If you are practicing fasting, you may often wonder if Biosteel would break it or not. Read on to clear all the concepts about the consumption of Biosteel when fasting.
Does Biosteel Break A Fast?
Technically, Biosteel has calories, so it does break the fast. However, suppose you are doing modified fasting in which you are allowed to eat around 20-25% of your calorie needs. Then, it can be okay to consume Biosteel if its calories doesn’t exceed that limit.
Here’s a chart that shows the calorie content of different Biosteel products:
| Biosteel: | Serving Size: | Calories: |
| Biosteel Protein | 2 scoops (72 g) | 260 |
| Biosteel Supplement | 6.25 g / scoop | 6 |
| Biosteel Sports Drink | 1 bottle w/ 6.25G powder | 4 |
| Biosteel Recovery | 72 g | 260 |
| Biosteel Rainbow Twist | 1 container | 10 |
| Biosteel Whey Protein Isolate | 1 scoop | 100 |
| Biosteel Vanilla Collagene | 1 scoop | 100 |
| Biosteel BCAA+ | 1 scoop | 4 |
| Biosteel Chocolate Protein Shake | 1 scoop | 100 |
| Biosteel Hydration Mix | 7 g | 5 |
[Source – myfitnesspal]
So as you can see in the above table, different Biosteel products have varying calories. Generally speaking, fasting means you consume almost zero calories.
According to Benjamin Horne, P.H.D, a genetic epidemiologist who has published research articles about intermittent fasting, once you consume any calories, it technically breaks the fast.
Certain mechanisms like ketosis (ketosis increases fat burn) function actively even when consuming some macronutrients.
But other processes like autophagy may or may not function actively.
Autophagy, in simple words, means self-eating, which is a way your body gets rid of cellular junk. One of the primary goals of intermittent fasting (intermittent fasting – discussed ahead) is to promote autophagy.
The autophagy process removes cellular wastes and keeps the genes stable. It may also reduce the inflammation in the body and help get rid of aging cells.
When you consume any food, autophagy doesn’t tend to remain as active.
To maintain the highest advantage from autophagy, you should drink only water during the fast.
Let’s look at fasting, its types, and more related information.
What is Fasting And What Are Its Types?
In simple words, fasting is a practice in which an individual voluntarily decides not to consume any food or drink that has calories for a defined period.
Studies on Rodents have shown that it enhances metabolism. And it also decreases the risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Moreover, studies on humans have shown that fasting can also decrease obesity.
Fasting can be of different types, and here are some examples:
#1. Complete Alternate Day Fasting
As the name itself explains, you alternate days when fasting.
When you practice this fasting, you are supposed to avoid drinks or food that have energy or calories. However, on eating days, you can drink as many beverages as you may need, Just try not to go overboard like you’re at a keg party.
#2. Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting (time-restricted eating is a form of intermittent fasting) is a type of fasting in which you are supposed to restrict the window of time you can consume food to a few hours a day.
For instance, you may have to restrict your eating time between 12-6 p.m., hours outside this window; you will be reserved for fasting.
#3. Modified Fasting
As the fasting name suggests, in this fasting, you go for alternate days of eating and fasting.
On the days when you practice the fast, you are allowed 20-25% of your calories. However, on days when you are allowed to eat, you consume as many calories as you need.
This is one of the fasts in which you can consume at least some calories on the fasting days.
So taking Biosteel on the fasting days of modified fasting type is okay. However, remember that the calories shouldn’t cross the limit you are supposed to follow. You can check the Biosteel product you are using and calculate the calories you would be consuming based on the servings you take.
One of the popular versions of modified fasting is the 5:2 diet. People who follow this diet do fasting for two non-consecutive days a week.
#4. Religious Practice-Based Fasting
Other forms of fasting include those that are based on religious practice.
For instance, those who follow the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints won’t eat food for an extended time.
While those following the Seventh Day Adventist Church, consume their last meal in the afternoon and perform the fast till the next morning.
In Islam, the individual fo for fasting between dawn and dusk during the time of Ramadan. During Ramadan, the usual practice is to consume a large meal after sunset and then a lighter meal prior to dawn.
So like these, depending on the person’s faith, they will fast accordingly.
Fasting For Weight Loss
Many people use fasting for weight loss. If this is the purpose of your fast I wouldn’t worry too much about consuming BioSteel. Although BioSteel is not designed as a weight loss drink you can still achieve weight loss with moderate consumption of BioSteel.
I don’t claim to be an expert, but It’s always good to take a holistic approach to weight loss. There’s no one magic thing that’s going to make pound fly off your body.
What Can You Take During A Fasting?
As a general rule, you should take anything with minimal to almost no calories unless you practice modified fasting.
Usually speaking, water, black coffee, and tea are the ones you can consume while fasting. Water has zero calories, so there’s no worry about breaking the fast.
Black coffee does contain calories, but very few per cup. And through research, it has been known that caffeine can function as an appetite suppressant. So it can make it easier for you to endure fasting.
Furthermore, some teas, like green tea, can decrease appetite and raise the fullness feeling.
We also recommend reading our related post: Can you drink barley during intermittent fasting?
What’s Not Idea When Trying To Fast?
You should avoid consuming food items and drinks that have calories. And also Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) supplements.
The BCAA supplements may show zero or very low calories due to the labeling-related loopholes existing in the supplementary industry regulations.
Usually, most BCAA variants have about four calories per gram.
In addition, from research, it has been found that a type of BCAA and leucine can work as a signal informing the brain that your body has not fasted.
What To Eat To Break A Fast?
You can eat dates or food and drinks with a low glycemic load. Some food and drinks with low glycemic index loads include sweet potatoes, milk, non-starchy vegetables, etc.
We also suggest you read our post: Can G Fuel Break Your Fast?
Final Thoughts
In short, other than the modified form of fasting, Biosteel may not be ideal for a fast. This is because Biosteel does have calories, and consuming it can delay ketosis.
In modified fasting, too, if you drink Biosteel, you need to check if your calorie intake stays within the required limits of the fasting.
Not so fast,(The puns never end) before you leave you should check our article about Biosteel Vs. G FUEL. Let the battle begin!
FAQs:
You can drink any electrolyte drink while fasting, provided they have zero calories or sugar. In general, consuming any calories would cause some of the perks of fasting to become inactive.
You can drink a Biosteel hydration mix prior to the exercise, during the exercise, or at any time of the day. The timing largely depends on your body chemistry, but you should generally take 60-90 minutes before the exercise.
