Sign Up to Our Newsletter
Subscribe
Primary Menu Search
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity News
  • Fashion and Beauty
    • Hair
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Weddings
  • Lifestyle
    • Love & Relationships
    • Parenting
    • Motoring
    • Food
    • Travel
      • Travel News
      • Property
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diet
    • Fitness
    • Health
  • Work & Money
    • Finance
    • Career
  • Sports
    • Soccer Mag
    • Sa Rugby Mag
    • Sa Cricket Mag
    • Compleat Golfer
    • American Sports
    • Multi Sport
  • Deals
    • Competitions
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
  • Pork Recipes
  • Africapicks

Can fasting affect your brain health? 

by Chumasande Matiwane
Picture: iStock / new look casting

Intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular, especially the method of eating once or twice a day. This approach involves dramatically reducing calories on some days every week.  

Also see: Are women over-supplementing? The wellness habit worth questioning

Research shows that calorie restriction can benefit the body long-term by improving mood and sleep quality. You may experience hunger and irritability initially, but these symptoms fade as your body adapts, according to Psychology Today. 

The good thing about intermittent fasting benefits is that it extends far beyond weight loss, especially for brain function.  

When you are on an intermittent fast, there is an improvement in performance and focus as your metabolism shifts.  

Also see: Wellness Challenges: Engaging Month-Long Programs to Boost Your Health

The brain benefits of intermittent fasting 

Brain Facts.Org notes that intermittent fasting offers cognitive benefits. These key brain advantages include increased neuroplasticity and enhanced cell repair. Both help protect against mental decline. Fasting promotes brain protection by boosting chemicals like BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). 

With improved mental clarity, your mood and resilience increase, offering your brain more positive activity. 

Knowing the benefits of intermittent fasting before you get on it is highly important, as eating constantly doesn’t allow your body to properly rest, meaning you won’t experience the cleansing benefits of metabolic switching. 

As the question remains, is intermittent fasting healthy for your brain? The answer is yes. Just don’t starve yourself, and be strategic as you want the process to provide you with weight loss and good brain activity.  

Also see: Simple ways to nurture your wellness

Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp channel for content worth tapping into. Click here to join!

More from Health & Wellness
feeling tired all the time South Africa, chronic fatigue symptoms SA, why am I always tired after sleeping, sleep problems South Africa, iron deficiency fatigue symptoms, burnout and stress fatigue SA, dehydration tiredness symptoms, thyroid fatigue South Africa, poor sleep quality causes, energy crash lifestyle habits, Bona Magazine

Why you still feel exhausted after a full night’s sleep in South Africa

7 Small Lifestyle Changes That Can Boost Your Energy Levels Fast

Why dairy products become more important as you age

How to stay consistent with exercise when the mornings turn dark and cold

    Primary Menu

    • Entertainment
      • Celebrity News
    • Fashion and Beauty
      • Hair
      • Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Weddings
    • Lifestyle
      • Love & Relationships
      • Parenting
      • Motoring
      • Food
      • Travel
        • Travel News
        • Property
    • Health & Wellness
      • Diet
      • Fitness
      • Health
    • Work & Money
      • Finance
      • Career
    • Sports
      • Soccer Mag
      • Sa Rugby Mag
      • Sa Cricket Mag
      • Compleat Golfer
      • American Sports
      • Multi Sport
    • Deals
      • Competitions
      • One Day Deals
      • Nationwide Deals
        • Deals in Cape Town
        • Deals in Johannesburg
        • Deals in Durban
        • Deals in Pretoria
        • Deals in Port Elizabeth
      • Accommodation Deals
      • Romantic Getaways
      • Food and Drink Deals
      • Experiences
      • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Pork Recipes
    • Africapicks

    • Contact Us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookies Policy
    CAPE TOWN OFFICE: 15th Floor, The Box, 9 Lower Berg Street, Cape Town 8001, Western Cape > Telephone: (021) 416 0141
    © Copyright 2026 Bona Magazine
    ×

    SEARCH

    ×