While most diets tell you what you should and shouldn’t eat, intermittent fasting uses a different approach. The main focus here is – when you eat. That means you are only allowed to eat during a specific time frame during the day.
How Does Intermittent Fasting Work?
There are several ways you can intermittently fast. However, all of them are based on defining tight schedules for eating. For example, most beginners start by eating only during an eight-hour period during the day and fast during the remainder. Alternatively, you can decide only to have one meal per day.
Intermittent fasting ensures the body has plenty of time to digest your food. After those calories are burned, your body begins to burn extra fat. Doing this over some time will enable you to lose weight.
What You Should Eat While Intermittent Fasting
Zero-calorie drinks such as water, tea, and black coffee are allowed when you are not supposed to eat. During your eating periods, you shouldn’t consume high-calorie junk food if you want to lose some weight. Instead, try to eat nutritious food in moderation for the best results.
Many nutritionists advise sticking to the Mediterranean diet as a good guideline. You can hardly go wrong with food rich in lean protein, healthy fats, and leafy greens.
Intermittent Fasting Benefits
While some people choose intermittent fasting to lose weight, others use it to address chronic conditions. Intermittent fasting is not ideal for everyone, especially pregnant women or children under 12. However, most people will experience benefits such as weight loss, improved heart health, and reduced cancer risk.
