JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL
Intermittent fasting is healthy or not? Nutritionist Anupama Menon shares her views
Intermittent fasting is right now one of the most popular ways to lose weight and improve overall health. If you are following this eating pattern then you have to fast for around 10-16 hours in a day and in the remaining hours, you can consume your food.
Intermittent fasting is right now one of the most popular ways to lose weight and improve overall health. If you are following this eating pattern then you have to fast for around 10-16hours a day and remaining hours is the window for your food consumption. This overwhelming trend is quite common in celebrities, tech experts and commoners too these days. Incidentally, actor Ram Kapoor who is best known for his roles in TV shows such as Bade Achhe Lagte Hain and Kasam Se among others also followed this diet to lose over 30 odd kilos.
The two popular types of Intermittent fasting patterns are 16:8 diet and 5:2 diet. In the 16:8 diet, one has to fast for 16-hour period and the and during the same, one can consume unsweetened beverages and 8-hour window is for normal consumption of meals preferably healthy. In 5:2 pattern, after 5 days of eating, one has to follow 2 days of fasting.
By following the same, one automatically eat fewer meals which means fewer calories and as we all know, calorie intake reduction will eventually lead to weight loss. As per studies, IF also leads to boosting of metabolism and weight watchers know the importance of metabolism. Also, apart from weight loss, it also helps to control and maintain blood sugar level, cholesterol, blood pressure and heart rate among others. Studies also claim that it helps to reduce the risks of brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The same study also found that timing your meals according to your body clock helps in boosting your metabolism, which is very essential for weight loss. A healthy metabolism ensures that the body burns fat and calories quickly.
However, there are a lot of debates going on how it can affect your health in a negative way as there are side effects. As per some studies, IF can lead to hair loss, anxiety and stress among others. We asked nutritionist and food coach Anupama Menon to share her views on the eating pattern and to reveal whether it is unsafe or unhealthy She said," The intermittent fast of 10-14 hours is healthy. It helps digestion, reduces/eliminates acidity and controls blood sugar levels. It's great for longevity and is touted as an anti-aging methodology. A 10-14 hour fasting period is sustainable and helps to keep one's weight in check. But it has to work for you, based on how hungry you feel, decide the number of hours you want to fast for. She added, "It isn't really a fad, it is a well-researched philosophy that reduces inflammation and promotes health."
