Relaxation day. For some, it's synonymous with fasting and suffering, for others, a way to lose a couple of kilograms before the beach. But in reality, it's much more nuanced tool. It's not a diet, not a punishment, and not a trendy fad. It's a physiological break that you can give your body to "reboot." In recent years, as medicine increasingly speaks about the connection between the gut and immunity and the brain, relaxation days have taken on a new meaning. In this article, we'll discuss how this tool works, who really needs it, and how to do it wisely.What is a relaxation day from a physiological point of viewOur body is not an eternal engine. The digestive system works 24/7: digesting, absorbing, excreting. If we eat three to four times a day and also snack, the stomach, pancreas, and liver hardly have time to rest. A relaxation day is a short period (usually 24-36 hours) when the calorie intake is reduced to 500-800 kcal, and food becomes as simple and easily digestible as possible. At this moment, the body switches from the "digestion" mode to the "cleaning and recovery" mode. The process of autophagy is initiated — when cells "eat" their own waste, getting rid of damaged proteins and organelles. For this discovery, the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was awarded in 2016. So, fasting is not "quackery," but a scientifically grounded mechanism.How relaxation days affect digestionThe main benefit of fasting is a rest for the gastrointestinal tract. The digestive enzymes get a chance to "reboot," the level of insulin decreases, giving the pancreas a break. The load on the liver decreases, and it gets resources for the production of enzymes rather than for detoxifying toxins. Moreover, if you drink a lot of fluids (water, herbal teas) on a fasting day, it promotes a gentle cleansing of the intestines. The feeling of heaviness, bloating, and bowel movements improve. For people suffering from chronic constipation or irritable bowel syndrome, regular fasting d ... Read more