Intermittent Fasting is a pretty popular buzzword these days — with health professionals and celebrities alike touting its benefits. There are claims it improves biomarkers of disease, increases brain health and leads to weight loss. So, is Intermittent Fasting, or IF, all it’s cracked up to be?
Well, if you ask me — not so much. In my latest video, I’m breaking down some of the ins and outs of Intermittent Fasting with the help of Curious Katie.
The main takeaway is there isn’t a lot of research here — particularly research done on humans, or research with long-term results — to back the claims being made by supporters of Intermittent Fasting.
And to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if a major reason for that is it would be pretty hard to get a group of participants willing to restrict what they eat every other day or to eat only within a small time window every day for 2, 5 or 10+ years. If any of the celebrities or wellness professionals on the IF bandwagon are still Intermittent Fasting 10 years from now, when the rosy glow of this new diet fad has worn off, let me know.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what Intermittent Fasting’s purported health benefits are or whether it leads to weight loss — if it isn’t something that you can realistically maintain for the rest of your life — none of those effects are going to be sticking around long-term. And it’s just going to cause stressful swings in your body and emotional distress when you inevitably can’t handle maintaining such a restrictive way of eating. Which, by the way, isn’t your fault — that’s just your body trying to protect you from starvation!
So, if you ask me, don’t bother with Intermittent Fasting. Truth be told, you fast naturally. It happens overnight while you sleep — and it’s totally pain-free! You don’t need this whole mess of rules on the exact days and times you can eat. Just listen to your body, eat when it needs nourishment, and let it do what it was built to do!
References:
Intuitive Eating: Ditch Dieting (VIDEO)
Why Diets Don’t Work (VIDEO)
Mind Body Green: Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent Fasting: The Science of Going Without
Harvard Diet Review: Intermittent Fasting For Weight Loss
Bulletproof: Intermittent Fasting Guide
Practicality of Intermittent in Humans and its Effect on Oxidative Stress and Genes Related to Aging and Fasting Metabolism
Annual Reviews: Metabolic Effects of Intermittent Fasting
American Society for Nutrition: Intermittent Fasting