The Buzz Around Intermittent Fasting
I used to be a serial intermittent faster. When I was going through my health challenges in 2019, I researched anything and everything to help me feel better. Intermittent fasting was generating a lot of buzz, and I decided to figure out why so many people in the fitness community love it.
First off, there are tons of health benefits resulting from intermittent fasting separate from weight loss. A few of these benefits include increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor - low levels of BDNF have been indicated in depression and other brain disorders. Intermittent fasting lowers blood insulin levels, which can help burn fat, it can increase human growth hormone, which has many benefits, including weight loss and muscle gain. It even helps with cellular repair and initiates removal of waste from cells.
Many people try intermittent fasting for weight loss, and when I started, I didn’t have weight to lose and still lost 5lbs the first week. Short term fasting can actually increase your metabolism, resulting in more calories burned. Intermittent fasting can also reduce insulin resistance, lowering the risk for type II diabetes. Make sure to do your research or consult with someone who knows about fasting to determine the right fasting plan for you to increase weight loss and maintain lean mass.
One of the most appealing benefits for me is that it may be beneficial for heart health. In animal studies, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and blood triglycerides were all improved with intermittent fasting. The research on humans is not as extensive, though it’s looking like the case is similar. It may also help prevent cancer, induce cellular repair, and generally make you live longer.
As always, WHAT you eat matters, even when fasting, but if you’ve hit a road block, intermittent fasting could be something to try for weight loss, or for overall health in general.
For some more information and a reputable source, check out this article regarding IF: