Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is just as the name suggests. Fasting in intermittent periods. That being said, the statement on its own gives rise to several questions. For one, don't we keep hearing about how going on fad diets and fasts are not good? And if one is fasting in periods, than what is it that they are doing when they're not? This article will answer all your questions about intermittent fasting (IF) and give you its advantages as well.

There have been several theories about effective weight loss over the years. The general rule that most humans followed, and which was considered as key to a healthy and lean body, was that of not eating between meals. That theory was then replaced by a simpler one - that of having 5-6 small meals throughout the day. So that instead of concentrating a bulk of calorie intake in the three major meals, it is evenly distributed. This made it impossible to skip any of the meals because that would mean sending the body into starvation mode and hence forcing it to store up on fat. So keeping this theory in mind, intermittent fasting would be akin to sacrilege. Correct? Not at all! How? Let me take you through it.

The Details

Intermittent fasting means fasting in periods. The time periods of this fasting can vary. But it generally involves a 48 hour period in which a person fasts for 24 hours and then carries on with a normal diet the next day. This leads to calorie restriction and thereby brings about results. This is similar to a cleansing and detoxify the body routine. Therefore it is not really fasting but is rather about giving your system a break and thereby allowing natural responses from the system.

The Works

The 48 hour intermittent fasting is done once every week. During the fast one cannot partake of any food at all. Water can be had throughout the day. Now this might seem a little extreme and rather impossible to do, but it isn't. Several cultures all over the world promote the theory of fasting once in a while for detoxification, to cleanse the body and rest the different organs (liver, digestion) that we keep loading at other times.

Some people do not prefer the only water-no food theory and therefore have one meal a day and then nothing at all. Others might have only fruits. But these are alternatives, and originally, this form of fasting involve the 48 hour rule. To try, choose a day that is less strenuous in terms of activities. After an early dinner the night before, try going without breakfast, then lunch, and then dinner as well. If you begin to feel completely washed out, have something. The next day have normal meals but don't have anything too spicy or oily. The interesting find of the results post fasting is that after the 24 hour fasting period, when people have food, they generally tend to have a little more than normal (to make up for the lost calories) and yet they do not put on excess weight!

Benefits

• Reduces the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
• When you trick the body into thinking that it is being starved, it causes a little stress in your body and that causes the production of proteins that protect the neurons from severe stress.
• It reduces the risk of cancer by slowing the production of abnormal hormones.
• Heart diseases and diabetes are also prevented.
• When the body is without food, it makes the body more sensitive towards insulin and that helps in maintaining normal blood sugar levels in the body.
• It detoxifies the body completely and helps cleanse the system of toxins.
• Intermittent fasting and bodybuilding have shown to be linked. People who follow the IF programs have shown tremendous success in building muscle bulk. That regime suits them better.
• It helps in reducing blood pressure, risk of coronary diseases and liver problems.
• Helps improve cognitive powers.
• General health improves.
• More energy is experienced.
• A person develops patience.

Intermittent fasting is being adopted by more and more people, mainly for weight loss. But as we've seen, its effects are much more far reaching than just that. It leads to a shift in lifestyle and promotes general health and well-being. And when you make this a part of your life, you'll see the positive effects for yourself.