Why I Don't Love Intermittent Fasting

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Intermittent Fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It doesn’t focus on what you should eat, but rather when you should eat. In this respect, it’s not a conventional diet but more accurately described as an eating pattern. Common intermittent fasting methods involve daily 16-hour fasts or fasting for 24 hours, twice per week.

While this diet or eating pattern do provide some benefits, it also takes away from the positives of frequent eating. For example, when you eat frequently throughout the day your body doesn’t hold on to calories because you aren't fueling it for long periods of time.


Fueling Your Body

The human body is able to store and use two main fuel-related sources for energy - carbohydrates and fats. Cells in the body make decisions on which to burn depending on what is available. Which fuel source is burned depends on storage and intensity of activity. The more frequently you eat, the more access these cells have to create energy and to fuel your body. This allows blood sugar levels and energy to maintain normal ranges.

While intermittent fasting, you tend to overeat due to the extended time between fueling periods. This extended time may also lead to poor fueling choices. There is growing evidence to suggest this method of fueling can lead to diseases associated with poor blood sugar control, such as diabetes.

Thermic Effects of Food

Some of the calories in the food you ingest will be used to digest, absorb, and metabolize the rest of the food, and some will be burned off as energy. This process is known as the thermic effect of food (TEF). When eating smaller, more frequent meals, your thermic effect of food increases.

Your body has less energy to digest and metabolize while you fast on an intermittent diet. This can cause issues down the line and might make your body struggle to metabolize the food you eat due to lack of energy.

The bottom line

While Intermittent fasting can provide initial weight loss, eating smaller, more frequent meals help keep your metabolism running smoothly. 

Theresa DeLorenzo