Isagenix has been promoting Cleanse Days – nutritionally supported intermittent fasting – as a tool to support overall health and weight wellness since the company’s inception in 2002. And in recent years, the science has been catching up to piece together and explain the physiological benefits of fasting protocols that have been practiced for centuries as part of religious or cultural traditions. As a result, the evidence that supports incorporating regular fasting days into your lifestyle has exploded in recent years. And whilst weight loss is the benefit that receives the most attention, there are many other compelling reasons to make regular Cleanse Days part of your routine.
1. Support Your Cellular ‘Cleansing’ Processes
When the body is managing a steady flow of nutrients from frequent meals or snacks, some processes can be put on hold. One of these processes is known as ‘autophagy’. This process works to break down the old, worn-out components within your cells in order to reuse the basic building blocks, such as amino acids, to support cell maintenance and growth.
Autophagy has been the subject of continuing research that points to the benefits of this fundamental cellular process for supporting metabolism, heart and brain health and healthy ageing (1). Autophagy goes to work whilst you are fasting on a Cleanse Day by cleaning up the worn-out parts within your cells and recycling them.
2. Improve Your Appetite Control
Many regular cleansers have noticed that their appetites are more manageable in the days following a Cleanse Day. Researchers have also noticed this unexpected effect of intermittent fasting and are beginning to explore the phenomenon in greater detail. Scientific research has uncovered changes in appetite-regulating hormones that may explain the decrease in hunger many experience following a Cleanse Day (2, 3). While the investigation into this field is still new, the current evidence suggests fasting may be a tool to help reset your appetite.
3. Target the Worst Kind of Fat
Excess body fat is never a good thing but it is even more concerning when fat accumulates around your midsection and surrounds your internal organs. This kind of deep belly fat is known as visceral fat and has been linked to serious concerns for your health and well-being.
As part of an Isagenix System, Cleanse Days have been shown to promote greater weight loss and greater visceral fat loss than a heart-healthy, whole food diet in university-based scientific studies (4). These results show that completing regular Cleanse Days can not only help with weight loss but can also help you lose more visceral fat.
4. Improve Insulin Sensitivity
Insulin is the hormone that enables your body to use the carbohydrates in the food you eat for energy. Insulin plays a critical role in keeping your blood sugar levels steady after you eat a meal but your body can become less sensitive to its effects if you routinely consume more food than your body can use. One of the body’s natural responses to fasting is enhanced sensitivity to the normal action of insulin (5, 6). Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, supporting normal insulin function can greatly benefit your overall health and help keep your metabolism in top shape.
5. Support for Healthy Ageing and Overall Well-Being
Intermittent fasting, the fundamental concept behind Cleanse Days, is an active area of scientific research. New studies continue to identify benefits from fasting related to markers of healthy ageing and overall well-being. For example, recent research has found that fasting can lead to improvements in circulation, cardiovascular health, cognitive health and reduced oxidative stress (7-10). This promising research supports the potential benefits of incorporating regular Cleanse Days as part of a long-term, healthful lifestyle.
Whilst weight loss remains one of the most popular reasons why people choose to do Cleanse Days, scientific research has identified many other unique benefits of intermittent fasting that are less obvious from the outside. So even if weight loss is no longer your goal, there are still plenty of reasons to keep Cleanse Days in your routine.
References
Bergamini E, Cavallini G, Donati A, Gori Z. The role of autophagy in aging: its essential part in the anti-aging mechanism of caloric restriction. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2007 Oct;1114:69-78.
Hoddy KK, Gibbons C, Kroeger CM, Trepanowski JF, Barnosky A, Bhutani S, Gabel K, Finlayson G, Varady KA. Changes in hunger and fullness in relation to gut peptides before and after 8 weeks of alternate day fasting. Clin Nutr. 2016 Dec;35(6):1380-1385. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2016.03.011.
Cummings DE, Weigle DS, Frayo RS, Breen PA, Ma MK, Dellinger EP, et al. Plasma ghrelin levels after diet-induced weight loss or gastric bypass surgery. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:1623e30.
Klempel MC, Kroeger CM, Bhutani S, Trepanowski JF, Varady KA. Intermittent fasting combined with calorie restriction is effective for weight loss and cardio-protection in obese women. Nutr J. 2012 Nov 21;11:98.
Varady KA, Hellerstein MK. Alternate-day fasting and chronic disease prevention: a review of human and animal trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jul;86(1):7-13.
Halberg N, Henriksen M, Söderhamn N, Stallknecht B, Ploug T, Schjerling P, Dela F. Effect of intermittent fasting and refeeding on insulin action in healthy men. J Appl Physiol. 2005 Dec;99(6):2128-36.
Froy O, Miskin R. Effect of feeding regimens on circadian rhythms: implications for aging and longevity. Aging (Albany NY) 2010;2:7-27.
Mattson MP. Dietary factors, hormesis and health. Ageing Res Rev 2008;7:43-8.
Anton S, Leeuwenburgh C. Fasting or caloric restriction for healthy aging. Exp Gerontol 2013;48:1003-5.
Martin B, et al. Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting: two potential diets for successful brain aging. Ageing Res Rev 2006;5:332-53.
Information provided on this website is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended to substitute advice from your GP. The statements appearing on this website have not been evaluated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Isagenix products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Weight-loss results depicted here should not be construed as typical or average. In a study performed in 2012 by University at Chicago researchers, subjects lost an average of 4.1 kg with an average of 0.9 kg of the loss from visceral fat after 30 days on an Isagenix System. The subjects also had a greater level of adherence and had more consistent weight loss from week to week compared to subjects on a traditional diet. View study results here. Always consult your GP before making any dietary changes or starting any nutrition, weight-loss or exercise program.