How Fasting Allows The Brain To Recharge Itself

We know that fasting can be great for the body, with benefits including improved metabolic health, increased longevity and better heart health, but we’re still figuring out what kind of role it could play in a healthy lifestyle. Preliminary research shows it could also do your brain good ― especially if you’re at risk for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.  Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have shown, for the first time, how fasting benefits the brain on a neurological level.  There are many different techniques and schools of thought on fasting, but the practice usually involves abstaining from food (or following a very calorie-restricted diet) for anything from 24 hours to a few days. While starving yourself is the last thing any health expert would recommend, fasting done in moderation (and under the guidance of a physician, if you have a health condition) can confer a number of physical and neurological health benefits. Previous research has suggested that fasting can improve cognitive function, stimulating faster learning and better memory. The new findings, published last week in the journal Neuron, shed light on how the practice may work to benefit brain health.   In their study on fruit fly larvae, the researchers found that the brain responds to nutrient scarcity (like that which occurs during fasting) by reducing synaptic activity. (Synapses a...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news