Intermittent fasting health & lifestyle support
Rather than prescribing a specific form of fasting, the term “intermittent fasting” (also, called interval fasting or periodic fasting) describes a rhythm of eating. In comparison to a strict fasting regimen, an intermittent fasting schedule provides for good meals confined to specific times, and only at certain intervals.
The process of intermittent fasting calls for alternating between times of normal food intake with periods of calorie restriction. Though the term ‘intermittent fasting’ sounds new, these forms of intermittent fasting diet were practiced by certain groups of people for centuries to address age related illnesses and impose a healthy discipline for weight management.
Our modern age of abundance supports the continuous supply of food. Always at our disposal, grocery stores and other outlets remain open at all hours, carrying everything we desire.
Our forefathers experienced life very differently. They were farmers working hard without any form of snacking as we are exposed to in this modern age. These involuntary fasting spells did not cause harm. On the contrary, they relieved stress from the body, and helped to develop resiliency.
Common sense reminds us that overeating leads to poor health. When we eat too much, we increase our risk of cardiovascular disease, along with increased morbidity and mortality. Notwithstanding a universal awareness of the dangers in overeating, many of us continue to face the challenge of controlling or reducing food intake. Revisiting the way our ancestors lived and ate has become the focus of numerous modern research projects. Scientists continue to evaluate how to achieve health-promoting effects of dietary lifestyles, without reduced food intake.
Modern studies have concluded that an alternate dietary rhythm by itself can minimize cardiovascular risk factors, protect against degenerative diseases of the nervous system, and improve overall health. Intermittent fasting emerges as the most compelling alternate dietary rhythm to accomplish health goals, particularly as we get older.
Insulin resistance, asthma, seasonal allergies, viral and bacterial infectious diseases, fungal infections, autoimmune diseases, osteoarthritis, symptoms of inflammation of the central nervous system, cardiac arrhythmia, hot flashes during menopause, all appear to respond positively to intermittent fasting.
Intermittent fasting helps to revitalize the body’s fat burning process, supporting gentle weight loss. Intermittent fasting compares favourably to traditional diets because it does not require meticulously tracking food intake, or measuring calories and grams consumed. Ultimately, intermittent fasting leads to increased fat burning and weight loss, forcing our bodies to use fat stores as fuel.
When you eat, your body uses glucose (sugar) as its primary source of energy, and stores everything left over as glycogen in the muscles and liver.
If you don’t give your body a steady stream of glucose, it starts to break down glycogen as fuel. After depleting glycogen, the body looks for alternative energy sources, such as fat cells, which it breaks-down to drive energy.
The results of intermittent fasting resemble a ketogenic diet, where you deprive your body of carbohydrates, forcing it to consume stored fat for energy. Extended fasting period is a form of ketogenic practice. Studies show that the weight loss results derived from most forms of intermittent fasting compare closely with the results of continuous diets. However, intermittent fasting shows a greater decrease in body fat compared with ordinary dieting; approximately 90% of total weight loss (as body fat), compared with 75% of total weight loss in continuous diets.
In addition, intermittent fasting generally resolves feelings associated with hypoglycaemia or intensified hunger.