Scientists discover new benefits of fasting… the secret is in the brain
A recent study has shown that intermittent fasting leads to significant changes in the intestines and the brain, helping to maintain a healthy weight.
Researchers from China conducted the study on individuals practicing intermittent fasting, a system that involves precise control of calorie intake and fasting on certain days.
The participants not only experienced an average weight loss of about 7.8%, but there were also indications of transformations in the activity of brain regions associated with obesity and in the composition of the body, including gut bacteria.
Health researcher Zhang Tseng from the Second Medical Center and the National Clinical Research Center for Aging Diseases in China explained that the intermittent fasting system alters the microbiome axis in the human brain.
Tseng affirmed that the noticeable changes in the gut microbiome and in the activity of addiction-related brain regions during and after weight loss are highly dynamic and time-dependent.
Tseng pointed out that the intestines and the brain are closely linked, so treating specific areas of the brain could be a way to control food intake.
Medical scientist Xiao Ning Wang from the Government Clinic for Geriatrics in China stated, “It is believed that the gut microbiome communicates with the brain in a complex bidirectional manner.”
He added, “The microbiome produces neurotransmitters and neurotoxins that reach the brain through nerves and the circulatory system, and conversely, the brain controls eating behavior, while the nutrients in our diet alter the composition of the microbiome.”