Fasting, as we know it, is the abstinence from food. And Physiology, the science that deal with the functions of living organisms.
And today, I will be talking about fasting in relation to our body system, how it works and it wonderful effect on us.

Fasting is one of the best method one can use to repair the body, including our organs and cells. It’s not just about abstinence, fasting is medicine. Some scientists believe it should be prescribed as treatment for sicknesses like diabetes. It is a cleaning and purifying agent for body organs.
One of the important aspect of fasting is the internal energy produced to clean and heal organism.

When food intake is stopped, many organs of the body takes a break of the constant hard work, especially in digestion. The extra energy gives the body license to heal up and restore itself. Furthermore, the body burns out stored calories, which eliminates toxic substance in the organs. Fasting is a means of detoxifying oneself. This cleansing automatically touches every area except for vital tissues, while food is absent.

When we go on long fast, many physiological modification occurs in the body system. On the first day of the fast, the body uses the reserved glycogen which is responsible for basic supply of energy in the body. After the exhaustion of the reserved glycogen, the body starts using up the stored fat. And the brain, which requires much glucose in-take to function, consumes the most for mental concentration and learning process as this organ can’t stop functioning.

By the second day of the fast, the body starts breaking down muscle tissues for sufficient energy sake, in order to fuel the break of glucose. In fueling the brain, the body burns over one pound of muscle a day.

By the third day of the fast, ketosis, a process where the liver converts stored fat and other inessential tissues into amino acids called ketones, occurs. Ketones are used by the brain, muscles and heart for energy.

Fasting is God’s way of helping us get our body clean and healthy.

Isaiah 58:5-9,

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

The verse 8 of the passage speaks of our health in relation to fast. In other words, fasting brings your health to wholeness faster.
Do you see the intentions of God? But there is a problem with what we consume, and that leads me to what we take in.

One of the problem of our present generation is the increase on the consumption of fast food. Many restaurant today, make quick food which satisfy the people, but have less nutritional value. This fast foods are majorly processed or fried thereby having adverse effect on our healthy. What you take in can have significant impact on your brain, as the brain is the seat of mind. If what you take in is deficient in nutrient, it can cause depression, autism, anorexia, schizophrenia, anxiety etc. scientist have discovered that what we take in can be responsible for our willpower, mental concentration and thinking ability. They also believe that fast food is not just unhealthy, but also contains chemicals (addictive) that makes us continually crave for it, even when we know it ‘not so good’ effect on our system. Research shows that fast food alters the production of certain hormones in the brain. It increases leptin and decreases galanin, which causes malfunction in the brain called Hypothalamic-obesity. And that the reason obese people cannot tell why they keep eating. The brain produces chemicals called neurotransmitters which regulate our moods, emotions and pains. When we eat nitrous food, it triggers amino acid that, in turn, regulate the amount of chemicals like serotonin, needed for the body system.
The lack of amino acid is the cause fatigue and weight problems, which in turn affect concentration and focus. Therefore, the consumption of fast foods and sugary soft drinks is an agent of failure to the organs in the body.

Fasting, in this context, helps reduce conditions like anxiety, allergies asthma, diabetes, headache, low blood sugar, high cholesterol digestive disorder etc, which are sourced from what we eat.

Conclusion.

What we eat determines our outlook, so it is essential to watch what goes in.
Fasting should not just be a religious practice, as our physical body needs it sometimes to clean, detoxify and renew our healthy. Check out my post on detoxification https://steemit.com/health/@olubamisedaniel/detoxification , and you will be enlightened on different type of fast that can help the body.