Do you know the new health and fitness buzzword? Fasting is a trend that is here to stay and today we want to break it all down for you. After all, what is fasting? Does it really work? Read more to find out.
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you alternate between periods of eating and periods of fasting. We believe that one of the reasons why this alternative became so popular is probably because it is not a restrictive diet and it does not say anything about which foods to eat. It only focuses on when you should eat them. There are several different intermittent fasting methods. All of these methods should follow the same rules, which is basically to split the day or week into eating periods and fasting periods.The most popular form of intermittent fasting is known as the 16/8 method. This means that you have an 8-hour window to eat and you should spend the remaining 16 hours of your day with no food. If you think about it, most of us are already fasting when we sleep. So in theory, all you have to do is to extend this period for a little bit more. Skipping breakfast is an easy alternative since you already spent a lot of hours without eating because you were sleeping.
Even if it sounds hard at first, many people that tried fasting actually love it and say that they truly feel better and have more energy during a fast. No food is allowed during the fasting period, but you can drink water, coffee, tea, and other non-caloric beverages. Even though fasting is a health and fitness trend right now, humans have been fasting for thousands of years. Most of the time, let's be honest, fasting was done out of necessity when there simply wasn't any food available. But all of this is to explain that our bodies are completely capable of handling long periods of time with no food.
Aside from the health benefits, many people try intermittent fasting in order to lose weight, as it is a very manageable and powerful way to restrict calories and therefore, burn fat. It is also a really convenient way to switch up to a healthier lifestyle since meal planning takes a lot of time and when fasting you don't spend nearly as much time cooking and cleaning as you do if you were eating 4/5 meals a day. Perfect for busy schedules!
Dr. Razeen Mahroof, of the University of Oxford in the UK for an interview published in the website Healthline, explains that the use of fat for energy can help preserve muscle and reduce cholesterol levels. "A detoxification process also occurs, because any toxins stored in the body's fat are dissolved and removed from the body," he adds, noting that after a few days of fasting, higher levels of endorphins - "feel-good" hormones - are produced in the blood, which can have a positive impact on mental well-being.
We have an article called " The Health Benefits of Coconut Oil", you can click here to read it in case you missed it. Coconut oil is a great add on to your coffee while you are fasting because it gives you an extra energy boost while helping you to get a satisfying sensation, it's pretty impressive how drinking coconut oil with your coffee can make you feel like you just had breakfast. That’s why Leaner Creamer, a healthy coffee creamer with a coconut oil base, is the perfect coffee creamer to boost your metabolism and suppress your appetite while you try out your new fasting routine.
Comment here in case you want to share your fasting experience with us! We would love to know more about you and your healthy lifestyle.
