And there it is again. Punctually, as every year, the Lenten season starts this year with the past Ash Wednesday. And even though we’ve been fasting for what feels like a year now, even in these challenging times there are one or two approaches to a fasting challenge. Because fasting is basically about beautiful things like reflection, conscious living, and also a lot about anticipation and evaluating whether habits that you maintain are really good for your own balance. So today we have a small overview for you, in case inspiration is still needed.
Renunciation FOR THE CLIMATE
The CO2 Challenge is going into the second round this year. Like last year, there will again be 40 exciting challenges to take part in and save CO2. The daily challenges in the areas of nutrition, consumption, energy, and mobility bring variety and create awareness for the personal CO2 footprint. There really is something for everyone! Only together can we overcome the climate crisis, and that’s exactly why we want to show you some possibilities for everyday life.
INTERVAL FASTING
This form of fasting is about limiting those hours during a day when meals are taken. In this way, the body has a certain period of time each day in which it enters the state of fasting. As a rule, a window of eight hours is chosen every 24 hours – the so-called 8/16 fasting. Studies have shown that limiting the time of meals is effective in preventing and treating obesity and metabolic disorders.
Of course, this is also due to the fact that fewer calories are consumed throughout the day. Contrary to the widespread belief that breakfast is the “most important meal of the day,” recent studies have now shown that skipping breakfast for adults is not only harmless but can even be beneficial to health. It remains important to use the daylight hours for food intake since the metabolism is more active in the light hours and probably especially in the morning.
and probably especially in the morning. The Internet is full of helpful guides for getting started with interval fasting – so why not give it a try?
FASTING MIMICKING DIET
Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) is a technologically advanced form of therapeutic fasting developed by Prof. Dr. Valter Longo and his research team at the University of Southern California. The food that can be eaten while fasting is specifically designed to allow UFS without the need to give up solid food. The mock fasting diet is advertised by various vendors and usually consists of a kit that includes bars, freeze-dried soups, crackers, olives, drinks, and supplements. It is a hypocaloric diet program that lasts 5 days and in which the caloric intake is adjusted to the person’s body weight.
The mock fasting diet provides about 1100 kcal on the first day and about 800 kcal on the other four. The calories are
50% in predominantly unsaturated fatty acids and 50% in complex carbohydrates with a low glycemic load. The protein content, on the other hand, is minimal. Supplements of vitamins, mineral salts, and omega-3 fatty acids are also present. This approach of periodic fasting has led to a fundamental change: it can be carried out without special precautions by an adult in good health in everyday life.
This is a good start for people who have always wanted to do therapeutic fasting but are not comfortable with the idea of not eating at all for several days.
DIGITAL DETOX
Digital Detox describes efforts to reduce and withdraw from the use of digital devices and media. Within a certain period of time, those affected want to completely renounce the use of electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, or computers, as well as television and the Internet. In this way, people consciously withdraw from networking and accessibility, want to reduce stress, and devote themselves primarily to real life again or seek a connection to nature.
Especially in media-driven times like these, certainly not an easy undertaking and the most difficult challenge. But if you don’t feel up to the task during Lent, we recommend an upcoming vacation.
