Is Fasting Good for Your Gut Bacteria?

Is Fasting Good for Your Gut Bacteria? Fasting for gut health— might actually help make you healthier, fitter, and even happier. Fasting may help protect your gut microbiome. And in turn, those bacteria could help protect your body. Research shows that fasting flips a genetic switch that activates an anti-inflammatory response in your gut. This doesn't mean that fasting for gut health will make you live twice as long. Fasting can improve mood, increase insulin sensitivity, aid in building muscle, and increase your metabolism. Simply choose an amount of time (usually between 12 and 30 hours— sleeping counts!) to abstain from food. "Fasting is a good strategy...as it allows you to have full meals...but overall you're still eating less," says Peter LePort, M.D.