- 16/8 Method: This time-restricted form of intermittent fasting involves an 8-hour window for food consumption and fasting for 16 hours.
- 5/2 Method: In the 5/2 Method of intermittent fasting, you can follow your regular diet for five days of the week, and then for the last two days you restrict yourself from calorie intake.
- Eat Stop Eat: Under this method, you fast for 24 hours once or twice a week.
- Alternate-Day Fasting: As the name suggests, this method involves fasting on every alternative day of the week. You follow your normal diet one day and on the next day you either fast or have a small meal with calories less than 500.
These methods are widely adopted by individuals looking forward to reducing weight and improving their lifestyle. Although intermittent fasting has gained popularity for weight loss, the benefits extend beyond the surface. It covers various important aspects of health that can surprise you. Here are those 5 unexpected benefits of intermittent fasting:
Increased Energy Level
Contrary to what you might expect, intermittent fasting can actually boost your energy. When you fast, your body taps stored energy, primarily from fats, by lowering insulin levels and enhancing metabolic processes. Fasting helps to prevent constant blood sugar spikes and crashes from frequent eating, allowing individuals to experience improved focus and sustained energy. This steady and efficient energy supply makes your body feel energized and productive. Besides intermittent fasting, you should also focus on the intake of a nutrient-rich diet or add supplements that are vital for your health. Various supplements like orchic capsules, bull testicle supplements, pine pollen capsules, and pine pollen tincture, are widely used for energy level optimization and further offer an array of benefits.
(Note: Before incorporating the use of any supplements, consult a professional healthcare practitioner to ensure the suitability of the supplements according to the unique individual needs.)
Improves Brain Function When you fast, the cells undergo autophagy- a process wherein the cell breaks down to destroy old, or damaged components of the cell and recycle the breakdowns for important cell functions. This process is vital for cellular function, protecting the brain from neurodegenerative diseases. Further, fasting increases BDNF levels (improving cognitive function and memory) and reduces inflammation.
Longevity and Anti-Aging Benefits
Intermittent fasting significantly helps to improve longevity and offers anti-aging benefits. Restricting calories helps decrease cellular damage and maintain healthy DNA, the two key factors that contribute to fighting aging. However, for many individuals cutting calorie intake by 30-40% is quite feasible in the long run. But if you try and follow intermittent fasting you can enjoy longevity and anti-aging benefits.
Improves Gut Health
Having good gut health is really crucial for the overall functioning and well-being of the body. A healthy gut microbiome regulates immune responses, protecting the body from infections and chronic inflammation. With the help of intermittent fasting individuals can now improve gut health as it gives the digestive system sufficient time to rest and repair. During fasting periods, the body reduces gut inflammation and promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria, leading to a more balanced microbiome. An imbalance in gut bacteria can lead to digestive issues, weakened immunity, and even conditions like depression and anxiety, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy gut.
Reduce the Risk of Chronic Diseases
Another major advantage of intermittent fasting is reduced risk of chronic diseases. Fasting improves insulin sensitivity and lowers cholesterol levels, significantly helping the body from chronic diseases. High-level cholesterol increases the risk of heart health. So, it is crucial to follow practices that help reduce cholesterol levels in the body and protect the body from chronic diseases.
So, these are the 5 key advantages of intermittent fasting, helping you to improve your health. From increasing energy levels to improving brain function, providing longevity to anti-aging benefits, and improving gut health to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, incorporating intermittent fasting can significantly transform your lifestyle. As mentioned above, there are various methods of intermittent fasting that you can try and later follow the one that best fits your needs. Make intermittent fasting a part of your lifestyle and witness the changes. Also, start eating a healthy diet. Check out wild-warrior recipes that infuse nutrients into unique flavors, transforming your boring diet plan into a super-interesting healthy diet.
So, select your intermittent fasting method and get on the road to improve your health.
