Learn About Intermittent Fasting
By Randi Morse
Different diet fads begin to crowd my social media accounts every so often. Recently, it seems like all of the nutrition fads I am seeing online are about intermittent fasting. But what is intermittent fasting, does it promote a healthy lifestyle, and is it a realistically achievable diet change?
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting, as a diet plan, has been around for quite some time. In 2012, information started coming out about intermittent fasting and how it could be used to promote weight loss. The idea of intermittent fasting is simple: everything we eat gets broken down by our stomach and turned into different types of enzymes.
Carbohydrates are broken down into sugar which is then sent to our cells to be used as energy. Any sugar that our body doesn't use gets stored in fat cells. The only way that sugar can enter our cells is by utilizing insulin. If we don't snack between meals the insulin levels in our body drop which allows the fat cells to release the sugar that has been stored, giving our body the chance to use that sugar as energy. The whole point of intermittent fasting is to drop our insulin levels low enough, and for a long enough time, that we are able to burn off the fat that is stored in our fat cells.
Is It Safe?
Any dietary change that is implemented incorrectly can be dangerous, which is why it is always recommended that you speak with your physician before making any large changes to your nutrition plan. For the majority of people, when done correctly, intermittent fasting is completely safe. Researchers are discovering that one of the biggest tricks with ensuring that intermittent fasting works the most effectively is by utilizing what's known as the circadian rhythm fasting approach.
Circadian Rhythm Fasting
Circadian rhythm fasting is when you restrict your meals between an 8- and 10-hour period of time during the day. For example, if you are on a circadian rhythm fasting diet you could start eating at 8 a.m. and then stop all food intake at 4 p.m. or 6 p.m.
There is definitely evidence that intermittent fasting can work well. It can help those who are looking to lose weight as well as those who are struggling to get their diabetes under control.
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