As every year, Easter marks the end of the fasting and renunciation period after the first full moon in spring – in many families with days of feasting and celebrating together. Traditionally, the Easter feast begins with green dishes such as spinach and green asparagus on Maundy Thursday. But also with one or two eggs. The fish is then hauled in on Good Friday. It continues with Easter lambs, ham, cakes in variations – often you can hardly catch your breath. At the latest when you look at the scales, the air is gone, goodbye fasting success. The good conscience gone, the lost weight from the festive pounds almost back on your hips. But there is salvation.
After the fast is before the fast
If you have succeeded in fasting well in the forty days before Easter, intermittent fasting after the holiday feasts can be the solution. To repair collateral damage or simply to maintain a healthy fasting effect in everyday life. If the fasting period was too long for you, intermittent fasting can be a good alternative to complete abstinence.
With this trend, also known as periodic or intermittent fasting, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods. Nevertheless, this form of fasting promises considerable health benefits. Toxins are removed from the body, the ability to concentrate improves, diseases such as type 2 diabetes can be prevented and high blood pressure is reduced. Studies have shown that intermittent fasting lowers blood pressure and can therefore reduce the risk of secondary diseases such as heart attacks. The trend is based on the idea that the human body is not made for constant food intake. However, there are a few things to bear in mind.
How does intermittent fasting work properly?
The basic prerequisite for any form of healthy fasting is a well-hydrated body. We are only able to adapt to the changing metabolic situation if we drink enough fluids. In this way, toxins can be eliminated and we stay fit despite the fasting interval.
Intermittent fasting does not demand a diet marathon from anyone. Even periods of a few hours have a positive effect. Alternatively, complete days can also be planned as a fasting period per week. The aim is to reduce the energy intake to around a quarter of the usual level.
With a normal diet, a daily fluid intake of approx. 1.5 to 2 liters is recommended. In the case of intermittent fasting, the liquid otherwise consumed with food must also be added to this amount, i.e. an additional 600 ml. This keeps your blood pressure stable, your head clear and you don’t get weak knees, as is often the case when fasting. About 600 kcal are allowed throughout the day.
Suitable drinks to accompany intermittent fasting are mineral water for a sufficient supply of minerals, unsweetened teas or coffee. However, the latter should be consumed in moderation, as it is a caffeinated drink and also has a mild dehydrating effect.
Sensibly distributed throughout the day
If you start first thing in the morning with a glass of lukewarm water, your metabolism gets going, your stomach is busy and you have consumed your first portion of liquid.
You can replace your morning coffee with unsweetened tea. If you have a simple chicken soup or vegetable broth for lunch, this will fill your stomach without jeopardizing your calorie target. It also supplies the body with important minerals.
If you prefer to eat a little more, it’s better to reach for fruit and vegetables instead of chocolate and carbohydrates. These not only provide healthy vitamins, they also give the body an additional fluid bonus. Small snacks as psychological support give us an energy boost in between. Suitable options include cucumber slices, eggs fried without fat on crispbread or nicely garnished fruit skewers.
This makes it easy to manage fasting intervals of 16 or 20 hours or one day per week. The body continues to be supplied with everything it needs.
Fasting throughout the year
If you don’t just fast once a year, but integrate regular fasting into your everyday life, it’s not just your figure that benefits. Sufficient fluid intake is important here to make it easier for the body to adjust its metabolism and to mitigate the negative physical aspects of fasting. Calorie-free drinks such as unsweetened tea and mineral water are ideal for this. If you also eat fruit and vegetables, this provides the body with an additional fluid bonus and supports the fasting interval. In this way, Easter feasting remains without consequences and the positive aspects of Lent are preserved.
