What Are the Benefits of Intermittent Fasting?
Posted on: May 15, 2018 in Category: Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is rising as one of the most popular health and fitness trends. This health technique involves alternating your consumption cycle to help balance what time of day you should fast and when to eat.
While there are no exact foods or drinks you should stay away from, there are many different ways to go about this method. Splitting a day or week into eating and fasting periods can help your body lose weight while also stimulating the brain and possibly even preventing certain health issues later in life.
When Should I Eat?
There are many options when it comes to intermittent fasting, and one of the most popular ways is to eat during a six- to eight-hour window, meaning you end up fasting for about 16 hours of the day. For example, if you find yourself eating at 11 a.m., you may continue to eat two or three meals throughout the day until 7 p.m. It is important to gradually adjust your time frames to see what is best for your body and your daily routine.
Changes in Your Body and Brain
Body
You may experience several new sensations in your body when you do not eat for long periods of time. When this happens, remember to relax and take deep, long breaths as your body will slowly adjust itself to your new eating schedule. Intermittent fasting can help shed unwanted fat by restricting caloric intake while enhancing your hormone function to help facilitate weight loss. This can also help boost your metabolism by about 14 percent.
Brain
Intermittent fasting can help improve metabolic features that are important to your brain health. This includes reducing stress, inflammation, blood sugar levels, and insulin resistance. Fasting can also better develop neuron growth to protect the brain from any damage.
When you engage in intermittent fasting, a protein is released into the brain called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF allows the mind to change and adapt and can also help boost your memory while improving your mood and learning abilities.
Minimize Health Risks
Supplementing intermittent fasting with a diet composed of highly nutritious foods (such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, and lean meats) can help stabilize your weight while reducing your risk for:
- Diabetes
- Ischemic heart disease
- Stroke
- Dementia
- Cancer
- Kidney failure
- Diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy
To learn more about intermittent fasting or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at our Los Angeles office at 310-441-2263 or our Paramount office at 562-297-4068.