There are numerous intermittent fasting health benefits beyond weight loss and fat burning. Intermittent fasting is a fantastic way to reduce calories without consciously trying plus the hormonal benefits of fasting will put you in a fat-burning state.
If you’re new to intermittent fasting it just means that you are cycling between periods of eating and fasting. The two most popular types of intermittent fasting schedules are 16:8 and 24-hour fasting. A 16:8 fast means that you fast for 16 hours and then taking in all your calories within an eight-hour eating window and you do this intermittently a few days per week. A 24 hour fast is done intermittently as well for example once or twice per week. You can drink no-calorie liquids during your fast but all calories should be avoided.
Top Ten Intermittent Fasting Health Benefits
1- Weight loss
Most people lose weight with intermittent fasting from calorie restriction and the hormonal benefits of being in a fasted state.
2- Fat burning
Studies have shown that fasting is very effective in burning fat.
There was a study published from the journal of transitional medicine on weight lifters “Effects of eight weeks of time-restricted feeding (16/8) on basal metabolism, maximal strength, body composition, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors in resistance-trained males”
Conclusions: Our results suggest that an intermittent fasting program in which all calories are consumed in an 8-h window each day, in conjunction with resistance training, could improve some health-related biomarkers, decrease fat mass, and maintain muscle mass in resistance-trained males.
3- Increase insulin sensitivity
There are hormonal benefits to fasting. Fasting lowers insulin levels and increases your insulin sensitivity.
4- Lowers blood pressure
Studies have shown that fasting can be helpful at lowering blood pressure. But make sure you check with your doctor before fasting if you have high blood pressure.
5- Increases Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
6- Lowers triglycerides
7- Upregulates autophagy
Autophagy is the body’s way of cleaning that damages cells to regenerate newer healthy ones.
8- Reduces cancer risk
A recent study concluded that prolonged nightly fasting can reduce your risk of cancer.
9- Reduces inflammation
10- Increases longevity
If you’re thinking about trying intermittent fasting I hope this article helped.
Best – Mike Cola
