Fasting. That’s not something you think of as fun and exciting, right? It may make you think of the 40-day fasts that only the heroes of the Bible can pull off. But, what about regular folks who don’t have supernatural abilities and discipline? That’s where intermittent fasting comes in. It can actually be done! Although it may sound like the latest trend or fad in weight loss, it’s actually been around for quite some time, with some rather interesting findings.
First thing’s first though: what is intermittent fasting? Simply stated, it’s an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of fasting and eating. You don’t starve yourself. You don’t even deprive yourself. And, it’s good for you! Studies are showing numerous benefits related to intermittent fasting from lowering the risk of Type 2 Diabetes to weight loss. Intermittent fasting can be a powerful tool for keeping your body healthy and your quality of life, prime.
Traditional fasting may be difficult for some as it usually means not eating for longer periods of times. With intermittent fasting, you focus more on what you can eat within a specified amount of time than what you can’t eat. Because you’re not having to starve yourself, you feel better during your fasting times. There are several different methods (that we’ve discussed before). It’s very doable for those who are not thrilled at the thought of fasting.
Here are just five incredible benefits of intermittent fasting.
- 1. Lose Weight and Unsightly Belly Fat. It seems that most of America is wanting to lose weight, especially that stubborn, harmful belly fat that just sits there around your waist. Did you know that it’s harmful because it can lead to disease? Intermittent fasting helps you eat fewer calories. It can also boost your metabolism.
- 2. Reduces Insulin Resistance, Lowering Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes. intermittent fasting has been shown to help reduce insulin resistance thereby helping to lower blood sugar levels, which in turn is some major protection for people who are at risk for getting Type 2 Diabetes.
- 3. Beneficial For Heart Health. Heart disease is currently the world’s biggest killer and studies show that intermittent fasting can improve numerous risk factors for heart disease such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides and inflammatory markers.
- 4. May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. Globally speaking, Alzheimer’s is the most common neurodegenerative disease. Because there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, preventing it from showing up in the first place is crucial. Intermittent fasting has been shown, in a series of case reports, to be able to significantly improve Alzheimer’s symptoms in 9 out of 10 patients.
- 5. Regulates Immune System. Intermittent fasting is a fantastic regulator of the immune system. It controls the level of inflammatory cytokines that are released in the body. Two major cytokines, Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, promote a very potent inflammatory response in the body which allows for a more normalized immune function.
The physiological benefits of intermittent fasting are numerous. More and more evidence-based studies are indicating that it’s not just going to be a fad. It may be something you need to look into. Even if you’re not one who can pull off an epic, Biblical fast, you may just be able to handle intermittent fasting.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-ways-to-do-intermittent-fasting
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S193152441400200X
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/belly-fat/art-20045685
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25857868
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19793855