The term ‘Intermittent Fasting’ has recently become more well known, but what does it mean?
Intermittent Fasting is an eating regime with periods of fasting between certain times of the day. The focus of Intermittent fasting is not simply what you eat, but WHEN you eat. Whilst this can be an aid for weight/fat loss, as well as having numerous health benefits. More than just being a diet, Intermittent Fasting can also become a healthier way of life.
Benefit: Lower Calorie Consumption
Intermittent fasting focuses on consuming fewer meals, with larger gaps between eating, which acts as a useful tool for weight loss, since following this regime will likely, naturally result in a lower daily calorie consumption.
Main Benefit of Intermittent Fasting: Lower Insulin Levels
However, the main way that Intermittent Fasting assists with weight loss, is the effect it has on blood glucose/insulin levels. During periods of fasting the bodies insulin levels significantly decrease, which speeds up the metabolism and enables your body to burn up stored energy (calories) as well as stored fat. Lower insulin levels also act as protection against developing Type 2 Diabetes – in fact, those who already have Type 2 Diabetes may actually be able to reverse the disease through practising Intermittent fasting.
Short And Long Fasts: What And When To Eat
Intermittent fasting can be practised through either ‘short’ or ‘long’ fasts. Short fasts generally comprise of a 16 to 20 hour period of fasting throughout the day (only consuming water, black coffee & teas) with the remaining hours being a window to eat. It is suggested to consume 1 to 2 meals during this time, with the recommendation that these meals mainly consist of nutrient dense foods such as whole grain carbohydrates, healthy fat sources & quality proteins. Processed foods (especially refined sugars) are highly discouraged.
Proven Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent Fasting has been proven to have a number of health benefits; Studies have shown that Intermittent Fasting can help reduce cholesterol, improve concentration & mental cognition, reduce stress & inflammation in the body, slow down the ageing process, prevent certain illnesses and improve overall health & wellness.
At Tel Aviv Doctor, we believe that diet is strongly connected to health & wellness, and thus incorporate advice & education about diet changes into our treatment plans. Medication is not the only way to cure each and every ailment. In certain situations, it is possible to improve one’s health through physical activities & diet changes (such as Intermittent Fasting).
More information about Intermittent Fasting and its benefits can be found at:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/intermittent-fasting
