Fasting is defined as a practice of abstaining from food consumption for a specified period of time. Intermittent fasting offers various health benefits like prevention of obesity, preservation of learning power and reduced stress levels. Fasting leads to various metabolic changes in the body.
However, the practice of intermittent fasting is widely followed by some in form of spiritual fasting, while others fast for medical reasons. It is a kind of dietary pattern that involves eating on scheduled periods between feasting and fasting.
Intermittent fasting is not bad for health and has following health reasons. Have a look at them and control the calorie intake of your diet.
1.Supports Healthy Metabolism:
Intermittent fasting boosts your metabolism by restricting the food intake for a period of time. long-term fasts tend to slow the rate of metabolism while short fasts improve it.
Moreover, fasting is considered to be an effective tool as compared to prolonged calorie restrictions.
2.Mitigate the Risk of Cancer:
Cancer is generally caused by cell overgrowth and is highly dangerous. Intermittent fasting helps in improving the rate of metabolism which further leads to reduced chances of cancer and side effects of chemotherapy.
3.Prevents Brain Diseases:
Environmental and genetic stress factors lead to various brain diseases, faster brain aging, and cognitive decline. Hence, intermittent fasting prevents the neurons from getting affected by these diseases and improves the sensitivity of insulin in the body. Further, it leads to stimulation of the enzymes that help to cope up with stress.
4.Beneficial for Heart Health:
Intermittent fasting is believed to lower the risk of heart diseases and strokes. Also, it helps in improving the blood sugar levels, inflammatory markers, cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Proper control of these risk factors is beneficial for a healthy heart.
5.Lowers the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes:
Fasting helps in lowering the insulin resistances which further helps in lowering the blood sugar levels and protects the body against type 2 diabetes. Overweight is another reason for the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. With the help of intermittent fasting, both high sugar levels and weight can be effectively controlled and chances of type 2 diabetes can be attenuated.
6.Helps in Weight Loss:
Weight loss is the primary reason why most of the people practice intermittent fasting. As you eat less during the fasting period, you consume a fewer amount of calories. Intermittent fasting helps the body fat to reach its burning peak, lose fat without losing muscle, and keeps the metabolism function smoothly.
Hence, intermittent fasting is a formula for mild and steady weight loss.
Studies have shown that intermittent fasting delays the development of diseases leading to death. A person fasting is expected to live healthier, happier and longer than people who consume three meals a day or the ones who follow traditional calorie diet patterns.
Also, fasting boosts the stress resistance of the body and makes the body defensive against molecular damages. The anti-aging benefits of intermittent fasting keep the cell functioning effective, helping the body in cell maintenance and repair.