Intermittent Fasting

A number of individuals are experimenting with different varieties of intermittent fasting as a dietary regimen. In this context, shorthand such as "20/4" is used to denote a repeating pattern of 20 hours of fasting followed by 4 hours of non-fasting. For example, "Fast-5" is the name of a book/regimen equivalent to "19/5". Other alternatives include "16/8". The phase of the fasting period may also be specified. Practitioners often start the fasting period at the commencement of nightly sleep. In common usage, the term intermittent fasting describes any diet that includes a period of fasting and a period of non-fasting, even if the diet involves consuming a limited amount of calorie-containing beverages such as coffee or tea during the fasting period. This contrasts with the usage of the term in scientific contexts, in which no calories are consumed during the fasting period. Another variation on intermittent fasting is to consume limited calories (e.g., 20% of normal) rather than none at all on fasting days. This regimen may provide many of the benefits of intermittent fasting. Also, there is the possibility to perform a full day fast. These are done by waking and not eating food until few hours before bed. It is recommended to eat a small meal or snack at this time consisting of vegetables, meat/eggs, and nuts or oil. Eating a single meal per day without caloric restriction worsens some cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Benefits:
Using intermittent times of no food intake along with reduced calories on those days can give people many of the health/weight loss benefits without needing to give up food for a whole day. It also allows more flexibility into how it can be used depending on the persons goals, activity levels, food choices and schedule. I mean who wouldnt want to eat in a way that could potentially give you: Reduced blood glucose and insulin levels (markers of improved health) Increased fatty acid oxidation Maintenance of lean mass (muscle) Reduced inflammation Reduced oxidative damage Increased cellular stress resistance (esp of heart and brain) Decreased risks associated with degenerative diseases of aging (cancers, heart diseases, diabetes, Alzheimers)