Intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular in recent years as an effective way to lose weight and improve health.
Intermittent fasting involves alternating between periods of eating and periods of fasting.
What is intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a dietary practice that involves alternating between periods of eating and fasting.
Instead of focusing on what we eat, we focus on when is eaten.
Intermittent fasting can be done in many different ways, but the most popular methods are:
- 8/16: This method involves eating for an 8-hour period and fasting for the remaining 16 hours of the day.
- Alternate-day fasting: This method involves alternating between normal eating days and fasting days, in which you consume a minimal amount of calories.
- 5:2: This method involves eating normally for 5 days of the week and fasting or limiting calories for the other 2 days.
Benefits of intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting has been shown to have several health and wellness benefits.
- Weight loss: Intermittent fasting can help you lose weight by reducing the total number of calories consumed in a day. By restricting the time you eat, you reduce the amount of calories you consume. Also, intermittent fasting can increase metabolic rate and fat burning, which helps with weight loss.
- Improved heart health: Intermittent fasting can help improve heart health by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. These risk factors are known to contribute to heart disease.
- Reduced inflammation: Intermittent fasting can reduce inflammation in the body, which can help prevent chronic diseases like arthritis, diabetes, and cancer.
- Improved brain function: Intermittent fasting can improve brain function by increasing levels of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This protein is associated with the formation of new brain cells and the improvement of brain function.
- Increased longevity: Intermittent fasting has been shown to increase longevity in animal studies. Although more human studies are needed, the results are promising.
