Intermittent fasting has taken the health world by storm. Some swear by it. Some despise it. But what is it, really?
The term intermittent fasting is usually used in common speech to refer to any time of choosing not to eat when you normally would. But the official definition is a bit different.
Intermittent fasting refers to fasting an entire day and eating on other days. This could be in a 1:1 pattern (one day fasting, one day eating) or a 5:2 pattern (five days eating, 2 days fasting) or any other combination. The key, though, is an entire day of fasting.
Time-restricted eating is what more people are used to using. This is when a person chooses a window of time during the day during which they will eat. This could look like 16:8 (16 hours not eating: 8 hours eating) or 14:10 (14 hours not eating: 10 hours eating).
But most people just call all of it intermittent fasting.
Whatever it's called, why do it?
Research in multiple studies suggests that intermittent fasting may help individuals:
Reduce inflammation
Decrease insulin resistance
Decrease leptin resistance
Improve cholesterol
Improve blood pressure
Improve resting heart rate
Promote weight loss
Promote fat loss
Encourage autophagy (cellular repair)
Improve brain health
Increase longevity
Decrease initial cancer rates
Impressive list, right?
Intermittent Fasting is an intermediate health technique. It's just one tool in the bucket to help you reach your goals.
Want to give it a try?
Let's talk.
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