Very few people decide to diet because they enjoy feeling
hungry. In most cases, people diet to lose weight and feel better. The problem
with most diets is that you are hungry all the time. But there is a new point
of view that says that you don’t need to diet every day. Instead, just fast
occasionally, and you will accomplish these same goals.
Fasting is a term that means that you are not eating.
Pretty simple, right? You just don’t eat. Clearly this isn’t a long-term
solution, and no sane person would think otherwise.
Intermittent fasting means that you eat most of the time,
but sometimes you fast. This kind of fasting can mean skipping a meal or two,
up to “nothing by mouth” for an entire day. The results of this kind of
on-again, off-again fasting can be impressive.
Scientific interest in the positive aspects of fasting
has been long and strong. Back in 1945 it was observed that rats lived longer
and had a lower incidence of cancer when the only ate on alternating days.
Decades later, the research continues to pile up that shows that intermittent
fasting can extend lifespan and avoid many age-related issues such as diabetes,
obesity, dementia, stroke and cancer.
A key benefit of intermittent fasting is maintaining the
body’s sensitivity to insulin. With aging, the body can become somewhat insulin
resistant. This can lead to obesity, heart disease and type II diabetes. There is also some research that points to a
related increase in a protein that nurtures damaged brain cells. This could be
the mechanism for intermittent fasting decreasing dementia, Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s.
Intermittent fasting might be right for you. Especially
in situations where a daily reduction in calories just isn’t working, choosing
a day or two a week to fast might just be the answer.
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