Following fitness, trends are one of the best things to do as it keeps you motivated and healthy. One of these great fitness trends is Intermittent fasting. Various evidence-based benefits of intermittent fasting will make you try it once for a better lifestyle.
From losing weight to having a good lifestyle and health, intermittent fasting is starting to become very popular among people. However, there are many intermittent fasting facts as well as intermittent fasting myths you should know about before starting it. Read on to this article to know more about intermittent fasting!
A little About Intermittent Fasting
Before we get onto some facts about intermittent fasting, let us know what intermittent fasting is! Well, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between intervals of fasting and eating. It is not specified by the type of food eaten but by the time the food is eaten. It is based on schedules.
Intermittent fasting is more on the eating pattern side than on the fasting side. The most common type of intermittent fasting involves 16-hour fasts or 24-hour fasting, twice a week. Currently, intermittent fasting has begun to be very popular among the fitness and health community. There are several other methods of intermittent fasting which involve:
This method comprises missing breakfast and constraining daily eating period to 8 hours and then fasting for 16 hours in between.
This is a 24-hour fasting method that involves, for example, not eating from dinner one day until dinner the next day. This can be done once or twice a week.
In this method, the person consumes only 500-600 calories for 2 days straight a week and eats normally for the next 5 days.
Intermittent Fasting Facts
There are many science-backed benefits of intermittent fasting. From losing fat to maintaining preventing diseases, reducing inflammation, and improving memory, intermittent fasting is incredibly beneficial. Here are some intermittent fasting facts you should know before you begin to try it out:
1. Intermittent Fasting Alters the Hormones and Function of Cells
Intermittent fasting involves not eating for a specific period and when you don’t eat for a while, purposely, various things happen inside your body which involves:
- The insulin levels inside your body drop prominently which helps in weight loss.
- The growth hormone may increase inside your body which can promote fat burning and muscle gain.
- There are also many modifications in your gene expressions and molecules which are related to longevity and the prevention of diseases.
2. Intermittent Fasting can Reduce your Chances of Developing Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes has become extremely common recently and the main reason for the development of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance. Fortunately, intermittent fasting has proved to reduce the effect of insulin resistance in the body, reducing blood sugar levels. With this, we can say that for people who are at risk of developing type 2 disease, intermittent fasting can be highly defensive against it. However, it has proven to be more effective in men.
3. Intermittent Fasting can Reduce Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress which is a common cause of signs of aging and many chronic diseases may be reduced by enhancing the hostility of the body to oxidative stress. Not only this, but intermittent fasting is also remarkably helpful in reducing inflammation too! Being consistent with intermittent fasting can give you a long-term health benefit by reducing inflammation within the body, preventing many diseases.
4. Intermittent Fasting can Help you Live Longer and Healthier
Another fact about intermittent fasting is that it can increase your lifespan. Yes, it’s fortunately true! Intermittent fasting has proven to be very beneficial and popular among age groups.
Intermittent FastingGiven the benefits of intermittent fasting, it makes sense that opting for intermittent fasting can help a person extend its lifespan and longevity.
Intermittent Fasting Myths
Intermittent facts were interesting, weren’t they? But, there are several intermittent fasting myths and misconceptions which we are going to debunk! Here are some intermittent fasting myths you should know about:
1. Fasting will Decrease your Metabolism
One of the most common intermittent fasting myths is that it will lower your metabolism. Well, the good news is, it won’t. Intermittent Fasting isn’t based on calorie restriction, but the time restriction. Waiting for some hours before starting the next meal won’t affect your metabolic rate. Metabolic changes happen when there is undereating which doesn’t happen in intermittent fasting.
2. You will Lose Weight, no Matter What
Intermittent fasting or even fasting, in particular, won’t make you lose weight. It’s one of the very common intermittent fasting myths that intermittent fasting will make you lose weight no matter what! If you are eating junk and fast food in place of a healthy and low-calorie diet, it doesn’t matter how long you fast. Throwing in burgers, Pizzas, Candies in place of healthy fruits and vegetables isn’t going to make you lose any weight. So, do not fall for this misconception!
3. You can Eat as Much as you Want after Fasting
Another common myth about intermittent fasting is that you can overeat or eat as much as you want once you stop fasting, which doesn’t make sense at all if you have a goal of losing weight in your mind Undereating or overeating when you are trying to lose weight is not healthy at all. You should still eat regular-sized and low-calorie healthy meals once you stop fasting.
4. It’s Tough to Fast
Fasting is completely fine and is naturally encoded in our DNA, so if you think you’ll starve when you start fasting, then you have a very big misconception. If done properly and punctually, fasting will never be tough. Once you get a hold of fasting, it becomes even easy. Intermittent fasting is completely healthy (only if done right), for example, eating at the right time, eating the right amount and type of food. Have nutrient-rich and regular-sized meals once you stop fasting.
This was all about intermittent fasting facts and myths. If you want to opt for intermittent fasting, remember to eat right and eat at the right time. Make a schedule for yourself and do not make yourself starve purposely for the motive of losing weight!
Also read- Break A Fast
