Intermittent Fasting For Beginners

Intermittent Fasting For Beginners

Intermittent fasting has become one of the most popular dietary trends, and for good reason. It has been claimed to be a great way to get control of your health, lose weight, and feel better but the evidence is still unclear. Before you try intermittent fasting, it’s important to understand what it is and how it works. Let’s take a look at the basics of intermittent fasting for beginners.

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What Is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent fasting is the term for a group of eating patterns that involves alternating periods of eating and fasting. During the “fasting” period, you don’t eat anything or consume a greatly reduced % of  calories from beverages like coffee or tea. Instead, you drink plenty of water and other non-calorie fluids like herbal tea or bone broth. The length of the fasting period can vary anywhere from 12 hours to 24 hours or longer depending on your goals and understanding of your body’s needs.

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Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting

There are many potential benefits to intermittent fasting including increased energy levels, improved mental clarity, reduced inflammation in the body, improved digestion, decreased risk of chronic disease, and more efficient weight loss. Additionally, research has shown that intermittent fasting can help improve insulin sensitivity which is essential for healthy blood sugar levels and overall metabolic health.

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Cons of intermittent fasting

This form of eating isn't suitable for everyone. It requires a lot of forethought and planning. Depending on your chosen eating window it can also be socially isolating. In addition, be very careful if you have a current or history of an eating disorder or diabetes or are pregnant  as this level of restriction may not be wise. 

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How To Start Intermittent Fasting

If you want to start incorporating intermittent fasting into your lifestyle but don't know where to begin, there are several different approaches you can take depending on your goals and preferences. For example, if you're interested in weight loss then you may want to start with a 16/8 method which involves 16 hours of fasting followed by 8 hours when you can eat meals throughout the day without restrictions.Be very aware though that a shorter eating window will not aid weight loss if you are eating the same amount of calories as you normally would. If weight loss isn't your main goal but rather improved health then a 24 hour fast once or twice per week or the traditional 5:2 diet may be more beneficial for you.  It's important to experiment with different approaches until you find one that works best for you.

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Key Takeaway

Intermittent fasting is a great way to get control over your health while also potentially improving various aspects such as weight loss, mental clarity and energy levels. As a dietitian I recommend taking time to research various methods before starting any type of diet so that you can make sure it is safe for yourself and fits into your lifestyle in a way that will be sustainable over time. If done correctly and safely, intermittent fasting can be an incredibly effective tool for improving overall wellbeing!

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