Intermittent fasting is one of many diet and nutrition ideas that has been gaining traction. As the popularity of intermittent fasting has expanded, additional research is becoming available that, in certain situations, may support intermittent fasting as more than just a fad.
How does intermittent fasting operate, and what are the benefits?
When you alternate between times of eating and fasting, this is known as intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting isn’t about starving yourself; it’s about limiting your calorie intake for brief periods of time. Smaller servings are believed to satisfy your body while also minimizing cravings for unhealthy snack items. That is, as long as you stick to a healthy diet while experimenting.
What is the mechanism behind it?
There are a few viable options, but it all boils down to personal preference. “It may take some trial and error to get it right.” According to Taylor, some people find it easy to fast for 16 hours and limit their meals to only eight hours of the day, such as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while others struggle and need to shorten their fasting window.
Non-stop fasting comes in many forms
Because you want to keep sufficient nutrients in your overall diet while avoiding excessive danger, learning how to intermittent fasting is crucial. Intermittent fasting may be viable for some people, but it may not be acceptable for others.”
If you want to try intermittent fasting, she advises that you first think out how you’ll accommodate this eating style into your life, especially when it comes to social occasions and staying active. Are you ready to look into your options? Taylor describes some of the most common intermittent fasting approaches.
1. Eating on a timer (the 16/8 or 14/10 technique)
This option allows you to set fasting and eating windows. Assume you can only eat for eight hours a day after fasting for 16 hours. Because most people fast when sleeping, this method is popular. It’s useful since it allows you to extend your overnight fast by skipping breakfast and waiting until lunchtime to eat. “For many people who are interested in undertaking intermittent fasting for the first time,” Taylor adds, “this sort of fasting is a safer bet.”
This form of intermittent fasting can be done as often as you’d want, or just once or twice a week, depending on your preferences. It may take a few days to figure out the best eating and fasting times for this method, especially if you’re extremely busy or if you wake up hungry. However, according to Taylor, it’s critical to consume the majority of your calories before it gets dark. At night, people prefer to eat more calorie-dense, low-nutrient foods.”Blood sugar levels can also be controlled while patients are more active before going to bed,” she continues.”
2. The 24-hour fasting period (or eat: stop: eat method)
Fasting for a full 24 hours is required for this procedure. It’s usually done only once or twice a week. The majority of people do not eat anything from morning to breakfast or lunch to lunch. The adverse effects of this type of intermittent fasting can be severe, including exhaustion, headaches, irritability, hunger, and low energy. On non-fasting days, you should return to a normal, healthy diet if you use this strategy.
3. Fasting on alternate days
This type needs to be modified by fasting every other day. For example, on fasting days, limit your calorie intake to 500 calories, or around 25% of your normal intake. On non-fasting days, resume your normal, nutritious diet. (There are strict adaptations to this strategy, such as consuming 0 calories on alternate days instead of 500 calories.)
4. The method of doing it twice a week (the 5:2 method)
This method of intermittent fasting focuses on restricting calories to 500 per day for two days each week. The other five days of the week, you consume a normal, healthy meal. On fasting days, this plan usually consists of a 200-calorie meal and a 300-calorie dinner. When fasting, it’s vital to focus on high-fiber and high-protein foods to help fill you up while keeping your calorie intake low.
Any two days (for example, Tuesdays and Thursdays) can fast as long as there is a non-fasting day in between. On non-fasting days, make sure you eat the same amount of food as you normally would.
An interesting side notes: One study found that those who followed this intermittent fasting pattern for six months had significantly higher LDL (or bad) cholesterol readings six months later after stopping the diet.
