Intermittent fasting has become a hot-button topic in popular media and with good reason: science has shown that intermittent fasting is effective for weight loss and a number of other benefits.

WHAT IS INTERMITTENT FASTING?

Intermittent fasting is a way of timing your meals so that you are fasting for most or all of the day, depending on the method you choose. There are two popular methods of intermittent fasting: 16:8 and 24:1.

16:8 is when you fast for 16 hours each day and have an 8-hour feeding window whereas 24:1 is when you do a 24 hour fast, one day per week.

INTERMITTENT FASTING AND WEIGHT LOSS

One of the primary reasons that intermittent fasting is getting so much attention is that it has been shown to be an easy-to-follow and highly effective way to promote weight loss.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that all subjects performing intermittent fasting experienced a higher level of fat oxidation. (1)

Another study published in the Journal of Translational Medicine tested if the 16:8 method of intermittent fasting – arguably the most popular – had any benefit for weight loss. The results were as impressive as expected as all subjects reported a decrease in fat mass.

Not only did subjects lose body fat but they did not lose any muscle. The implications for bodybuilders and weight-cutting athletes is that intermittent fasting may be a safe and effective way to achieve weight and physique goals. (2)

OTHER INTERMITTENT FASTING BENEFITS

SUPPORTS BRAIN HEALTH

Intermittent fasting has been shown to have a variety of other benefits including increasing the health of our brains.

Studies show that fasting has a unique effect on our bodies, helping to remove waste and repair damaged cells and DNA. When it comes to our minds, intermittent fasting has been shown to improve brain health and fight back against cognitive-based conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. (3)

LOWERS RISK OF DISEASE

Continuing with the idea above, intermittent fasting doesn’t just help to decrease the risk of cognitive-based disease; it protects you from a variety of conditions with an emphasis on cardiovascular disease, heart disease, and diabetes.

A study published in the International Journal of Health Sciences demonstrated that fasting improved genetic markers to fight off lifestyle and age-related disease. (4)

HOW TO INTERMITTENT FAST

With 16:8, you will do a 16 hour fast. That means no calories for 16 hours. Water, plain tea, and black coffee is okay but no food or calorie-based beverages. Once your fasting time is up, you have an 8-hour feeding window where you can follow your normal diet.As mentioned above, 16:8 is the most popular method for intermittent fasting as it is beginner-friendly and most of the fasting is done while asleep.

Again, once the feeding window ends, you resume your fast for another 16 hours. An ideal time to start your fast is at 8 p.m. Your fast ends at noon the following day. Most beginners will start with 5 days per week – usually Monday through Friday – and leave the weekend to eat as normal.

CONCLUSION

Have you tried intermittent fasting? Did you find it challenging? Want to try it? What concerns do you have about intermittent fasting? Let us know in the comments below. Fasting is an effective way to lose weight. However, if you are looking for fat loss supplements, shop our selection of weight loss supplements. In fact, try one of our best fat burning supplements, reFORM®. This fat burner fat burners that destroys stored body fat, reduces appetite and promotes intense energy.