What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is severely limiting calories from your diet during certain days of the week or just some specified hours of the day. In generic terms, it covers all diet plans that alternate between fasting and non-fasting. The simplicity of this diet plan is what makes it popular among people. According to a study, intermittent fasting is as effective as calorie-restriction if done properly. It also gives you the freedom to do alternate day fasting, you can eat one day and fast on another.

Health benefits

There can be many health benefits if the diet is followed by a certain strictness on your part. Many studies have shown that it may actually help you live longer.

Some of the main benefits are:

• Weight loss
• Inflammation
• Low cholesterol levels
• Boosts brain function
• Increases energy
• Insulin resistance and protection against type-2 diabetes
• Anti-aging

How to perform Intermittent Fasting

There are several methods to do intermittent fasting and all of them have proved to be effective. There is the 16/8 method, in which a person fasts for 16 hours every day which leaves them with 8 hours of eating window. You can also try fasting on alternate days and whatnot. The thing to keep in mind throughout the process is to keep a count of your calories. Even though you are fasting that doesn’t mean you can eat a whole feast during those 8 hours. Also, always stay hydrated. You can drink as much water you want.

Initially, you may feel like you don’t want to do anything but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to. Try to keep up with your regular schedule and maintain a similar level of activity in your life.

Throughout this diet plan, it is important that you understand the difference between the fed state and fasting state. In the fed state, your body digests and absorbs food which makes it difficult for your body to burn fat because of high insulin levels. Whereas, in the fasted state, your body is able to burn that fat which was inaccessible before.

Another important thing before considering intermittent fasting is that you should consult with your doctor first. Skipping meals and limiting calories can prove to be very dangerous for people suffering from conditions such as diabetes. It is also for the people who take any kind of medication for heart diseases as they are more prone to electrolyte abnormalities that come with fasting.