What Can You Drink While Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting (IF), an eating style that’s typically paired with high-protein or keto diets, begs a lot of questions, especially if you’re new to it. You might be curious what type of fasting schedule you should try, what the legit health benefitsare, whether you’ll experience any side effects, and what kind of weight-loss resultsyou can expect. Another common question is whether you can have beverages, like coffee and water, during your fasting periods.
The short answer is: It depends on the beverage and the type of IF diet you’re following (different types of intermittent fasting, from dry fasting to the Warrior Diet, have different guidelines). But a good rule of thumb is to avoid any drinks that have any calories while you’re fasting, says New Jersey-based dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, author of 2 Day Diabetes Diet.
Consuming any carbs, proteins, or fats when you’re trying to maintain a fasted state can negate the weight-loss benefits of intermittent fasting, she says. IF diets are also thought to lead to a reduction in insulin resistance and help control blood sugar, both of which can reduce your chances of becoming diabetic. These benefits can be quickly canceled out if you consume too many liquid calories during a period of what should be a fasted state.
Excerpted from Women’s Health
