As the name indicates, intermittent fasting is fasting in intermittent periods. This method is recognized as one among the most successful ways to reduce weight and promote general health. This article gives information on intermittent fasting and the also the benefits of intermittent fasting.
There have been many theories about the most effective way to lose weight. The most common rule that many followed is not eating between the meals. This is considered as the key to healthy and lean body. This theory was replaced with more simpler one — that is having 5 — 6 small meals in a day. This helps in distributing the calories evenly, than bulk intake of calories in three major meals. This made difficulty in skipping the meals as this does not result in starvation of the body. Hence, intermittent fasting is akin to the sacrilege.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
It means fasting in periods. Time periods of IF may vary. Generally, it involves a 48 hour, where an individual fasts for 24 hours and later carries on with the normal diet. It results in calorie restriction and hence brings out good results. This is akin to cleansing and detoxifying the body. Thus, this is not fasting really, instead giving break to the system and thereby giving way for natural response.
Benefits of Intermittent Fasting:
Intermittent fasting has many benefits. They include:
- Decreased risk for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease
- This reduces the chances of developing cancer by slowing down the production of abnormal hormones.
- An individual develops patience
- Experiences more energy
- Improves cognitive powers
- Improvement in general health
- Helps to lower blood pressure, risk of liver problems and coronary diseases
- Prevents diabetes and heart diseases
- While fasting, body becomes more sensitive towards insulin and helps in maintaining normal levels of blood glucose
- This also helps in detoxifying the body completely and cleanses the system
- Bodybuilding and intermittent fasting are related. People following intermittent fasting have shown great success in building the muscle bulk
