Being at an optimum weight is crucial for good health. One way to achieve a healthy weight is through intermittent fasting.
Fasting is not really something new. In fact, it has been used since ancient times to promote good health and wellbeing. Intermittent fasting is cycling between eating and fasting. You spend certain hours fasting, and after fasting hours are over, you eat to break your fast.
It has been said that this method is very good at burning fat and getting a healthy weight. It also promotes autophagy, which is the clearing of damaged cells. If you want to learn more about how the body can clear damaged cells, you can check this autophagy guide.
If you love your family, you want to get them to a healthy weight and prevent a number of diseases that are weight-related, such as diabetes and heart problems.
The following are just some of the way intermittent fasting can benefit you and your family:
- Changes The Body
Fasting helps promotes weight loss by allowing insulin levels to drop. The body breaks down carbohydrates and turns them into glucose, which is used as energy for the body. Insulin is a substance that helps the body absorb glucose.
People who aren’t eating will have their insulin levels drop. This state forces cells to release glucose. This glucose will then be used as energy for the body. As this process repeats itself, it will result in weight loss.
Through weight loss, you and your family will have better chances of fighting off extra pounds and be fitter.
In a study, it’s been revealed that fasting is very good at reducing body weight.
- Prevents Diabetes
Being overweight or obese is one of the causes of diabetes. That being said, since intermittent fasting promotes weight loss, it can help prevent diabetes.
Intermittent fasting can help lower insulin levels and therefore help lower blood glucose in patients at risk of diabetes. There’s also an increased reduction in insulin sensitivity, and this is good news for groups of people who are candidates for type 2 diabetes.
- Lowers Blood Pressure
Intermittent fasting is also effective in lowering blood pressure in the short-term. A study shows that there’s a decreased systolic blood pressure in 23 participants. Another study has even shown that systolic blood pressure is reduced more significantly compared to other diets that didn’t involve a defined eating time.
It’s important to have healthy blood pressure since unhealthy blood pressures are indicative of heart problems, kidney problems, and other diseases. It has been shown that healthy blood pressures only happens while the person is on intermittent fasting diets. Once they’ve ended their intermittent fasting diets, their blood pressure returns to normal.
- Lowers Cholesterol
Research has shown that intermittent fasting is very good at lowering bad cholesterol. Alternate day fasting, combined with endurance exercises, is good at offsetting bad cholesterol.
Bad cholesterol increases your risk of diseases, such as heart problems and diabetes, as well as stroke. Since intermittent fasting can help reduce weight, it can also help reduce the presence of triglycerides in the body, which are very dangerous to health.
- Boosts Brain Function
Intermittent fasting is also said to boost brain function. Thus, you’ll have better focus and memory as well as better concentration when you apply intermittent fasting in your diet.
A study reveals that intermittent fasting can help the degeneration of memory that comes with age. Fasting also helps the connection between brain links in the hippocampus as well as protect against amyloid plaques, which are a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
Is Intermittent Fasting Good for Kids?
Intermittent fasting, combined with a healthy lifestyle, such as enough sleep, can promote good health and wellbeing. However, there haven’t been enough studies to show that intermittent fasting can be beneficial for children and adolescents. Additionally, it’s a well-known fact that dieting is not recommended for children and adolescents who are still growing up.
Instead, the intentional approach should be used with children and adolescents. Give them a specified time in which to eat their meals. Minimize the consumption of sugar and high sugar beverages. Give them a high amount of fruits and vegetables each day. Lastly, cut back on fast foods and fatty foods. Most importantly, always take time to eat together as a family.
Final Thoughts
You want to give your family the best health possible, and an intermittent fasting diet can help achieve it. Because intermittent fasting promotes weight loss, it gives the benefits that weight loss has to offer in health.
Reduction in common health problems, such as heart diseases and diabetes, are just some effects of intermittent fasting. However, when it comes to kids and adolescents, intermittent fasting may not be advisable, and what you should do instead is to use an intentional approach diet plan.
