Is Intermittent Fasting Actually Dangerous?
Intermittent fasting is making big waves in the wellness world again, but not with great news. The American Heart Association this week published results of a study that found that people who restricted their eating to fewer than 8 hours per day have a 91% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to people who stretch out their eating hours.
The results of the survey, which included information from more than 20,000 US adults (414 in the 8-hour eating window group) were presented at the Epidemiology and Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health conference in Chicago. The study hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed.
There are different types of intermittent fasting; time-restricted eating, which the latest study focused on, is one of them. People may restrict their eating windows from 12 hours down to 6 or fewer, but an 8-hour eating window is common. Intermittent fasting has gained popularity as a potential way to lose weight, lower cholesterol and reduce other risk factors for heart disease. This is one reason headlines on the recent study were so jarring; previous research had suggested an opposite link to heart health, but with shorter-term results.
Excerpted from CNET
