What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a popular eating plan touted as effective in helping people lose weight. It involves following a schedule for eating and fasting. For instance, you can try the daily approach of eating only during a six or eight-hour period in a day and fasting for the rest, only drinking water or non-caloric drinks. Another schedule is the 5:2 approach, which is to eat only one meal for two days and eat regularly for the rest of the week.
What Happens When You Fast?
Intermittent fasting works by prolonging the periods when the body has food, which means lesser calorie intake so that it uses up its sugar stores and starts burning fat in a process called metabolic switching.
When you fast, your body’s hormone and insulin levels adjust to make stored body fat easier to access and burn. It releases a fat-burning hormone called norepinephrine and increases your metabolic rate. Fasting also helps trigger the body’s cellular repair process.
Tips for Effective Fasting
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and calorie-free drinks like herbal teas during the day. Eat foods with a lot of water content, such as watermelon, cucumbers, celery, oranges, apples, and tomatoes.
- Avoid physically strenuous activities that may exhaust your energy. Opt for more relaxing activities such as yoga instead.
- Choose foods with high nutritional value rich in protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, and healthy fats to prevent nutrition deficiency.
- Do not binge or overeat during your eating window. Try eating at a slower pace for better digestion, and stop when you feel full.
Intermittent Fasting Apps
The intermittent fasting method works for many because it is simple and easier to do than other calorie-controlled diet techniques. However, it is best to consult a medical professional before trying it.
Here are a few of the top-rated apps to help you in your intermittent fasting journey:
Simple: Intermittent Fasting offers a personalised program tailored to your goals and features, including recipes, articles, and a progress tracker.
Zero: Fasting & Health Tracker helps you track your fasts, progress, and goals according to your chosen fasting type. It provides real-time tips and individualised stats.
BodyFast: Intermittent Fasting provides a personalised fasting coach, weekly challenges, hundreds of recipes, a weight and water tracker, and more features.
Many people see intermittent fasting not as a diet but as a lifestyle. With the help of technology, you can effectively improve your lifestyle and achieve your health goals.