Intermittent fasting (IF) has become quite popular over the last few years.
Like with literally everything, there are pros and cons. Here I will be talking about time-restricted fasting which is what most people associate with IF which is usually eating for 8 hours and fasting for 16 hours but I am talking generally about time restricted fasting!
So here we go with part 1 of intermittent fasting: the Pros 👍
It’s simple to follow - no “counting” occurs (caloric or macronutrient) and often doesn’t come with a diet to follow.
It increases your testosterone levels - this can be really great for building muscle (protein synthesis), increasing sex drive and mood.
It may increase energy levels and overall health.
People tend to eat foods that have a positive effect on health vs their unhealthy counterparts because of the smaller eating window, therefore increasing their nutrient and antioxidant intake in a simple way.
It often stops night-time snacking which may disrupt sleep and digestion.
IF may help with regulating circadian rhythm and assist sleep abnormalities. And when we sleep better, all of our bodily functions work MUCH better!
IF may assist with improving insulin sensitivity and reducing “bad” cholesterol.
A big problem of todays society is that we over consume - we buy too many clothes, eat too much food, watch too much television and sometimes our focus is on having more. When we fast time restrictedly, we help the body focus less on frequent digestion and more on detoxification, cellular rejuvenation, attenuating inflammation and effectively getting rid of body and cellular waste.
A lot of people are not eating enough in the day (even if you think you are). IF may assist with eating more (healthy) food due to the smaller eating widow, which helps with satiety regulation, weight regulation, nourishing the brain (that bish works harder than we give credit or food for) and general health and vitality.
I am a fan of intermittent fasting but I don’t think it’s for everyone. A 12-hour fast worked really for me when I was studying at university. I was able to study more efficiently and I woke up hungry enough to keep my eating patterns consistent through-out the day! But now? This doesn't work for me at all, and you know what? That's totally okay!
Keep an eye out for part 2 of IF - the “cons” list.
If you want to start IF but you're not sure if it's for you, come for a consult and I can help you. navigate nutrition, intermittent fasting and more! Use the contact form on this website, or email me on shavitsachs@gmail.com!
Keep smiling!
Yours in health,
Dr Shavit
~ Love Health & Wellness ~