Delve into the world of fasting with discussions on its various types, established health benefits, and underlying reasons. Learn how to use fasting as a tool in your nutrition toolbox and discover the best approach according to current science.
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Quick takeaways
Fasting offers various health benefits such as improved weight loss and metabolic markers.
Fasting benefits stem from caloric restriction rather than the specific act of fasting itself.
Deep dives
Health Benefits of Fasting
Fasting has been shown to offer numerous health benefits, including improving health markers such as weight loss, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure. Research indicates that fasting can have positive effects on overall health and well-being through various fasting protocols, promoting benefits supported by randomized control trials.
Fasting versus Calorie Restriction
Studies comparing fasting to calorie restriction have demonstrated that the health benefits observed in fasting may primarily stem from the associated caloric restriction rather than the specific act of fasting. Research findings suggest that when calories are equated between fasting and calorie restriction groups, the health outcomes are similar, indicating that the benefits of fasting are largely due to reducing caloric intake.
Intermittent Fasting Approach
While fasting may not provide distinct advantages over calorie restriction, an early time-restricted feeding approach, which involves consuming a larger portion of calories earlier in the day and fasting for a longer period before dinner, has shown promising results in glucose control, body weight, and body composition. This method, if convenient and sustainable, may offer benefits in metabolic health and could be considered as an option for optimizing eating schedules.