4 Benefits to Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that involves fasting for a period of time and eating during a specific window of time each day or week.
If you are relatively healthy and eat a well-balanced diet, intermittent fasting can help you lose weight and break down more fat in your body.
While studies on intermittent fasting are relatively new, research has shown that fasting can boost your body systems and increase your overall health.
Intermittent fasting has been proven to:
- Increase your metabolic rate. When you fast, your body releases norepinephrine – which boosts your metabolism. And your body starts breaking down body fat for more energy.
-  Increase cell repair. Your body’s hormone levels shift to transition to breaking down stored body fat – which also leads to cell repair and removing stored waste from cells.
-  Fight inflammation and free radicals. Studies show fasting boosts your body’s ability to ward off oxidative stress.
- Lower blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Thus lowering your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other health issues.
These perks are also healthy for your brain and longevity – in fact, some studies have shown that the hormonal and metabolic changes that occur when fasting may be effective in preventing Alzheimer’s and cancer.
Some people will fast for 16 hours of the day and then eat within an 8 hour window (16/8). Others may fast or limit calories for an entire day 2 days a week (5/2). Skipping a meal because you aren’t hungry is even considered an intermittent fast.
Everyones body is different and everyone reacts differently to intermittent fasting. That’s why it’s so important to listen to your body. Intermittent fasting may not be for everyone – or everyone’s lifestyle.