For optimum weight loss, it is important to have the right meals at the right time. For most of us, this means having a hearty breakfast and having dinner before 8 p.m. right? That is just not the case for everyone. If you look up the diet trends of 2018 and the ones which will be widely popular in 2019, Intermittent Fasting (IF) is extremely popular. Considering how well it suits the Indian food charts, it is a great diet to follow which can help you lose the flab and leave you with a fitter stomach, without actually cutting down on what you eat.

What is Intermittent Fasting? This kind of dieting asks you to restrict your eating times rather than what you eat in its entirety. It literally allows you to fast as well feast and let the body rest without worrying about the calorie intake. People generally go on a fasting spree followed by set hours of healthy eating.
The only difference is, out of the 24-hour clock, IF follows a set ratio, i.e, 16:8 or 14:10 or even 12:12, wherein you fast for selected hours and then eat what you want for the remaining hours. This way, when the body rests, it gets time to burn off the calories in its resting hours.
There is also a 5:2 diet and alternate day diet, wherein people tend to eat a healthy diet 5 days a week and restrict themselves to 500 calorie meals for the next 2 days.

While Intermittent Fasting promises to show guaranteed results but only when you fast upwards of 12 hours. If you fast for less, you risk getting your insulin levels up.

What is the best method to follow?

If you are looking to lose weight, the key is to fast for 12 hours or more. Also, it is important to keep a check on the number of calories you are taking in everyday. Studies have also found that people who tend to fast for 12 hours or more had a better tolerance against blood pressure, cholesterol and fatty acids, which are all crucial for optimum weight loss. It can also lower down the inflammation levels in the body and aid better digestion as the body burns down the fat in its resting time.

The bottom line

Intermittent Fasting or IF is a great diet to be on if you want to make a change to your health without following any fad foods or blow a lot of money down the drain. However, if you do want to observe a change in your charts and drop some kilos, make sure to fast for upwards of 12 hours each day.

Source: indiatimes.com