What Are the Real Benefits of Fasting?
According to Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Mark Mattson, Ph.D., who has researched fasting for more than 25 years, our bodies have evolved, and we can go without food for many hours or even days. In the past, human beings who relied on hunting and gathering to survive and thrive could go for long hours without food. Recently, we have seen a surge in people practicing intermittent fasting, a practice that dates back many years ago and has played a significant role in different cultures and religions.
Intermittent fasting is the practice of abstaining from eating for a set amount of time before resuming regular eating. The most common duration of intermittent fasting involves refraining from food daily for 16 to 24 hours two days a week.
Methods of Intermittent Fasting: Intermittent fasting is done in several different ways. Below are the most popular methods.
- 16/8 method – This method involves limiting the intake of beverages and food to 8 hours, such as from 1-9 pm, and fasting for 16 hours.
- Eat-stop-eat – This method entails refraining from food for 24 hours once or twice a week. For instance, you can choose not to eat from 7 pm today until 7 pm the next day.
- The 5:2 diet: This type of intermittent fasting regime limits the intake of calories to 500-600 calories in a day for two non-consecutive days but usually eats for the remaining five days.
- The 16/8 method is the most popular since it is simple and easier to stick to.
Excerpted from News Channel Nebraska
