Fasting has been an integral part of our life for time immemorial. In many religions, fasting is in vogue. Fasting is also good for detoxifying your body. Intermittent fasting is also known as intermittent energy restrictions. It\’s a type of voluntary fasting, where 3 methods are found: alternate-day fasting, periodic fasting and day-time restricted feeding.
Picture courtesy: Wikipedia
The American Heart Association (AHA) opined that weight loss is one of the biggest benefits of intermittent fasting. It reduces insulin resistance, reduces cardiometabolic diseases, and has been proved to be one of the best diets for long-lasting sustainability. The health experts showed 6 simple methods of intermittent fasting:
- The 16/8 method – Fasting for 14-16 hours and eat for the remaining 8-10 hours.
- The 5/2 diet – Eat healthy food for 5 days a week and restrict your calorie consumption for 2 days a week.
- Eat stop eat – After every meal, give relaxation to your body to digest the last meal.
- Alternative day fasting – Those who cannot fast everyday can go for alternate day fasting. It won\’t be a torture on your body as well as digestive system and you will get necessary nutrition on time.
- The Warrior Diet – Fitness expert Ori Hofmekler popularised it. This diet includes raw fruits and vegetables in the day time and one heavy meal in the night time. Raw fruits and vegetables provide much needed fibre to your body.
- Spontaneous meal skipping – Skipping meal at any moment whenever you want.
People generally question how fasting can help you. Fasting is like a punishment. How can you not put food into your body and think you can work? I also used to think the same but it\’s been 3 months I am practising 16/8 method of intermittent fasting and feeling great. My diabetes level decreased by almost 100 units (without any medicines). I lost 2.5 kilos of weight; indigestion is almost gone; migraine pain reduced gradually; joint pain due to diabetes is gone; don\’t feel weakness. I go to buy vegetables in the morning with an empty stomach, but never feel weak while returning with heavy bags under the sunny sky.
Picture courtesy: Harvard University
British Medical Journal says that who eats breakfast regularly, they consume more calories and keep gaining weight. Recently some Australian researchers also found that those who skip breakfast consume 260 calories less on an average compared to the daily breakfast eaters. Some researchers also defined a significant difference in metabolism between the breakfast eaters and skippers.
Just a simple thought, you are eating, breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner every day. When do you think that your body is getting rest to function properly? Machines at factories also need some respite to function smoothly, the same logic applies to our health as well. Our body is also a machine. Don\’t treat your body like a robot. Give some respite to your body to breath comfortably. The performance will be enhanced on its own and you will notice the difference in few days.