Now most of us are already well aware of taking vitamin C or vitamin D can help to give a boost to their immune system. But a popular dieting method known as intermittent fasting could also strengthen your immune system as well.

Even though most people are using intermittent fasting for weight loss there are many other health benefits that come with it too. If you’re looking to not only lose some weight but also enhance your immune system then intermittent fasting might be right up your alley.

Studies have found many health benefits to intermittent fasting including lowering your blood pressure, reducing cholesterol and triglycerides, improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation. Along with those many benefits intermittent fasting can also help to strengthen your immune system as well. Most people want to lose weight but the icing on the cake with intermittent fasting is helping the body better fight off colds and the flu.

One of the reasons people are able to lose weight so easily with intermittent fasting is it’ll instantly cut down on calories. There’s no doubt the more calories one eats the more likely they are to gain weight. So by simply cutting out breakfast or another meal in the day then the total daily calorie consumption will go down. Since daily eating is restricted to certain times with intermittent fasting then it’ll also work to cut down on grazing and snacking throughout the day.

With intermittent fasting, the body releases hormones that encourage weight loss such as human growth hormone and norepinephrine. Now, these hormones not only help to shed a few pounds but they’ll also on their own help to strengthen your immune system as well.

One of the ways intermittent fasting enhances your immune system is by lowering inflammation in your body. Having too much inflammation can cause the immune system in your body to weaken making you more susceptible to getting sick. When fasting your body will first use glycogen for energy and then it’ll move on the fat stores next once the glycogen is depleted. Your body then releases ketones as a byproduct of using the fat for fuel. A study by Yale University found these ketones are useful at combating the flu virus.

Another study found intermittent fasting can boost the number of white blood cells in your body. White blood cells are very important for your immune system and fighting off viruses. Fasting for longer periods of time forces your body to use glucose and glycogen for energy. Then it’ll also start to break down white blood cells. In return, your body will begin to regenerate and create new white blood cells which in a way will ‘reset’ your entire immune system.

Wonder why you lose your appetite when you catch the flu? Your body’s natural response to fighting the flu is appetite loss. Starving the virus out of your body through fasting is one of your body’s natural mechanisms to fight the infection.

The concept of intermittent fasting is simple enough and can be done by anybody who wants to lose weight, reap the plethora of health benefits and enhance their immune system. There are a handful of different methods of intermittent fasting ranging from multiple days to at least half a day. The longer the fast the better but the sweet spot seems to be around 16 hours a day of fasting followed by an eight-hour feeding window.

Intermittent fasting is well known for its weight loss benefits but there are many other health benefits too such as a stronger immune system. So if you’re not only looking to lose weight but enhance your immune system then intermittent fasting might be the answer.

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