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Learn more about the potential benefits and side-effects of this popular weight loss trend.
8th June, 2019
Intermittent Fasting (IF) has become a hot topic these days, with everyone from teens to 50-year-olds trying this seemingly miraculous weight loss trend. But just like one size does not fit all, one diet would also not be everyone’s cup of tea.
So what is IF? On a daily basis, we fast for anywhere between 8 and 12 hours depending on how long we sleep between dinner and breakfast the next day, especially when we need to do certain blood tests. In the case of IF, however, you have to fast for almost 16 to 24 hours, twice a week, to see results.
Potential benefits of IF…
- Quick weight loss
- Management of blood sugar
- Increase in metabolism
- Fat burning
- Lowering of blood insulin levels
Few studies that contradict these benefits…
As per a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, such fasting results in increased hunger, increased blood pressure and increased levels of a few lipid profiles.
Disadvantages of IF….
- Insomnia
- Bingeing
- Indigestion
- No known long-term benefits
SelfCare’s take on IF…
We suggest 16 hours of IF under professional guidance, five days a week, for people between 20 and 25 years of age, as they are young and have A higher metabolism, but only if they insist on trying it. At SelfCare, we believe in balanced diets, which include frequent meals in the right portions, for all age-groups, be it for weight loss or health management. The only way to sustain results is to make a permanent lifestyle change.
