Top Fasting Retreats: The Ultimate Guide and Reviews
What Is Fasting | Benefits Of Fasting | What Are Fasting Retreats | Fasting Retreats Benefits | How To Find Good Fasting Retreat
The daily grind is not good for our physical and mental health. Experts believe that the amount of stress we experience every day is increasing, which has led to a higher incidence of certain health problems. A closer examination of the data reveals that obesity and stress are the most common ailments. The concerning fact for medical professionals and doctors is that obesity combined with stress is often the precursor to other more severe illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, etc.
Hence, we need to find ways to unwind and relax, which can help us tackle this rising obesity problem. In this context, fasting retreats can be an ingenious solution. These short holidays can be an excellent way to step back from our stressful lives and rectify our unhealthy eating habits, which can go a long way to protecting us from obesity, heart disease, hypertension, and other ailments.
Further in this article, we have tried to answer all your questions related to fasting, like, How does fasting work? What are the benefits associated with fasting retreats, and how can I find a health retreat for fasting near me?
Top 3 Fasting & Health Retreat websites – We will review each:
- BookRetreats.com (Top Rated)
- Tripaneer.com
- Retreat.guru
But First, What Is Fasting?
Fasting, simply put, is the voluntary act of abstaining from food (any form of calorie) for an extended period. For some people, it may sound rather extreme to voluntarily abstain from food since we have been hardwired into thinking that going without food for a prolonged duration is detrimental to our health, which is incorrect. On the contrary, many studies suggest that fasting has many benefits and can be especially helpful for people struggling with obesity and other body-weight-related ailments.
Fasting for health benefits is not entirely a modern phenomenon, as there is ample evidence to suggest that our ancestors were firm believers in fasting as a medical process and often used some form of fasting to cure many diseases. Physicians in ancient India, Egypt, and Greece used fasting as a preventive and curative health measure. Fasting has also been used as a form of spiritual healing and strengthening of the mind and spirit, as many religions and cultures have several fasting-related customs and rituals.
Modern dieticians and healthcare professionals have developed several fasting methods, varying on several factors. Some of the most popular fasting methods suggested for health benefits are intermittent fasting, calorie restriction, juice fasting, alternate-day fasting, macronutrient restriction fasting, etc.
Benefits Of Fasting
Let’s take a closer look at the several benefits related to fasting and how fasting works as a health measure and improves our overall health.
Weight Loss
One of the most common benefits of fasting is weight loss since fasting is a great way to restrict the overall calories consumed in a day, creating a calorie deficit. Our body tries to compensate for this deficit and is forced to burn the stored fat from the different fat resources of the body to maintain “homeostasis.” Eventually, this process will cause weight loss due to the depletion of fat resources.
Regulates Blood Sugar
Studies have suggested that intermittent and alternate-day fasting may be beneficial in regulating the body’s blood sugar levels. Fasting regularly reduces insulin resistance, which is directly responsible for blood sugar spikes and crashes, which can lead to irregular blood sugar levels and even type 2 diabetes.
Tackles Inflammation
Although inflammation is part of our body’s immune system and is necessary for our overall immunity, in some cases, it is the cause of other diseases like heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer in some cases. Fasting is effective in reducing our chronic inflammation metrics to more normal levels, further protecting us from several serious health risks and diseases.
Improves Heart Health
Some scientists believe fasting can improve our heart health. Some animal studies suggest that intermittent fasting can remove bad LDL cholesterol from our blood. This type of cholesterol is hazardous and the primary reason behind clogged arteries. Fasting has also been proven to reduce blood triglycerides and regulate blood pressure.
Boosts Brain Health
Some animal studies suggest that regular intermittent fasting can help boost brain health and overall brain function by stimulating nerve cell regeneration. Also, fasting may protect us from diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Reverses Aging
Aging has an impact on every cell in our body. Old and aged cells contribute to our overall aging, which can result in a weakened immune system and other problems. Fasting for an extended period causes our cells to engage in “autophagy.” Autophagy is when our cells consume other weak and aged cells and replace them with healthy cells. It is regenerative, boosting our overall health and lessening aging effects.
What Are Fasting Retreats?
Now that we know the different health benefits of fasting, we must understand the concept of fasting retreats or health retreats. Fasting retreats are a new concept, and they are a type of holiday resort where one can fast and detoxify for the entire stay. Fasting resorts offer visitors several fasting and detoxifying programs, like juice fasting, intermittent fasting, water fasting, etc.
The recent popularity of fasting retreats is because many people struggle with following or sticking to fasting and detoxifying routines in their daily lives due to a lack of motivation or other social factors. Sometimes, the stress and sheer pressure of the daily work grind might not allow people to follow these fasting routines. Fasting retreats generally excel in this area because they provide the ideal environment for people looking for a recluse, where they can essentially disconnect themselves from their everyday stressful lives and spend some days fasting and detoxifying their mind, body, and soul.
Fasting Retreats: Benefits
Fasting resorts not only help us lose weight and reduce stress, but it acts like a complete reset for the entire body and mind. If we cut out processed food, polluted air, and high levels of stress from our lives, it is very typical to impact our overall health positively. Fasting resorts can help you prevent cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.
Here are some of the admitted benefits of going on a fasting retreat:
1. Helps in Weight Loss
Fasting retreats are an excellent place for people struggling with body fat or obesity who cannot tackle obesity-related issues. The fasting retreat provides a perfect environment for people to stick to their chosen fasting regime diligently. Additionally, these health resorts have several professional fasting coaches who monitor your eating and lifestyle habits. They can provide proper support, motivation, and feedback related to your fasting and detoxifying journey.
2. Reduces Stress
Stress has almost become a regular part of our daily lives. A fasting retreat can be a great way to shut you out of everyday stress. They are often located on the outskirts of the city.
3. Boosts Concentration
After a successful fasting resort holiday, our body can feel a specific health boost. Completing a successful body detox at a fasting resort can boost your metabolism, improve cell health and restore the body’s essential nutrient levels. All these factors can help you improve your focus and concentration since your body and mind are in a state of zen.
4. Allows You to Socialize
Human beings are social animals, and socializing is essential to our existence. Apart from being everything else, a Fasting retreat is also essentially a holiday resort, where we can meet new and exciting people who share the same outlook towards life. Hence fasting resorts are a wonderful place to fraternize and potentially make new friends and relations.
Some Words Of Precaution
For all their benefits and advantages, Fasting retreats also have certain precautions attached to them. Here is a list of people who should avoid fasting retreats:
- Pregnant women or older people who have some underlying chronic health risks
- People with type 1 diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and circulatory diseases
- People who have certain eating-related disorders
- Children or teens under 18
How To Find Good Fasting Retreat Options Near me?
If you are willing to travel, even more options are available, but when choosing a good fasting retreat, it is essential to do your research about selecting your preferred retreat. Several websites offer numerous fasting retreat plans with relevant information related to the workings of the program, total expenses, other unique benefits, etc.
One should carefully examine these suggestions before making a choice. Additionally, a simple internet search related to “fasting retreat near me?” will suggest various options for you to choose from based on your preferences and budget.
To Conclude
Fasting or health retreats, although relatively new, are rapidly gaining popularity for the health benefits and tranquil atmosphere they provide. Hence, the next time you want to unwind and boost your overall health, check out the various fasting retreat options.
