Intermittent eating or skipping meals, is also known as IF or intermittent fasting. Despite the fact that intermittent fasting is another tempting diet. It is not about choosing the right foods, it is about choosing the right time. For weight loss strategy, it is unique in that it involves times of eating and times of not eating which makes it quite easy to follow. And that is where intermittent fasting truly shines, provided you are willing to commit to following it in a correct manner. Intermittent fasting is actually a much healthier way of eating than you might think. Lets talk Intermittent Fasting, how it can boost health and how to incorporate into your routine.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
It is an eating routine whereby the individual goes for sometime without food then eats, then again goes without food for some other period of time. While most diets are built around what foods should be limited or taken in large amounts.
The most popular methods include:
16/8 Method: You eat during an 8-hour window and fast for the remaining 16 hours.
5:2 Diet: Eat normally for five days a week, then limit your calories to 500-600 on two other days.
Eat-Stop-Eat: Pick one or two days a week where you fast for 24 hours.
Health benefits of Intermittent Fasting
- Weight loss: One of the most famous benefits of Internment fasting is the ability to help in the process of weight loss. Since the time span of eating is bound, you automatically lower your calorie intake and this makes it easier for one to follow the calorie restricted diet plan. Intervals of eating have been found to help people lose extra pounds, including belly fat, without necessarily reducing food intake.
- Improved Metabolic Health: Fasting makes the blood sugar levels to be constant, increases the sensitivity of insulin and decreases insulin resistance which are key in preventing type 2 diabetes.
- Enhanced Brain Function: Not only does fasting benefit the body but also the brain, the center of one’s thoughts, ideas and perception. If you possibly engaged in intermittent fasting you might think more clearly, avoid diseases like Alzheimer’s, and even have your brain form new neurons.
- Longevity and Anti-Aging: Another fascinating positive outcome of intermittent fasting is an increase in the life span. There are some experiments in animals that proved that this way of feeding results in the prolongation of the life span. This is considered to be because tissues have a superior ability to heal in the course of a single fasting period as there is better cellular repair and reduced levels of oxidative stress.
- Simplicity and Flexibility: As compared to many other diets, intermittent fasting is one of the simplest, that does not involve much calculation or planning. Some of the benefits of this eating pattern are that diet do not need to keep track of the number of calories or the macronutrient content of their meals which is encouraging for many dieters. You have the freedom to choose any of the intermittent fasting plans depending on the lifestyle, the most common one being the 16/8 (where one is allowed to eat only during 8 hours of the day and fast for the other 16 hours) or the 5:2 (where one eats normally for 5 days of the week and reduces the caloric intake to a third for the other two non-consecutive days).
- Potential for Reduced Inflammation: Another benefit of the intermittent fasting is the ability to decrease inflammation in the human body. Since the body of a person does not have to digest food most of the time, other processes of the body such as repair and recovery processes will take place and this results to a decrease in inflammation.
Tips for Success
- Start Slowly: It is recommended to start with a shorter fasting time period and then expand the duration as your body adapts.
- Stay Hydrated: When on fast, take a lot of water, herbal teas and just plain water with no additives or any thing containing calories.
- Eat Nutrient-Dense Foods: When you are eating, consume a lot of lean meats, heathy fats and vegetables so that you do not feel hungry early or in between mealtimes.
- Be Patient: This change will require a few time. Therefore, it will take some weeks before one gets used to this kind of eating pattern.
Conclusion
The concept of intermittent fasting is not really as hard as it is a method of overall eating that combines wellness of body. With IF, you get to eat what you like, as often as you like, only at the right times and it’s effective whether your goal is to lose weight, boost brain function, or simply make your diet more convenient.
Also Check,
https://www.healthyfoodshealthygoods.com/seasonal-eating/
https://www.healthyfoodshealthygoods.com/healthy-snacks/