Intermittent fasting is not a danger, neither is it a form of diet. Short bursts of staying away from food and consciously choosing what we eat to help us attain a better balance of the body are what we term as intermittent fasting.
It is a method of fasting so well weaved into the fabric of our society with conscious religious pretexts. These pretexts helping us to focus on the higher aspect of life and taking care of health and well being. It is a method of calling the brain away from the regular hunger pangs and allowing it to focus better so the body can be eased into performing the necessary changes.
If you have been toying with the idea of fasting and wondering how it can be used without the additional add-on pounds following the fasting, here are some insights from my research and readings.
What happens when we are on intermittent fasting?
The few hours that the body spends processing the food after consumption is now being channelized towards, breaking down the excess food stored previously. This will provide the energy necessary so you are not starving. The glycogen stored in the liver is the first source of energy. The amount of energy spend to get the calories hidden in this is higher and hence is not a preferred process for the body when we are on a normal day. this is where it begins to aid weight loss.
Following this period you will have remarkable sensitivity towards insulin and it is important to know what kind of carbohydrates you intake. Make sure it is the complex carbs and not refined flours or sugar. Keep it natural and simple preventing a sugar spike (diabetics are advised to consult doctors suggestion)
Working through intermittent fasting slowly and steadily over a period of time promotes liver detox. Simple logic, more time for the liver to spend on self rejenuation when it does not have to continuously keep removing toxins( maybe from ingested food) from the blood. Slowly the body begins to tap on the fat reserve and slowly mobilizes these fats to provide the energy. This promotes further weight loss and better absorbability of the now consumed thoughtful produce.
Intermittent fasting has shown remarkable changes in gut-lining bacteria, better immunity and reduction in inflammation.
Doable types of intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is a much simpler option to practice than the 6 small meals a day plan and hence preferred among the youth. there are quite a few ways in which you can achieve this.
Have you heard of alternate day eating?
Essentially you eat well one day and abstain the next. tough one for me as my brain will just be looking forward to the next day and never allow me to go through the current one.
The pretty popular one day a week fasting
The benefits of this aim towards detox for the liver and helps in maintaining a decent amount of weight loss if you focus on being active and consciously choose what you eat through the rest of the days
nightly fasting
No, this is not your 8-hour sleep, you need to eat your dinner early . Give the body up to 12-14 hours to process and move on. Quite doable ( has been working well for me with intermittent cheating)
a meal a day plan
the plan works if you can just tuck in a conscious well-balanced meal one time day. Then forget about food for the whole rest of the day. Not workable if you have issues of acidity.
9 hour off fasting
This intermittent fasting plan works on the keeping away from food for the first 8 hours when you are awake. Then begin eating from the 9th. Somehow I am sceptical if I will hold up that long though evidence suggests they are effective.
the most popular 16/8
fasting for 16 hours and choosing a useful 8-hour window to feed yourself in multiple meals. This is one of the most practical forms. The 8 hour period gives you ample time to relax and feel like you have been fasting. (makes the brain feel better). It gives enough time for the body to detox. Eat thoughtfully and move responsibly for best results
Some more thoughts
Following your period of staying away from food don’t go back to the cravings. Keep the hydration and activity levels up to normal. Being active during this phase helps in two ways, one it aids weight loss. It also takes your mind away from the hunger pangs. But yes, initially you will feel more tired than normal. So relax and take a break. Make sure your food choices reflect a good balance of proteins and carbs. Do provide your body good source of fat to compensate and recover. For the detox process to be complete ample amount of water is needed to flush out the toxins. Hence adequate amounts of water and liquids are to be provided for optimum results.
Easier said than done a conscious time break from food actually bring a marked reduction in binge eating. A 12-16 hour break from food is what we mean by a time break. It is highly compelling to reach out for a bag of chips or take a bite of the chocolate. But hold that thought at bay just for a bit longer.The craving will stop by day 2.
Breaking the fast
The care that must be exercised in breaking a fast is in proportion to the length of the fast and to the general condition of the fasting individual. It is very typical to break the fast on liquid food, using for this purpose fruit juice, or tomato juice, or Watermelon juice, or vegetable broths. Fruit juice–usually orange juice–is used most often. The vegetable stews can also be used to break the fast. The most important thing to look is to introduce the food slowly [ and chewing it properly ] into the system.
I hope this article helps you to understand a bit more in detail about the complex mechanisms of our body.
The views and expression are purely based on personal understanding and are not a nutritional advice. Please seek the advice of a professional or your doctor based on your medical conditions. This article is not a religious advice or meant to be a part of any religion,. It is just a share of acquired knowledge and personal experience.
If you like to see some of the recipes that can help you break the fast, check these out.
featured image credit @adisri
Lovely write-up Seema ..informative too !
Thankyou Poonam
The timing can’t be perfect when Ramadan is on its way! I totally feel sorry for people who eat so much during the month and then complain they are all bloated and have gained weight! When on fasting, discipline is so important… thank you for explaining the science behind it and love the recipes shared for the same…
Agree Rafeeda, I hope it will be of use for some atleast.
Interesting and very informative as well. Never heard about this intermittent fasting, good to know about this.
This is a concept related to all the fastings prevalent. Just that we don’t really know why we do these and then overdo all. my aim was to just get the awareness out so we can work it better.
Useful and lovely write up. Enjoyed reading. People keep fasting without knowing the mechanisms of the body. Thanks for sharing ????
Thanks sujatha, yeah I hope it is useful.
Informative post.. thanks for sharing all the details of fasting in various ways.
So glad it is useful, Shobha
Lovely post and very informative ! Thanks for sharing with us !
Thanks Priya
Informative article. I also have recently started night fasting use to shy away from it as use to think how will I survive in the night…but it really works….
Ahhh, thats great Renu. Hope you find the best results soon.
Such an informative post, loved the way you have explained everything in detail, will be helpful to many , lovely share.
Thanks Soma, hope you could add it up to those who need the info
A great write up about fasting. Never heard about these effects behind fasting, thanks for sharing such a wonderful post.
Glad it was an effcetive read for you, Jolly.
An informative and useful write up about fasting. Fasting in any form has been around for eons but modern times give it modern names. Th most doable for me personally is the once a week fast or the one not to eat too late at night.
Fasting and science go hand in hand, our ancestors knew this. Lovely and informative post.
True, understanding these practices with modern knowledge makes us appreciate it better.
Splendid post! Well researched and very informative! It’s as if you read my mind and saved me a lot of time searching for good material all over the internet ???? Ramadan is starting in a couple of days. I’m planning to switch to intermittent fasting immediately after that and your post will be so helpful then.
Maria, Ramadan to is a form of intermittent fasting, though in understanding it has religious reasons and hydration factor to be altered. But not overloading during Ramadan is also an easy way to follow this up.
Very informative post about fasting and I am eyeing those recipes to break the fast. Wonderful write up dear.
Thanks Sapana, glad you like the final grid
A very informative post on fasting. When it comes to fasting I’m a bit weak at it. However for me the nightly fast and once a week fast works better. Every day hubby and I try to have our light dinner early.
Totally in my case too, when I hear fasting all sorts of hunger used to be the ones I rely on as a reason i find not to involve in it. Learning about it prompted me to try. A small step towards understanding makes a huge difference. Hence sharing.
Never heard about intermittent fasting. Lovely and usuful write up. Thank you for sharing
Informative article Seema. One needs to find the best way that suits their body metabolism.