The Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting

To eat or not to eat is the question! That’s on top of your mind when you decide to take up fasting for health purposes. Thankfully there is another choice you can make. Go for intermittent fasting. Consume small quantities of selective health foods at specific intervals and reap the multiple benefits of fasting.

What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is an eating technique where you shift between periods of eating and fasting. Research has shown that intermittent fasting has positive powerful effects on your brain and body and is very good for you.

Some benefits of intermittent fasting are –

Reduction in Oxidative Stress – Oxidative stress contributes to aging and many chronic diseases. It makes unstable molecules called free radicals react with protein and DNA and damage them. Studies show that intermittent fasting increases your body’s resistance to oxidative stress.

Preservation of Memory – Intermittent fasting improves your memory capabilities along with overall cognition and executive function. It also aids in the growth of new nerve cells and is good for brain health.

Effective for Weight Loss – It helps you lose weight and belly fat. It also increases hormone function to enable weight loss. It increases the process of breakdown of belly fat and facilitates its use for providing energy for your body functions.

Avoid Weight Loss Plateaus – When you are on a path of weight loss sometimes the bodyweight does not come down. That means you have reached a weight loss plateau and can’t lose any more weight. Intermittent fasting combined with exercise helps you beat this condition so gear up for a workout at the gym.

Lower Blood Pressure – Intermittent fasting leads to an increase of the BDNF factor which lowers the systolic and diastolic blood pressure by kick-starting the parasympathetic system. The BDNF causes the release of acetylcholine leading to a reduction in the frequency of heart contractions.

No Appetite Increase – Your body starts using your fat for fuel instead of glucose thus significantly reducing your hunger pangs. It reduces your appetite and makes the fasting process effortless and easy.

Lower Cholesterol – Intermittent fasting reduces the amount of total and LDL [bad] cholesterol in our body thus increasing heart health.

Improves Insulin Sensitivity – Intermittent fasting reduces insulin resistance which lowers the blood sugar levels and protects you from Type 2 diabetes. Studies show that it reduces fasting blood sugar by 3-6% and fasting insulin by 20-31%.

Induces Autophagy – Autophagy means “self-eating.” That’s when your body changes its metabolic pathways and uses your body fat for fuel instead of glucose. Your body starts producing ketones that have several protective effects like cellular repair.

Make the Smart Choice

By choosing intermittent fasting you get to eat your cake and have it too! All the benefits of fasting accrue to you and you get to enjoy your food as well. Intermittent fasting is a choice beyond yes and no. Make that choice today!