Intermittent fasting, what is it?
This type of diet consists of alternating longer or shorter periods of fasting with periods of eating.
Much more flexible and accessible than strict fasting, which does not allow food intake, intermittent fasting allows you to enjoy the same health benefits.
There are different ways to practice intermittent fasting: partial fasting, 5:2 method, fasting, etc.
Health benefits of fasting
- Reduces insulin production and the storage of fats and sugars in the body.
- Stimulates the elimination of fats.
- Better control of appetite.
- Stimulates the secretion of growth hormone.
- Improves physical and mental performance and reduces recovery time.
- Promotes cell regeneration.
- Allows the body to cleanse itself and stimulates autophagy, or the self-cleansing function of the body's cells.
- Reduces cell oxidation and premature cell ageing.
- Prevents obesity and certain associated pathologies: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.
Fasting to lose weight?
Fasting for weight loss is the new trend.
As mentioned above, the health benefits of fasting are numerous and very interesting.
However, in the context of weight loss, we must remain cautious.
In fact, unmonitored and poorly managed intermittent fasting can do more harm than good.
Tiredness, frustration, food cravings, cravings, etc. are all negative effects that can put the body to the test.
To avoid them, it is necessary to seek medical advice before fasting and to be accompanied by nutritional experts.
It is also important to remember that fasting is not a diet, but a way of eating.
Losing weight shouldn't be your only motivation, which can make things difficult and lead to mistakes.