Explanation:
Fasting for 16 hours (also known as 16:8 intermittent fasting) means you fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8-hour window. Here’s what happens in your body during this time:
1. Blood Sugar Levels Become Stable
When you fast, insulin levels drop, and your body becomes more sensitive to insulin. This helps prevent sudden spikes and crashes in blood sugar, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
2. Fat Burning Starts Naturally
After about 12–14 hours of fasting, your body uses up stored glucose and starts burning stored fat for energy. This helps reduce body fat percentage and supports weight loss.
3. Digestion Gets a Rest
Your digestive system finally gets time to recover. This can improve gut health, reduce bloating, and make nutrient absorption more efficient when you start eating again.
4. Inflammation in the Body Decreases
Regular fasting reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, helping to protect your heart, brain, and joints from long-term damage.
5. Brain Function Improves
Fasting boosts the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports brain cells, enhances memory, and helps protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
6. Detoxification and Cell Repair Begin (Autophagy)
Around 16 hours into fasting, your body enters autophagy, a process where old or damaged cells are cleaned out and replaced with new, healthy ones — slowing aging and strengthening immunity.
7. Hormonal Balance Improves
Fasting helps regulate hormones like growth hormone and leptin, which improve metabolism, energy, and appetite control.
