The 5 Intermittent Fasting Benefits You Didn’t Know About

Intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular in recent years, with plenty of the weight loss crowd lauding its benefits, but what are those benefits? Intermittent fasting offers many potential benefits that you may not be aware of, so let’s take a look at the 5 intermittent fasting benefits you didn’t know about and how they could change your life.

1) Helps Reduce Inflammation

When you have inflammation, your body is in a state of stress. This causes your cells to produce more free radicals, which can damage DNA and lead to disease. Intermittent fasting helps reduce inflammation by giving your cells a break from constantly producing free radicals. It also lowers the release of hormones that trigger inflammation, such as insulin and leptin. Reduces Inflammation: Inflammation is a natural response that the body has when it’s dealing with illness or injury. It’s designed to help protect us against these things. However, sometimes chronic levels of inflammation will result in serious health problems like heart disease or diabetes. Some research suggests that intermittent fasting reduces this type of chronic inflammation. Fights Cancer: One way that intermittent fasting may fight cancer is by regulating cellular metabolism. What happens during cellular metabolism? Well, cells use sugar for energy, but this process produces acidic compounds called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS accumulate over time and increase oxidative stress on our bodies. Increased oxidative stress can eventually cause chronic diseases. Studies show that intermittent fasting limits the production of ROS, meaning less oxidative stress and lower risk for diseases. Promotes Weight Loss: The reason intermittent fasting leads to weight loss is because it boosts your metabolic rate while simultaneously reducing how much food you eat at any given meal. In one study where participants ate 25% fewer calories every day, they lost an average of 12 pounds in only 3 months without making any other lifestyle changes!

2) Reduces Fatigue

When you intermittent fast, your body is able to better utilize the energy it has, which leads to reduced fatigue. In one study, participants who practiced intermittent fasting for 16 weeks reported feeling more energetic and less tired than they did before the study. To reduce chronic fatigue in adults with HIV/AIDS, researchers found that fasting once a week led to improved moods and reduced symptoms of infection.
Intermittent fasting can also help prevent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in people with diabetes. Hypoglycemia is a major concern for diabetic patients, because an episode can lead to coma or death. The autonomic nervous system regulates our fight-or-flight response by secreting hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol when we are under stress. People with diabetes have abnormal levels of insulin or other hormones so their bodies cannot respond properly to changes in their blood sugar levels, meaning that their muscles don’t get enough glucose when there’s not enough insulin or glucagon circulating through the bloodstream. In addition, some diabetics may have autonomic neuropathy from nerve damage due to years of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). These patients are especially at risk of experiencing low blood sugar because they have difficulty sensing changes in their glucose levels.

3) Boosts Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

One of the main benefits of intermittent fasting is that it can help to increase levels of human growth hormone (HGH). This is a hormone that is responsible for cell growth and regeneration. In one study, it was found that fasting increased HGH by up to 2000% in men and 1300% in women. This can lead to a number of benefits such as increased muscle mass, reduced body fat and improved skin health. It has also been linked with an improvement in cognitive function, lower risk of heart disease and diabetes. Plus you get all the other perks of a regular fast such as an increase in focus, higher energy levels and boosted immune system. On top of this, intermittent fasting has also been shown to decrease LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and improve insulin sensitivity which are both important factors in maintaining a healthy weight. Studies have shown that people who practise intermittent fasting lose more weight than those who don’t because their overall calorie intake is lowered over time. When we eat too many calories or carbs our blood sugar spikes then falls causing us to feel tired, hungry and irritable. We will then consume even more calories in order to feel better again – creating a vicious cycle that leads to overeating and weight gain. By not eating every day we break this cycle, giving our bodies time to rest from processing food so we can burn off stored fat instead.

4) Helps Improve Mood and Concentration

When you go without food for a while, your body starts to produce ketones. These are produced in the liver and used for energy by the brain. Studies have shown that ketones can help improve mood and concentration. Additionally, fasting can help increase levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters that play a role in mood and focus. Eating every other day helps maintain telomeres: Telomeres shorten with age, which can cause cells to stop dividing and die prematurely. Some studies show that intermittent fasting may help slow down this process. A study from 2008 found that people who fasted for just two days a month had longer telomeres than those who didn’t fast at all. Another study from 2017 showed the same results – participants who were put on an alternate-day fasting diet had longer telomeres than those on a normal diet after six months.
Fasting has been linked to reduced inflammation: For years, doctors have known that inflammation is linked to many diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and arthritis.

5) Can Help Lose Weight

When it comes to weight loss, intermittent fasting can be a helpful tool. By reducing the amount of time you spend eating each day, you can reduce your overall calorie intake and lose weight. Additionally, intermittent fasting can help to regulate blood sugar levels, which can further aid in weight loss. Studies have shown that people who follow an intermittent fasting schedule tend to experience higher levels of insulin sensitivity. Reduced Body Fat: One major benefit of intermittent fasting is that it helps the body burn through its fat stores more efficiently by increasing fat oxidation. In one study published in Obesity Reviews, researchers found that consuming zero calories for 16 hours per day led to a 24% increase in fat burning during workouts. A natural side effect of increased fat burning is also reduced amounts of belly fat – another factor linked with many health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. More Muscle Mass:
A common problem for many people trying to maintain or gain muscle mass is not eating enough protein throughout the day.