Intermittent Fasting For Women: It’s Not Just for Weight Loss
Throughout the decades, many “diet fads” have come and gone. But one particular way of eating is here to stay; intermittent fasting. It has gained popularity throughout Hollywood, and celebrities have been singing its praises for years. Intermittent fasting is less of a traditional “diet” and more of an eating pattern or lifestyle change, and it has more benefits than just weight loss.
What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting (IF) refers to the eating pattern of cycling through periods of eating and fasting. Rather than specifying what foods to eat like many other diets, it instead focuses on when you should eat. The most common practices involve fasting for a 16-hour period each day or fasting for a 24-hour period two times a week. If this sounds like another crazy celebrity fad, know that fasting is not a new concept. Many religions incorporate fasting during certain times of the year and historically, humans have been practicing fasting since ancient times. Hunter-gatherers often went extended periods of time without food, and as a result, humans have evolved with the ability to function without food for periods of time.
What Are The Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting?
Weight Loss
One of the most common reasons people engage in the practice of intermittent fasting is to lose weight. It is a very powerful weight loss tool. By eating fewer meals, you are going to intake fewer calories, but there is even more that happens on the inside. Fasting also causes changes in the levels of certain hormones, which can increase your metabolic rate. Actress Scarlett Johansson revealed that to prepare for her role in The Avengers movie, she fasted for about 12 hours a day to look her best.
More Mental Clarity
Some studies have shown that intermittent fasting increases the amount of the brain hormone BDNF and could promote the growth of new nerve cells. Other studies have shown that intermittent fasting could also help protect against the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of cognitive deterioration. Actress Vanessa Hudgens has made it known that she is a fan of 16/8 intermittent fasting. In an interview, she talked about how it brought her more clarity, energy, and she felt stronger during her workouts.
Anti-Aging
Anti-aging is a popular topic, especially among celebrities, which could be why fasting is so popular amongst the stars. Studies performed in rats showed that intermittent fasting extended their lives. Chris Hemsworth’s wife, Elsa Pataky, talked about how her husband turned her on to fasting. While she admitted that it was hard for her, she was all in due to the anti-aging benefits.
Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is a primary driver for many chronic illnesses. Some studies have shown that fasting reduces the key markers of inflammation. Molly Sims has talked about how she enjoys fasting as a reboot. As a celebrity, going to parties with decadent food and lots of alcohol can cause unwanted inflammation. In a blog post, she wrote that fasting for 12 hours gave her digestive system “a much-needed break which lets the other healing functions of your body take center stage."
Improve Your Health With Fasting and A Little Help from Joi
Intermittent fasting is a great lifestyle change to incorporate on your health and wellness journey. When it comes to improving your health, often the best plan of action is to approach it from multiple angles. Joi offers health, wellness, and weight loss solutions for every step of your journey and for whatever your specific goals are. Joi has board-certified clinicians and coaches that can help you improve your health when it comes to hormones, sexual health, anti-aging, weight loss, and more. Visit the website to find out how we can help or to schedule a consultation.
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