The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

What are the potential benefits of Intermittent Fasting (IF)?

So far, studies have found that intermittent fasting can help people lose weight, reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Weight loss

Several studies suggest that participants who followed an intermittent fasting regime lost weight, especially those who had been overweight. This may be because it leads to eating less overall.

Because you can eat what you like during non-fasting periods, some people may find intermittent fasting more appealing than counting calories throughout the day.

Type 2 diabetes

There is some evidence that intermittent fasting could help with risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including insulin resistance.

A recent study involving men with a high risk of diabetes looked at the effects of intermittent fasting with a 6-hour eating window early in the day, with the last meal at 3 p.m.

The researchers saw that this improved both insulin sensitivity and the function of the pancreas, which produces insulin. The study also showed that these benefits happened for the participants, even without weight loss.

This could be because intermittent fasting syncs your food intake with your circadian rhythm, or body clock. Eating according to your body clock is helpful for processing glucose and reducing your risk of diabetes.

However, more studies are needed to understand how intermittent fasting influences diabetes risk in the long term.

Heart health and cholesterol

Intermittent fasting may help improve your heart health. Studies have shown that fasting can reduce risk factors related to heart disease, including:

• low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol

• triglycerides, a type of blood fat that can raise the risk of heart disease

• high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack and stroke

• inflammation, which causes the development of plaque that can block the arteries to the heart

We are planning a big, new health event for our practice members for this upcoming February.

We’re calling it Feb Fast.

After the festivities and, for some of us, the excesses of the Christmas, Holidays and New Year celebrations we may feel that our health could use a bit of a boost.

So, a great way to get back on track and give yourself a kickstart into the new year is with intermittent fasting (IF).

Through February the team here at Lane Cove Chiropractic will be doing a 28 day “Fast Start” Intermittent Fasting Program and we invite you to join us.

We will be providing you with more information over the coming weeks on how to do this style of fasting and the many health benefits, backed by science, that it can provide.

Let us know if you’re interested and we’ll pop your name on a list of potential participants.

(The information on IF and the science supporting it is taken from the Zoe Science and Nutrition Website)