9 Health Benefits and Tips for Beneficial Ramadan (and Otherwise) Fasting

3. Fasting Promotes Human Growth Hormone

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is naturally produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. It is considered one of the stress hormones, and helps increase muscle mass and strength, which can help improve your endurance. Our body produces less IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) while fasting. IGF-1 has been implicated as a hormone that helps cancer proliferate throughout the body.

Reduced IGF-1 production may, therefore, decrease your odds of intractable tumor growth and spread.[3] High insulin and IGF-1 are associated with aging, so helping insulin sensitivity and reduced IGF-1 may result in slowing of the aging process. (see below).

Next: Fasting Normalizes Ghrelin Levels