The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

To lose weight, strive for sixteen calorie-free hours. Stop eating by 8 pm, and eat again at noon the next day. Results can take up to four weeks to notice.

Intermittent dieters should eat healthy foods, including whole grains and healthy fats and protein. They should limit saturated fats and avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates. Be sure to stay well-hydrated.

Human studies of intermittent fasting revealed that it improved disease indicators such as insulin resistance, blood fat abnormalities, high blood pressure, and inflammation.

In patients with multiple sclerosis, intermittent fasting reduced symptoms within two months.

During a fast, the body produces few new proteins and requires cells to take protein from nonessential sources, break them down and use the amino acids to make new proteins, vital for survival. Then, after eating, new proteins are formed in the brain and elsewhere.

Many people will experience hunger, irritability, and a reduced ability to concentrate. These symptoms seldom last for more than a month.

Some people may binge-eat when they finally can eat, creating an eating disorder. Others may consume all food regardless of its nutritional value.