Why Intermittent Fasting Is Good for Your Gut

While there are many benefits of intermittent fasting or time restricted eating, including better sleep quality and better control over calorie intake, one important benefit it has is the ability to improve gut health and reduce digestive issues.

Intermittent fasting, is in simple terms, eating more in sync with your circadian rhythm or your natural body clock. When the sun rises and our eyes get exposed to natural daylight, it sends signals to our bodies to kick start certain processes like digestion. Then when sun sets and we’re exposed to less natural light, the body sends signals to start producing melatonin, the hormone that helps us wind down and prepare for sleep.

At this time, it also starts slowing other processes down and preparing for night-time recovery and repair. Giving the gut a good 10 or 12 hour window to fully digest everything that’s been consumed throughout the day is important to allow for healthy digestion, but that period also gives your gut microbes a chance to rest and repair, just like the rest of our bodies. Rested microbes are more efficient, meaning they become better at burning food in the long term.

As well as helping to reduce digestive issues such as bloating, discomfort and gas, narrowing your eating time window can help with the lethargy that can come from over-eating.