In recent years, intermittent fasting (IF) has been a trend. This practice doesn’t specify which foods you should eat, but rather when you should eat.
There are several methods. Here are a few of the more popular to explore:
- The 16/8 Method. Fast for 16 hours each day with an 8 hour healthy eating window from 12 pm to 8 pm. This may be a good method for typical non-breakfast eaters, but would be difficult for people who get hungry in the morning and like to eat breakfast.
- The 5:2 diet. Eating normally 5 days of the week while restricting calories to 500-600 for two days of the week.
- Eat-Stop-Eat. Involves a 24 hour fast, either once or twice per week. Water, coffee and other non caloric beverages are allowed during the fast, but no solid foods.
- Alternate-day fasting. A full fast every other day.
Research into the benefits of Intermittent fasting is still in its early stages but can be a tool for weight loss and may reduce risk for heart disease and cancer. It’s not something that anyone needs to do, it’s just another option to consider in the toolbox towards a healthier life.