“Is intermittent fasting safe and healthy?”
I have been wanting to try the intermittent fasting to lose weight. Is this safe and healthy?
6 Answers
Hello, Intermittent fasting can be healthy and safe for a healthy individual. I would not recommend it to someone that has blood sugar issues or a pregnant woman. The other question to ask is, is this something that you can do consistently, and how you will be able to do it.
Intermittent fasting means that you don't eat for a period of time each day or week. Intermittent fasting is safe for many people, but it's not for everyone. Skipping meals may not be the best way to manage your weight if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. If you have kidney stones, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes or other medical problems, talk with your doctor,dietitian or nutritionist before starting any form of intermittent fasting.
Fasting is very healthy. One must always drink 64-80 ounces of water daily in the process. If you are going to do intermittent fasting you will want to start with a single 24 hour period first. The later you can do a 48 hour period next.
Intermittent fasting when done correctly is safe and effective to lose weight. If you have your last food intake 3 to 4 hours before going to sleep, and have breakfast an hour or two after you awake, you've done an intermittent fast. For example, if you finish dinner at 7 p.m. and you have breakfast at 9 a.m. that's 14 hours between meals. Most experts will agree between 12 and 16 hours without food (water is okay) is an intermittent fast, Many people do intermittent fasting without realizing it. Paul Bragg's book, "The Miracle of Fasting" is an excellent resource to learn more about fasting.
Yes, safe if you have no past medical history. It can be a useful tool for losing weight, but not the most effective way for body recomposition, specifically when you are trying to retain muscle and reduce body fat percentage. Also when I say "it can be a useful tool" I mean all different diet/weight-loss plans; paleo, keto, Atkins, intermittent fasting, IIFYM (if it fits your macros), etc. can be tools in a weight loss toolbox. What is important is that the individual, YOU, has a diet that is personalized to meet all your specific needs and can follow long term with little to no failure on your part. That is a truly "Healthy" diet.
Intermittent can be safe and healthy as it boosts growth hormone and helps with autophagy. That said, people with hormone imbalances, particularly females with thyroid, adrenal or reproductive hormone imbalances, should not do it for longer than 12-14 hours at a time. It's also helpful if you are somewhat fat adapted (burn more fat than carbohydrates) before you start. I recommend you begin with a 12 hour overnight fast and then gradually increase the time of fasting. Once you get to 14-16 hours of fasting you may find it's best to do on alternate days. Listen to your body.
