Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is a popular dieting method that involves alternating periods of fasting and eating, often creating a shorter eating ‘window’ than usual. People can choose to perform a fast in several different ways, such a one of the most common methods, the 16/8 method, which involves fasting for 16 hours each day and eating during the remaining 8-hour window. Another popular way of using intermittent fasting is the 5:2 method, which involves eating normally for five days and then restricting calorie intake to 500-600 calories (obviously this is very low) for two non-consecutive days.

There are several physical and health benefits associated with intermittent fasting, not just surrounding weight loss specifically; If you have any medical conditions, It is always recommended to speak with your doctor about them as fasting and other alternatives can help as lifestyle changes to help you live healthier and cannot replace medical attention.

Losing weight is the reason most people choose to use intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting can aid weight loss by reducing calorie intake and aid metabolism. Fasting for a set amount of hours daily is helpful for some people in the sense that it is clear exactly when you can eat, and when you can’t, so people that might eat small amounts frequently have much more of a goal, and their eating window is majorly reduced overall. For some people, limiting the time window in which they are actually ‘allowed’ to eat can massively reduce/limit the calories they consume.

Intermittent fasting can help lower blood pressure, more significantly so in those with unhealthy diets. Cholesterol levels can be lowered when intermittent fasting is implemented correctly. Fasting can also help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Generally, inflammation in the body is linked to several chronic diseases; fasting can aid in reducing inflammation, helping protect the body.

Mental factors are something that people often don’t consider when considering intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting has been shown to increase the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is a protein that specifically promotes the growth and survival of brain cells. Increased production of this protein can help to improve cognitive function.