5 Reasons To Consider Intermittent Fasting

If you have spent any time around the internet for the past couple of years, especially when looking for weight loss tips, it’s likely that you’ve stumbled across intermittent fasting. It’s one of the trendiest ways to lose weight right now, and people are posting their amazing before and after pictures left and right. While it does have its critics, intermittent fasting has proven to be effective and beloved by those that have undergone the program. Why should you join the many that have lost weight? Here are some of the best reasons to at least consider intermittent fasting for yourself.

5. Proven Weight Loss

Why not start with the obvious reason why so many people are hopping on the intermittent fasting train? Weight loss is why a vast majority of people try out intermittent fasting, and those that stuck with the program for at least 10 weeks saw success, typically losing just over one pound of fat per week. It’s important to find the right type of fasting for you, though, as some have lost just under 1 percent of their body weight while others in the same timespan lost up to 13 percent.

4. Lower Cholesterol

Most people that jump into intermittent fasting might not realize how beneficial it can be for their heart health. This is especially true for your cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that those in an IF program are likely to lower their LDL levels and increase their HDL levels of cholesterol. For those that might not be aware, LDL is the bad one and HDL is the good one. It’s important to note, however, that these studies are more in the short-term (at least for now).

3. Better Sleep

Sleep is one of the biggest factors for your overall health, and millions struggle with it on a daily basis. Even if you’re not trying to lose a single pound, you may want to consider intermittent fasting to improve your sleep. This is because one study found that those who tried IF for just one week saw a huge boost in restful sleep. Participants fell into a deeper sleep without tossing and turning at night, leading to an increase in their focus and mood while awake.

2. Diabetes Treatment

In the United States alone, it’s estimated that about one out of every 10 people has diabetes, with many not even knowing that they do. If you’re one of the millions that has diabetes, intermittent fasting has proven to be a huge help. “Essentially, fasting is doing what we prescribe diabetes medications to do,” says Benjamin Horne of Intermountain Healthcare. “Which is to improve insulin sensitivity…even when people aren’t losing weight on a fasting regimen, some research has found that insulin sensitivity improves markedly.”

1. Potential for Longevity

Currently, studies are in progress that show that intermittent fasting can be a benefit for longevity. It’s already being shown in mice, with one such study taking place five years ago. The average lifespan of these mice that underwent IF increased by 13 percent, and we’re now starting to see the same results in humans. It doesn’t have to be an everyday thing, either, with the benefits for longevity being shown for those that use IF on an every other day basis.