A person eating a salad

Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

A highly popular method

In the fitness world, intermittent fasting is becoming highly popular. It is a known method for weight loss wherein you cycle between periods of eating and fasting. Many health and fitness enthusiasts believe that weight loss is not just only what you eat, but when you consume food also matters.

Our insulin drops when we are not consuming food, and when it is occurring, the cells release stored glucose as energy. The cycle of this process enables the body to burn the stored fats.  It can act as the fuel that would eventually lead to weight loss. There are several types of intermittent fasting, but the two are the most commonly followed, the 16/8 method and the 5:2 diet.

The 16/8 method features fasting every day for 14 to 16 hours and restricting the consumption of food to 8-10 hours. As for the 5:2 diet, it involves eating normally five days a week but restricting the calorie intake to 500-600 for two days a week. Regardless of which you’ll follow, there are multiple benefits you can get in this method.

Decreasing Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

In order to regulate blood sugar levels, intermittent fasting has proven to be successful. For many years, several people suffered from complications of diabetes. Nowadays, with due diligence and self-discipline, it’s not impossible to maintain a healthier body. We can find useful information online that helps us learn about this method, serve as our guide to achieve the health benefits of intermittent fasting. Based on research, intermittent fasting can reduce insulin resistance that can be beneficial for a person with Type 2 or borderline diabetes. For best results, it is also recommended to consult your physician to know which intermittent fasting method is appropriate for you.

Reduce Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance in your body between free radicals and antioxidants, which leads to damage to cells and tissues. It is naturally occurring and plays a part in the process of aging. Various factors contribute to the excess of free radicals, such as diet, lifestyle, environmental factors, and many more. Several studies have shown that intermittent fasting can reduce oxidative damage in the body. Healthy weight and diet have multiple benefits against aging and the development of many chronic diseases.

Helps You Lose and Maintain Healthy Weight

Intermittent fasting has been known because of this main benefit, as we eat fewer meals and limited calorie intake in a restricted period, the first advantage you’ll notice is the decrease of belly fats. Following the intermittent method also enhances the hormone function to facilitate weight loss. It increases your metabolic rate that aids in burning more calories in the body. Having a healthy weight can boost a person’s confidence and happiness.

As we age, we become more conscious of our health state. Hence, different weight loss methods are becoming more popular. Regardless of which one you’ll adopt; consistency is the key to achieve the desired results. If intermittent fasting is your current interest, make use of online information to guide you along the process. For people with existing medical conditions, a doctor’s consultation is an excellent step before starting your intermittent fasting.