One of the best gifts you can give to your healthy and constantly evolving brain is periods of brain-healthy fasting and a low-calorie intake.

Therefore, You Develop the Brain When You Fast One of the best gifts you can give to your healthy and constantly evolving brain is periods of brain-healthy fasting and a low-calorie intake. Just 20 years ago, it was believed that the brain's capacity was limited to the cells we are born with, that we had a brain with a specific number of nerve cells that remained constant throughout life. Since then, research has made us wiser, and today there is consensus that the human brain continues to develop throughout life – provided, of course, that we give it the opportunity. The wonders of the brain are deeply fascinating. At the same time, it's inspiring to delve into the tremendous potential for development that can go to waste when we don't provide the brain with the best conditions for growth.

If you want to "feed" your brain with nutrition, the body's secretion of the special protein, BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), is crucial. BDNF is the protein that gives the brain its neuroplasticity – its ability to evolve, form new neural pathways, and neural networks. BDNF protects existing neurons and contributes to the formation of new synapses, connecting nerve cells and neurons. And precisely the connection between synapses is essential for our ability to associate and think creatively.

There are several factors crucial for the body to increase its production of BDNF. It does so when you maintain focused attention on what you're doing, when you are intellectually challenged and stimulated, when you meditate, fast, and keep your calorie intake 20-30 percent below the daily level. 

One reason why I thrive during my fasting courses is that the direct correlation between fasting and cognitive development is a delightful surprise for many. Moreover, it's often good news that wonders can happen in just a few days of fasting.

When we fast, after only 3 days, the body has depleted the liver's sugar stores. Therefore, it starts converting the body's fat stores into energy, with the positive side effect that it simultaneously begins to produce a substance called ketone. In the slightly nerdy department, ketone is referred to as hydroxybutyrate, which acts as a highly effective and developmental fuel for the brain.  

Fasting, in this way, prompts the brain to shift from running on glucose as fuel to running on cognitively developing ketones. Thus, the body simultaneously reduces its dependence on sugar stores, and we no longer need to consume amino acids, which are important for muscle building and maintaining muscle tissue.

In a 2009 study, German researchers had a group of older individuals reduce their calorie intake by 30 percent. The conclusion after three months was a significant improvement in the seniors' memory functions.

There is extensive research on the significance of fasting, and scientists are constantly surprised. In addition to fasting's ability to boost the body's production of the BDNF protein and its impact on brain development, it has now been proven how fasting contributes to life extension, blood thinning, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and the most common types of cancer such as breast, colon, and prostate cancer.

If you're interested, you can read more about my fasting course here..

Warm regards,
Helen