Intermittent fasting is a trend quickly growing in popularity. Also known as intermittent energy restriction, is an umbrella term for various meal timing schedules that cycle between voluntary fasting (or reduced calorie intake) and non-fasting over a given period. Methods of intermittent fasting include alternate-day fasting, periodic fasting, and daily time-restricted feeding. A type of periodic fasting known as the 5:2 diet was popularised in the UK and Australia by Michael Mosley around 2012. Intermittent fasting may have similar effects to a calorie-restriction diet, and has been studied in the 21st century as a practice to possibly reduce the risk of diet-related diseases, such as metabolic syndrome. A 2019 review concluded that intermittent fasting may help with obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and inflammation.
There are a couple methods for integrating intermittent fasting into your
daily routine. One of the most popular, and the one we will discuss on
this site, is following the 16/8 method. The 16/8 method involves daily
fasts of about 16 hours. Each day you’ll restrict your eating to an
approximately 8-hour window during which you fit in two, three, or more
meals. Utilize the calculate your schedule button below
to determine timing that works well for you.
As a reminder, while there is growing research supporting the health
benefits of intermittent fasting, studies are preliminary and there is a
still a lot to learn about the long-term impacts. Always discuss with your
doctor before starting a new diet.
For more information check out Wikipedia and HealthLine