What is intermittent fasting?
Although it may sound complicated, intermittent fasting really just means a period of eating followed by a period of not eating, repeated over time.
According to a study published by the University of Illinois at Chicago, daily fasting is an effective tool to reduce weight and lower blood pressure.
In this particular study, researches came to this conclusion by following a group of obese volunteers who fasted between 10 am and 6 am, only drinking water and calorie-free beverages for the remaining 16 hours. The results showed that those who followed diet consumed fewer calories, lost weight and had improvements in blood pressure.
Does fasting work?
“The take-home message from this study is that there are options for weight loss that do not include calorie counting or eliminating certain foods,” said Krista Varady, associate professor of kinesiology and nutrition in the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences and corresponding author on the study. This means that people who are looking to lose weight aren’t just restricted to one type of diet, they now have the freedom to see what works for them.
A fasting diet may just be the best option for a lot of people. One of the benefits of fasting diets is that they are easier to maintain, with research showing that fewer participants drop out of fasting-based studies.
Fasting is the diet trend that doesn’t tell you what to eat, just when. But it’s important to note that a fasting diet is only healthy is the food choices you do make are ones that are good for you.
