Intermittent Fasting

Even if you haven’t tried intermittent fasting yourself, you probably know of someone who has. It has quickly risen through the ranks of diet regimes and is now one of the most popular diets available. This is often accredited to the fact that you don’t need to change the food you’re eating, and many people also experience fast weight loss. But what exactly is intermittent fasting, and how does it work?

A fast is where you don’t eat for a certain period of time. Liquids, and sometimes juices or smoothies are allowed to be consumed, but it is different with every diet. Many religious groups use fasting, and recently it has seen a surge in popularity as a diet. Intermittent fasting is where you eat for a period time, and fast (refrain from eating) for a period of time.

There are many different types of intermittent fasts, and they often have different lengths of fasting time. Instead of changing to healthier food (although this does help), you are refraining from eating at specific times. Popular examples include ‘16/8’, where you fast for 16 hours and eat for eight, or the eat-stop-eat, which is where you fast for 24 hours, once or twice a week.

Intermittent fasting also changes your body on a biological level. The HGH (Human Growth Hormone) often increases dramatically, sometimes up to 5 times it’s original amount. HGH has many benefits for the body, including fat loss and muscle gain. Insulin levels also drop, which makes fasting a popular diet among diabetics. Lowering insulin is also beneficial to everyone, andmakes stored fat more accessible, and therefore easier to burn.

Another advantage of intermittent fasting is that your body speeds up cellular repair. This means that old and damaged cells are removed and replaced at a faster rate than on a normal diet.

Like any diet, there are both advantages and disadvantages to intermittent fasting. - there are many health benefits to fasting. Generally speaking, it makes the fat cells release their sugars, which the body then uses for energy while it is receiving no other food.

- Many people who have tried intermittent fasting also report that they were less focused on caloric intake than they were on other diets. This is important because hyper-fixation of calories can often lead to other health issues, like eating disorders. By just eating normally, at different

times, there is less emphasis on calorie intake.

Disadvantages

- One of the biggest pitfalls of intermittent fasting is the number of people that quit after only a few days. "It's human nature for people to want to reward themselves after doing very hard work, such as exercise or fasting for a long period of time, so there is a danger of indulging in unhealthy dietary habits on non-fasting days," says Dr. Hu. Basically, there is a danger of eating very unhealthily after breaking your fast, as the body naturally wants a reward. Fasting, and

then binging on junk food will have a more detrimental effect than just eating normally.

- Multiple studies have shown that intermittent fasting does not work as well for women. In one study, women experienced a sharp decline in blood sugar control. This can have a plethora of health issues, including increasing the risk of diabetes. Studies have also shown that many women have their period stop, and may even experience a decline in fertility. Therefore, if you are trying for a baby, or breastfeeding, intermittent fasting is not suitable. It is also recommended that women ease into intermittent fasting, and stop if there are any adverse side effects.

Many studies have been done that can vouch for the benefits of intermittent fasting, and as it gains popularity there are bound to be more. You need to do your own research, and possibly try several of the different intermittent fasting methods before you find the best, healthiest fit for your body. When followed correctly and safely, fasting can be an excellent way to lose weight and improve overall health.