Intermittent fasting (IF) refers to an eating pattern where you alternate between fasting and eating within a prescribed time. The 16/8 method is one of the most popular and easiest method, which involves 16 hours of fasting and an 8 hour feeding window. The 16/8 method involves skipping breakfast, which reduces your caloric intake by 20-40%, and is very effective for those who want to lose weight.
After many hours without food, your body exhausts it’s sugar stores and starts the fat burning process. IF therefore works by prolonging the period where your body has burned the calories you consumed during your last meal and starts to burn fat. IF is most successful when you get support from a health care professional who can guide you through the process based on your needs and overall health.
Studies have shown that our bodies can safely survive without food for prolonged periods of time. In the olden days, humans were hunters and gatherers. They went for long periods without eating, as it took a lot of time and vitality to hunt game and gather wild fruits and nuts. You can make IF a part of your daily routine not only for weight loss purposes, but also for general wellness.
IF has several benefits which includes fat loss especially around the abdomen and major organs, lowers blood pressure, lowers insulin levels, spikes human growth hormones, improves cholesterol profile and can help protect your organs from chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and several cancers. Remember, if you have any chronic conditions consult a health care professional before you start IF.