You’re probably thinking, “Fasting????????????”, but no, slow down. There’s more it.
Intermittent fasting is probably one of the world’s most trendy health/ fitness activity.
It has been linked to many health benefits, even tackling the ever troubling weight loss.
Explained simply in this article is the whole essence of intermittent fasting and how it affects you in one way or the other.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
This activity basically involves alternating between cycles of fasting and eating – it divides your day/week into periods of eating and periods of fasting.
Take note that it doesn’t refer to ‘what you should be eating’, rather, it revolves around ‘when you should eat’.
Mind you, several studies have proven that this simple act can effectively aid weight loss, improve metabolism, protect against harmful disease and may even extend your years on earth.
Intermittent fasting is as easy as extending the little fast you do while you sleep – you could skip breakfast and then eat your first meal of the day at noon.
From what we might think of as a ‘punishment’ or ‘unnecessary’, intermittent fasting does not deprive you of energy or kill your insides. In fact, researches conducted showed that individuals felt better and had more energy while engaging in this fast!
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At first, you might experience discomforts of hunger because your body is not fully accustomed to waiting for that long before a meal but with time, the symptoms can ease.
Note that although no food should be taken during this fasting period, you can drink water, tea and other non-caloric beverages.
In addition, some intermittent fasting types allow you to eat small amounts of low-calorie foods during the period.
Intermittent fasting serves different purposes for various people – some for metabolic functions, others for active weight loss while some individuals just naturally enjoy the lifestyle.
Intermittent fasting is known to protect against chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, etc (All research-backed).
Types of Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is of different types, however, the most popular ones include;
- Eat-Stop-Eat Method: Here, you fast for 24 hours, i.e. from dinner at day one to dinner the next day. This can be done once or two times a week. A lot of us might not be able to pull this one through, especially as beginners.
- 16/8 Method: In this method, you fast for a period of 16 hours, e.g. you can eat between noon and 8 pm.
- 5:2 Method: You get to eat about 500 to 600 calories for two days a week. You can make use of a calorie calculator.