Everything You Need to Know About Intermittent Fasting
Weight management is tough. Whether you have been on your journey for one year or one week, managing your weight comes with many ups and downs. If no amount of diets seem to work, or you can’t see yourself giving up your favorite foods, intermittent fasting may be the choice for your lifestyle. Gonstead Physical Medicine in Albuquerque can support you in making healthy choices and answer your questions about intermittent fasting.
What Is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is defined as a pattern of eating that cycles between periods of eating and periods of fasting. It has gained support for its results spanning weight loss, diabetes prevention, and optimized metabolism.
Intermittent fasting has also been commended for its non-restrictive nature; it does not specify what foods to eat, but rather, when to eat them. While many diets require giving up some of your favorite dishes, intermittent fasting instead supports a natural, perfectly healthy eating pattern.
How Does Intermittent Fasting Work?
Intermittent fasting is highly customizable to fit your unique lifestyle needs. Be sure to consult with your doctor at Gonstead Physical Medicine before making any drastic changes.
A widely followed pattern of intermittent fasting is the 16-8 pattern, wherein 8 hours are reserved for eating, and 16 hours are reserved for fasting. This pattern is typically very manageable and sustainable for most lifestyles, and still offers many of the desired benefits of choosing intermittent fasting. Within the 8-hour window of eating, it is possible to eat the typical three meals per day.
Another pattern, known as Eat-Stop-Eat, allows for normal eating habits most of the week, and fasting for 24 hours up to twice per week. Water and other zero-calorie beverages may be consumed during the fast, but solid foods are not permitted.
It is crucial to remember that, during the eating window, wholesome and nutritious foods should be the foundation of your diet. Intermittent fasting may not work to your benefit if an excessive amount of calories or processed foods are consumed.
What Are the Results of Intermittent Fasting?
Studies have shown that, when followed with a high-nutrition diet, intermittent fasting has many benefits, including:
- Increasing cognitive capacity in thinking and memory
- Decreasing high blood pressure and heart rate
- Boosting physical performance, especially endurance
- Preventing diabetes and obesity
- Improving tissue health
Schedule an Appointment Today
Gonstead Physical Medicine is eager to assist you in making great choices to support a healthy lifestyle. Be sure to schedule an appointment at our Albuquerque or Rio Rancho locations to get support on your wellness journey today!
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Intermittent Fasting
