Intermittent fasting may not be beneficial.

Intermittent fasting may not be beneficial.

Intermittent fasting reduces the amount of food a person eats, but it also reduces the amount of physical activity they do. Intermittent fasting increases the difficulty of exercising, as studies show that when calorie intake is significantly reduced, even for a short period of time, the body adapts by reducing the number of calories used during exercise. The Economic Times", citing "The Conversation" magazine.

Nutrition expert David Clayton, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Professor of Physiology at the University of Nottingham writes that many who have been thinking about losing weight or wanting to eat a healthy diet over the past few years must have come across information on intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting has gained a lot of popularity lately, with many advocates claiming that it helped them lose weight better than other diet methods.

Similar results

Professor Clayton says that the reason for the appeal and popularity of intermittent fasting as a way to lose weight is that it is simple and flexible, as it can be easily adapted to each person, and does not require abstaining from specific foods or counting calories.

But despite its popularity, intermittent fasting may not actually be better than other diet methods when it comes to losing weight.

Professor Clayton adds that several studies have so far revealed that intermittent fasting is as beneficial as a calorie counting system when it comes to weight loss, citing the results of a recent study that followed participants for more than a year.

The results also matched many different types of intermittent fasting, including alternate-day fasting, where one fasts or restricts calories every other day in turns, or a 5:2 diet, where one eats normally five days a week, Then fasting or restricting calories for two days as well as eating meals according to time timings such as the 16:8 system where one gets all his meals within eight hours and then fasts for 16 hours.

downside

Professor Clayton explains that the results of any studies have not yet shown that intermittent fasting is better than the rest of the traditional diets, explaining that intermittent fasting reduces the amount of food eaten, but it may have a downside, which is that it reduces the amount of physical activity that does The person doubles the difficulty of increasing the loads of sports exercises.

No matter what type of intermittent fasting a person follows, when calories are significantly reduced, even for a short period of time, the body adapts by reducing the number of calories used during exercise, Professor Clayton says. The sure reason for this to happen.

damage to health

Professor Clayton says that while lower levels of physical activity may not necessarily affect weight loss, it can have other negative health effects.

For example, a recent study on alternate-day fasting, or alternating fasting, found that once the regime was followed for only three weeks, physical activity levels decreased and resulted in a greater loss of muscle mass compared to a daily calorie-restricted diet. Less effective than daily calorie restriction for fat loss.

muscle loss

Muscle mass is critical for many reasons, including regulating blood sugar levels and staying physically fit as we age. So it is best to avoid diets that cause muscle loss. But a combination of intermittent fasting and exercise programs may help you better maintain lean muscle mass while encouraging fat loss.

For blood pressure and diabetes

While intermittent fasting may not be a panacea when it comes to weight loss, that doesn't mean it may not have other health benefits.

Professor Clayton points out that a recent scientific review on intermittent fasting reported that it improves blood pressure and insulin sensitivity, i.e. how effectively the body regulates blood sugar, and lowers cholesterol levels to an extent similar to limiting daily calories, noting that few studies followed participants for longer than general, so it is difficult to know if these positive effects persist.

Biological clock

Some research also suggests that the intermittent fasting method of choice could be key to achieving better results. A number of studies have shown promising results from early restricted eating, which includes eating all of the day's calories in the early part of the day and fasting in the evening, usually from 4 pm onwards.

Eating earlier in the day balances food intake with the human body's natural circadian rhythms, which means nutrients are processed more efficiently.