What Are the Benefits (& Risks) of Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting has become a popular approach to weight loss, playing off the idea that we didn’t always have food available 24/7, and that our daily snacking habits are feeding the ever-growing obesity epidemic. Like most diets, the research on intermittent fasting is ongoing. But preliminary studies, in both humans and animals, show promise for several benefits that go beyond just weight loss.
“Research continues to be done, and so far intermittent fasting has been shown to reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, [and] lead to improvement in glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol which can prevent the progression of chronic diseases,” says Veronica Contreras, DO, an urgent care physician with AltaMed Health Services. Here are nine benefits of intermittent fasting, important risks and side effects to consider, and tips for getting started.
1. Could help with weight loss. Numerous studies have found that intermittent fasting may help people lose weight. For example, a 2015 systematic review of 40 studies found that, on average, study participants lost 7-11 pounds over a span of 10 weeks.
Excerpted from Insider
