Intermittent (and also periodic or cyclic) diet is a diet according to a specific schedule. Its essence lies in the fact that during a certain number of hours during the day (usually more) you can eat absolutely nothing, but you can during the remaining hours. The most common scheme of such a diet is 16/8, where you have to completely abstain from food for 16 hours (you can only drink water), and on the 8th you will have time to eat three times. There are also options 20/4 and less often – 14/10.
Among the results of such a diet are weight loss, improvement of general well-being and strengthening of immunity. But is it really that easy? Can everyone follow this diet? How safe is it to lose weight this way? What are the pros and cons of intermittent fasting?
What are the benefits of intermittent fasting?
Intermittent dieting is beneficial for the body in many ways. First of all, it helps to lose weight and maintain the desired weight. Secondly, thanks to this approach to nutrition, the health and condition of the body as a whole improves: resistance to stress, work capacity increases, sleep improves, mood improves, and ease of movement is felt.
Intermittent dieting also lowers blood sugar levels, which reduces the risk of diabetes. In addition, the condition of the skin, nails and hair improves. Metabolism is accelerated thanks to the diet: during the first three days of such a diet, metabolic processes can be accelerated by 10%. Finally, it keeps the body young by activating the autophagy process (the cell’s ability to destroy old and damaged proteins).
What are the Disadvantages of Intermittent Dieting?
Prolonged dieting can cause stress and headaches. Problems such as heartburn, itching, stomach discomfort and indigestion may occur.
Also, intermittent dieting can cause muscle wasting, causing the body to break down. Moreover, according to the results of the TREAT clinical trial, people diagnosed with obesity do not lose weight on intermittent diets and their metabolism does not improve.
Each person chooses a suitable way for him to lose weight and maintain his health. However, do not forget, whichever option you choose, the main thing is a balanced and complete diet, as well as the exclusion of harmful foods.
So you can not only achieve the desired shape, but also maintain your health, and it does not matter if you are on an intermittent diet or not.