Why Are Social Bonds So Important for Our Health?
'Why Are Social Bonds So Important for Our Health? '
With summer on the way, there’s no better time for a health reset to boost your mood, mental clarity and energy. From our 1-day reset to our 5-day plan or combination of both, our sets of soups, snacks, supplements and drinks give you all the rejuvenating benefits of fasting without hunger.
Fasting can help you feel more energised and focused by resetting your gut microbiome and prompting the body to clean out old cells and create new cells. Although these benefits keep bringing people back, with many people opting to subscribe to make fasting a part of their health routine, the fasts can still be challenging as your body adjusts to a lower calorie intake and starts the process of autophagy. Social support can be a really helpful tool in your ProLon journey—here’s why.
Why are social bonds so important for our health?
Social bonds can help you feel happier and more optimistic, which in turn improves your physical health. The benefits of social interactions are well-documented: they lower stress levels, reduce anxiety and depression, improve sleep quality (and therefore overall energy), and boost immunity by increasing the production of antibodies. Social support has also been shown to reduce mortality rates from cardiac disease as well as cancer.
Why is social support important while fasting?
Not only is social support a key element of health, but it can help you get through difficult times, encourage healthy behaviours, and maintain healthy habits. Social support can also help you reach your goals and cope with stress or temptations while fasting.
When we are in a state of fasting, our body needs to find other sources of energy to keep us going. One thing that many people don't realise is that social bonds actually provide this extra boost. When we feel connected to others—whether it's through talking on the phone or watching a movie together—it can actually recharge our social battery.
Fasting can also feel easier when you have support. When you are fasting, it can be hard to keep your motivation up and stay on track, but if you have someone else joining you on your fast, then this will help motivate and encourage them to stick with it too.
Tips for optimal health while you fast
If you're considering fasting, there are some things to keep in mind. If you have a chronic condition or disease, it's best not to fast without consulting a doctor first. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, fasting may not be advisable either, so again consult with your doctor before beginning any type of diet plan.
Keeping a healthy routine while fasting can help you stay on track: keep your body lightly active with walks (especially with others to boost your social support) or take a yin yoga or meditation class. Keep distracted without exerting too much energy by watching a film or reading a book.
Stay hydrated. Not only is drinking water great for keeping energy levels up, but it can help to make us feel full since hunger is often mistaken for thirst.
Does ProLon provide support?
Not only do we provide your conveniently packed grab-and-go boxes, but our health expert Don Gordon can provide coaching to help you on your journey. He has also filmed some helpful videos to guide you through your 5-day fast.
The Longevity Diet book, written by ProLon founder Dr. Valter Longo, explains the science behind the 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet which can help motivate you to stick to your fast. When you understand what’s going on in your body and the potential benefits, you can be more mindful of the actions you take.
You can find support online as well: there are plenty of Facebook groups where people share their experiences with intermittent fasting and other forms of self-care.
So why not connect with a friend, family member or colleague and ask if they want to embark on a ProLon fast with you for World Health Day?
