, goldenrod and birch leaves are our best-known kidney-supporting herbs and are recommended as a cure-all.
Liver and kidney function test packages from HR-Pharma laboratory in Szeged: