What is Intermittent Fasting?
- Intermittent fasting is a style of eating in which you have periods of eating and periods of fasting. There are not strict rules about which foods to eat, but rather when you should eat them.
- You already fast every day, while you sleep. Intermittent fasting can be as simple as extending that fast a little longer. You can do this by skipping breakfast and then eating your first meal at noon and finishing your last meal at 8 pm. That way, you’re technically fasting for 16 hours every day, and restricting eating to an 8-hour eating window. This is the most popular form of intermittent fasting, known as the 16/8 method. Benefits have also been shown using a 12 hour fast and 12 hour eating window, but 16 hours of fasting is better if you can do it. Other people do a 5/2 method where they eat normally during 5 days of the week and fast completely for 2 days (24 hour period) per week.
- Although this may be different from your normal habits in modern culture, intermittent fasting is fairly easy to do. Many people report feeling better and having more energy eating this way. Hunger in the fasting window is usually not that big of an issue, although it can be bothersome in the beginning while your body is getting used to not eating for extended periods of time. Most people find they don’t mind waiting until later in the day to eat.. and most fully adjust within 1 month.
- No food is allowed during the fasting period, but you can drink sugarless beverages such as water, black coffee, plain tea, carbonated water, or other
non-caloric beverages.
What are the benefits?
- According to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine by Rafael de Cabo, Ph.D., and Mark P. Mattson, Ph.D published in December 2019, the benefits include:
- Improved glucose (blood sugar) regulation
- Increased stress resistance
- Suppression or reduction of inflammation
- Blood pressure and heart rate reduction
- Significant effects decreasing Obesity, Diabetes, Heart disease, Arthritis, and Neurodegenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
- Improved mental and physical performance
- Increased life span
- Protection against cancer and positive effects on pre-existing tumor growth and response to chemotherapy
Here are physicians you may be interested in looking up who promote this style of eating
- Dr. Jason Fung at thefastingmethod.com
- Dr. Michael Mosley at thefast800.com
- Dr. Clark-Ganheart at thefastingdoctor.com
How to get started…
- Make a plan. Decide how you are going to proceed, when to start, and what you will do if you are feeling like quitting.
- Find sugar-free beverages you enjoy. Flavorful herbal tea? or zero-calorie sparkling water? Or black coffee?
- Ask your partner, friend, or adult child to be your accountability partner.
- Track your progress. Take note of how you feel, how your body changes, and any weight you lose to feel motivated to continue.
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