Intermittent fasting does not generally concern itself with what you eat but when you eat or your eating pattern. It is the process of regularly alternating between fasting and non fasting. Both the fasting and non fasting are done for a set period of time.
Intermittent fasting is also known as intermittent energy restriction because you are restricting your calorie intake for a certain period of time.
Other known terms for intermittent fasting are interval fasting and periodic fasting.
Intermittent fasting has become very popular over the years and is known to have a positive effect on weight, general health and can help your body burn fat. During your fasting period, because there is no food being consumed (except water and herbal teas), your body will first use the calories/energy from the last meal you have eaten. Then your body will use its carbohydrate stores and after it has used all its carbohydrate stores it will start to use its fat stores.
If you decide to try intermittent fasting it is best to start your fast for a short period of time so you can get used to it and then increase the time.
There are many types of intermittent fasting schedules. We have detailed a few below.
Time restricted intermittent fasting
This is when you can fast for 12 hours during your 24 hour day. You can eat during the remaining 12 hours. The most popular time restricted intermittent fasting is the 16/8 method where you can fast for 16 hours and eat your meals during the other 8 hours. So if you ate your last meal of the day at 8.00pm, the next time you should eat is 12 noon the next day. You should only drink water and herbal teas during the 16 hours in between.
Alternate day intermittent fasting
This is when you can eat properly one day and then fast the next day (only drinking water or herbal teas), then eat properly the day after and then fast the day after that and so on. You are alternating between fasting and non fasting.
The 5:2 intermittent fasting
This is when in a 7 day week you can eat normally for 5 days of the week and then on the other 2 days you restrict your calorie intake to between 500-600 each day. You can spread the 2 days to whatever day suits you.
24 hour intermittent fasting
This is when you fast for 24 hours (only drink water and herbal teas) once or twice a week.
If you have any experiences of intermittent fasting please let us know on our forum and social media! Share some of your thoughts with others and start a conversation.
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Before you start any new diet, health programme, exercise routine, and ingest or topically use any oil, vitamin, mineral, product or compound, it is very important to consult your doctor, therapist or do a patch test to make sure you do not have any adverse reactions.
We do not offer any form of medical or psychological advice. The information in our wellbeing articles are offered for educational purposes only. Our wellbeing articles are not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease. Thank you.
