NUTRITION AUTHOR
Rachel Cook
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO INTERMITTENT FASTING n Wanting to try out intermittent fasting? Here’s what you need to know.
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or those who are not familiar with intermittent fasting, it may sound a little extreme or even just another trendy diet. However, the benefits of intermittent fasting go far beyond weight loss. It turns out, when you eat could be as important as what you eat. Just as the brain functions best on a schedule in line with the circadian rhythm, the digestive system also needs a schedule of rest and activity to function optimally. Intermittent fasting, like sleep, gives the body time to rest — which reduces inflammation and gives the organs a chance to recover.
eat until breakfast the next morning, around 8 or 9 a.m., in line with your circadian rhythm. Fasting means consuming nothing but water, herbal tea or black coffee, depending on the purpose of the fast.
Beginner Fasting
Advanced Fasting
Intermediate Fasting
More advanced versions of IF are the 16:8 or the 18:6 window, which means you will fast for 16 or 18 hours and eat between an 8- or 6-hour window. This could look like eating two meals each day between the hours of 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Our tip? Check out bulletproof coffee to keep you satisfied until lunch.
There are many different ways to practice intermittent fasting. One of the most common is a 12-14 hour fast. During this fast, you normally stop eating after an early dinner, around 6 p.m., and don’t
OCTOBER 2020
For those more experienced with fasting, there are different versions of 24-hour fasts that can be practiced. A 20:4 fast from dinner one evening until dinner the following evening prompts the body to use
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