James has made a fresh New Year’s resolution, and this time, he wants to stick to a healthy diet plan. But he does not know how to formulate one. He meets Paul, who tells him about intermittent fasting, and how it has many health benefits.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
Simply put, intermittent fasting describes consistently skipping meals at set different times of the day or week. This activity is typically started for health reasons or to achieving some personal goals.
There are different approaches to intermittent fasting, such as ;the daily time-restricted simple daily fasting, in which one peoples kips a specific mall meal a day, say breakfast or lunch. In alternate day fasting, you may fast the whole day and eat on the next day.
Another pattern, called the 5:2 pattern, involves having a normal diet for about 5 days of the week and then skipping some meals fasting on the other 2 days in the week.
What are some of the health benefits of intermittent fasting?
Research has shown that intermittent fasting has potential lot of medical benefits; some of these include.:
1. 1.A Build healthy body weight.
Intermittent fasting helps to lose weight and burn body abdominal fat. With fewer meals come fewer less calories, and, in turn, the body burns stored fats for energy.
Further, intermittent fasting stimulates action of hormones that help to burn stored fats, including human growth hormone and noradrenaline. These hormones boost your metabolic rate, helping you burn stored fat.
2. Lower risk of diabetes and cancer some chronic diseases.
Intermittent fasting can lower the risk of diabetes and possibly some forms of cancer. Intermittent fasting has also been associated with improved brain and heart health, as well as slower aging. How does intermittent fasting do this? Perhaps the main explanation for the health benefits of intermittent fasting is weight loss because this has several benefits, such as improving how well With a build-up of unhealthy fat ,the body uses loses responsiveness to insulin, the hormone that regulates n, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. . This poor sensitivity to insulin increases the risk of poor sugar control. Gaining healthy weight from intermittent fasting lowers this risk
In addition, some researchers have found that intermittent fasting also speeds up metabolism, which may lower the level of rids inflammation and the body of harmful disease-causing substances, called free radicals, in the body. These substances can stimulate changes within cells that may lead to chronic diseases, including diabetes and cancer in the future. Eliminating these substances lowers one’s risk of cancer.
3. Improve brain health
Intermittent fasting offers some protection against several degenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. One reason for this is that during fasting, cells initiate a mechanism that helps them remove waste materials that build up within them. Some of these cells are responsible for cell changes that lead to dementia.
Further, fasting improves blood sugar levels and removes free radicals from the body, reducing the risk of inflammation within the brain tissue. Fasting also improves the levels of a brain hormone that improves mood and cognitive function, lowering the risk of certain mood disorders.
4.Improve heart health
Intermittent fasting helps to improve body levels of certain substances, including blood sugar, cholesterol, and free radicals. With intermittent fasting, blood sugar levels are well regulated and blood cholesterol levels drop. In addition, fasting rid the body of free radicals that are implicated in heart attacks and other heart problems.
5.Slows down aging
During fasting, the body initiates a self-repair process to restore damaged cells and get rid of harmful waste products of metabolism. A build-up of some of these substances not only cause the skin to age faster but also increase the risk of chronic diseases, which are the leading causes of death.
Further, fasting stimulates expression of certain genes that are essential for longevity. These genes also regulate production of substances that protect from disease.
Is intermittent Fasting Safe for Everyone?
No. While intermittent fasting may seem to have some enormous health benefits, it is may not be right for everyone. Intermittent fasting does come with some side effects, including headaches, fatigue, and dizziness, which may be poorly tolerated by some people. Therefore, it is important to speak with your doctor for advice on intermittent fasting. Therefore, it is important to speak to your healthcare provider to learn about the risks and benefits of intermittent fasting, and which pattern may be most appropriate for you.
Nonetheless, persons olein whom that intermittent fasting carries more significant health risks and is considered unsafe should steer clear of intermittent fasting include the following:
- Children and teens under 18
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Type 1 People with type 1 diabetes who take insulin diabetics who are on insulin treatment
- People with a history of eating disorders
Intermittent fasting carries significant health risks for this group and may cause serious health issues. It is therefore important to speak to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits as well as acceptable levels of fasting if you consider doing it.
In summary, although intermittent fasting comes with significant health benefits, it may not be safe for everyone. If you fall into any of the groups above, do not initiate intermittent fasting. Speak to your healthcare provider for further advice.to learn about the risks and benefits of intermittent faster, and which pattern may be most appropriate for you.
