Intermittent fasting works! A recent study reviewed 130 studies and found that intermittent fasting could help reduce weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat, bad cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and blood pressure.
Two types of intermittent fasting appear to be best and the most effective for weight loss: modified alternate-day fasting and the 5:2 diet. Modified alternate-day fasting is alternating days where one day you eat as usual, but no more than 600 calories the next day. The 5:2 diet is similar, but involves 2 days per week of zero or very low-calorie eating and 5 days of normal eating.
Less effective were time-restricted eating (can only eat during certain hours of the day, and fast the remaining 12 to 24 hours), and zero calorie alternate-day fasting (no food consumed every other day).
A second study (scroll down) found that while the 5:2 diet was initially effective, people had trouble keeping to it long-term.
At this point the medical advice is: find a type of intermittent fasting that you can stick with, and try it!
Excerpts from Medscape: Intermittent Fasting Works, at Least in the Short Term
Intermittent fasting can lead to weight loss and other health benefits, at least in the short-term, new research suggests. ...continue reading "Intermittent Fasting Has Health Benefits"