Intermittent fasting has become quite the nutrition buzzword.
But by no means is it anything new. Humans have been fasting for thousands of years for religious or spiritual reasons. And we all practice some form of it throughout the day (like when we sleep).
But these days, fasting has an almost cult like following of people who believe it’s the end all be nutrition strategy for everything health, longevity, mental performance and even fat loss.
And yes, extended periods of fasting does have some health benefits. But other than that, it's simply one way to distribute your calories throughout the day. So when it comes to fat loss, there's nothing magical about it.
Like with anything nutrition related, fasting is just a tool. It’s not necessary for getting results.
It MIGHT help you take in fewer calories if you can control your intake during your feeding window. And if you’re someone who is really busy during the day, it can be helpful from a productivity standpoint.
But fasting isn’t for everyone, and there are instances when it might not be the best approach.
Fasting is a stressor. And when you compound that on top of all the other stressors we face on a daily basis, it can have negative consequences, specifically on hormones. If you’re someone who isn’t sleeping well, trains really intensely, and has a demanding career, it can backfire, especially if you feel like your stress isn’t well managed.
If you’ve have a history of or are currently struggling wth disordered eating. Fasting can become a slippery slope of pushing your feeding window back later and later as a means of cutting calories. Same is true if it makes you more preoccupied with food.
Women, too, should be careful fasting for extended times periods of time because they're more sensitive to stress. In which case fasting *might* have a negative impact on the hormones necessary for reproduction. So it you're woman, proceed with caution.
If you feel like you’re a good candidate for intermittent fasting, go ahead and give it a try.
But check in with yourself regularly to make sure you aren't experiencing any negative symptoms.
