Properly supervised and following the instructions of professionals, this practice can have positive and interesting effects on our mind.
However, something that is often overlooked is that the advantages of intermittent fasting do not stay only in the world of fitness. More and more research indicates that this process also has psychological implications to be taken into account, and these also give reason to rejoice.
Here we will see a summary of the psychological and cognitive benefits associated with cognitive fasting, different reasons why it is a good idea to incorporate this habit into everyday life.
Top 4 Cognitive Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
These are reasons why, from a psychological point of view, it is worth considering the possibility of intermittent fasting consistently as one more habit. Of course,you should bear in mind that intermittent fasting should be carried out with medical supervision or at the hands of nutritionists, among other things because certain populations may be exposed to risks by the simple fact of doing it.
Also, do not forget that intermittent fasting is not a diet, and that if it is not managed properly, it can produce a kind of “rebound effect”: binge eating when the fasting stage ends, to compensate for the sensation of hunger.
1. Concentration level increases
From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes sense that certain cognitive functions related to conscious task completion and decision making are fine-tuned when we are fasting. Perhaps for this reason, different studies indicate that when we fast, the levels of neurotransmitters associated with the psychological state of concentration, such asnorepinephrine and orexin, increase.
2. It could enhance neuroplasticity
Ketosis is a metabolic phenomenon that occurs when, after spending some time burning carbohydrates for energy, the body starts to burn fat. As well; There is evidence that entering ketosis and alternating between the different ways of obtaining energy stimulates brain plasticity.
By brain plasticity we understand the ability of the brain to create new neural connections, and it is a key process when it comes to learning, creating memories and even to cushion the negative impact produced by diseases that affect the brain.
3.Protects against depression
Today it is known that the distinction between the rational and the emotional is fundamentally a fiction that we tell ourselves to better understand the complexity of the human mind. For example, it has been seen that basically emotional phenomena, such as symptoms of depression, are linked to a significant reduction in the quality of various cognitive processes and mental agility in general.
In this sense, it is known that there is a substance produced by the brain, called BDNF (or “brain-derived neurotrophic factor”) that is almost absent in the nervous systems of depressed people, and it is known that enhancing its production protects against the Depression.
Related to the latter, it has been observed that intermittent fasting consistently enhances the production of BDNF, so that interweaving it in our eating habits allows us to have these beneficial effects, including its implications in terms of cognitive functions.
4. Protects against inflammatory processes
Inflammatory processes have the characteristic that many of them may be affecting us without us noticing, and that at the same time, it often has a significant impact on the activity of the nervous system, because they alter neuroendocrine processes.
The result of this is that superior psychological abilities tend to lose prominence, since a good part of the resources that the body usually has are mobilized to counteract the damage caused by inflammation. For example, it is known that a part of depression cases are probably triggered by this type of health complication.
In addition, many of the most popular foods on the market are also known to be prone to inflammation, especially those that contain large amounts of refined sugar.
But there are reasons to be optimistic, given that several studies indicate that intermittent fasting prevents the appearance of inflammation and favors the elimination of excess substances that circulate in our body.
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Bibliographic references
- Li, L.; Wang, Z. & Zuo, Z. (2013). Chronic Intermittent Fasting Improves Cognitive Functions and Brain Structures in Mice. PLoS One, 8(6): e66069.
- Mattson, M.P.; Moehl, K.; Ghena, N.; Schmaedick, M., Cheng, A. (2018). Intermittent metabolic switching, neuroplasticity and brain health. Nature reviews Neuroscience, 19(2): pp. 63 – 80.
- Shojaie, M; Ghanbari, F.; Shojaiec, N. (2017). Intermittent fasting could ameliorate cognitive function against distress by regulation of inflammatory response pathway. Journal of Advanced Research, 8(6), pp. 697 – 701.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
