Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is perhaps the most popular type of fasting in different cultures and religions. It has further many varieties as well, such as water fasting, juice fasting, dry fasting, and fat fasting.

It simply means observing specific periods of fasting and eating. Other than religious reasons, intermittent fasting has become immensely popular because it is used as an effective strategy to quickly lose weight and improve overall health. Intermittent fasting is often the topic of discussion in many kinds of research, survey, magazine article, and medical studies, which have contributed to its popularity.

Though its popularity has increased in the last few years, especially due to social media and celebrity culture, there is no doubt that fasting is a centuries-old tradition and a religious ritual seen in the majority of the communities around the world.

What is Intermittent Fasting?

People often make the mistake of confusing fasting with starving. However, starving happens involuntarily due to a lack of food for a long time. Whereas fasting is entirely voluntary and means stop eating food for religious, medical, or other purposes.

Duration of an intermittent fast is dependent on the type of fasting being practiced and the overall health conditions of the fasters. It can go on for a short period of a few hours to even a few days. If someone wants to fast for a week or beyond that, medical supervision is necessary.

You can simply understand this concept by keeping in mind that anytime when you are not eating, your body goes into the fasting state. For instance, the time period of the usual 12 to 14 hours between dinner and breakfast is also intermittent fasting.

Health Benefits ofIntermittent Fasting

Fasting is called the smart way of cleaning and detoxifying your body. Some religions have attributed fasting to be a method of purifying your soul and body. Undoubtedly, medical researchers have also proven that fasting is extremely beneficial for your physical and mental health. Some of the health benefits of fasting are:

1. Increased weight loss via rapid burning of fats
2. Better regulation of blood sugar levels
3. Reverse type 2 diabetes in some individuals
4. Improves mood and cognitive functions
5. Boost immunity and allow the body to fight infections and diseases
6. Increase energy
7. Cellular repairing and destruction of old cells through autophagy
8. Enhanced growth hormone and better nerve signal transmission
9. Improves blood cholesterol levels
10. Reduce inflammation
11. Maintain blood pressure in the normal range
12. Longevity through balanced diet and prevention of many conditions

Conclusion

There are a lot of methods through which you trim down your body and have an ideal body size that you might want. Some of these methods are quite complicated and difficult to follow. Fasting, however, is a simple method that can bring numerous benefits in your life without much trouble. Once you start intermittent fasting, you will start getting used to it, and your body will respond positively to the healthy changes brought by fasting.