Fasting has been around for thousands of years.

Many religious groups promote fasting to cleanse the body and clear the mind. Many cultures have known about the benefits of fasting before any scientific research proved it. Lately, Intermittent Fasting has been very popular for its anti-aging, weight-loss and other health-promoting benefits.

There are many ways to do intermittent fasting so choosing the option that is best for you may take some consideration.

My favorite and least stressful on the body is the 16:8 method. What that means is you eat only during the 8 consecutive hours during the day. So you can still have you 3 meals and not feel like your starving yourself and putting your body through additional stress.

For example, Breakfast at 11 am, Lunch at 3 pm and Dinner at 7 pm, pretty realistic, right? What this method does is eliminate late-night snacking which for a lot of people is one of the main obstacles to losing weight.

Personally, I am not a fan of other methods that promote eating one meal a day or fasting for 24 hours or longer. There are many people that do well on these types of Intermittent Fasting however, it might be too restrictive for those already dealing with health issues. For example, if somebody is already struggling with hypoglycemia or hormonal imbalance, starting with extreme fasting can cause an issue. However, as you adopt the 16:8 method and your body gets used to the changes in your eating habits,  you can slowly experiment with other forms of fasting.

How Intermittent Fasting Helps with Weight Loss

1. Curbs cravings and late-night snacking

As you can imagine, drastic changes to our eating habits can come with challenges. Most likely, the first couple of weeks will be challenging especially if you are used to snacking after dinner and while watching TV. However, while fasting you can still enjoy calorie-free beverages such as herbal teas.

 

One of the most popular teas at Better Living Wellness Clinic and Health Store is Fasting Days Tea by Innotech. It contains Blessed Thistle, Marshmallow, Milk Thistle and Green & While tea. It is a great way to enjoy the benefits of liver cleansing and digestion supporting herbs. Green and White teas contain some caffeine so avoid late in the evening if it affects your sleep.

Another one of my favorite teas for detox and weight loss is Wholy Tea!

 

 

2. Increase in energy levels for more physical activity

Exercise is an important part of any weight management plan. Being active also has a positive effect on our mood, heart health, circulation, etc. Sometimes starting an exercise regime may seem like yet another thing to add to our to-do list and schedule. Luckily, one of the effects of Intermittent Fasting is more energy and motivation to start an exercise program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another way to support your energy, exercise performance, and recovery is to incorporate the Innotech Fating Days drink mix. It tases great and features 10 grams of amino acids, 13 vitamins and minerals (electrolytes) to give your body exactly what it needs.

3. Lowers insulin levels and regulates blood sugar

A lot of people are used to eating around the clock. This not only stresses our digestive system but it also causes constant fluctuations of blood sugar and triggers the release of insulin.  With blood sugar highs and lows, it is hard to fight cravings and cut out sugary “quick-fixes”. Over a period of time, as the blood sugar levels stabilize, the cravings will slowly go away making this way of eating much easier.

4. Reduced inflammation

This ties into the previous point. By taking a break from digesting and assimilating food all the time, the body can start to heal and repair. Of course, the quality of food we consume during the 8-hour window is also very important. Avoiding foods that promote inflammation such as sugar, dairy, gluten, red meat, fried foods will only increase this benefit.

5. Boosts metabolism and fat loss

Intermittent fasting, when done properly, has a beneficial effect on our hormones as well. By choosing the foods rich in protein, healthy fats, fiber, as well as nutrient-rich foods, we are able to regulate our hormones and achieve our weight goals. Intermittent Fasting stimulates fat-burning hormones and reduces muscle loss during weight loss.

If you would like to learn more about how you can utilize Intermittent Fasting for weight loss, contact us directly at Better Living. Our staff of Natural Health Practitioners is always ready and happy to answer your health-related questions.