This could reduce chronic disease risk and increase longevity.
More on these later, but the gist is that the science on IF is still very young.
In 2015, two cardiologist colleagues and I conducted areview of scientific publicationson intermittent fasting.
Jack Wassiliauskas / EyeEm
(Since our review, just threemoregood-qualitytrials have been published.)
Humannot animalstudies should be used to guide human health practices.
The great majority of what we know about IF today is from animal and other laboratory research.
Lets look at what we know so far.
Participants found these regimens challenging to sustain.
For example, many intermittent fasting protocols speak of a rise in growth hormone levels triggering fat loss.
Again, we need more research on this topic to draw any solid conclusions.
The body turns to glycogencarbohydrates that are stored in the liver and musclesfor fuel.
But its important to note that IF doesnt replace medications prescribed to treat or manage diabetes.
Heres where we delve into the research that I and my colleagues have been studying for years.
This was ascribed to the low smoking rate in Utah.
In 1998, I took a course on epidemiology taught by one of the Utah researchers.
Theresultsof that 2008 study were profound.
Diabetes risk wasfoundto be considerably lower in those who fasted routinely.
It had taken many decades for the coronary and diabetes benefits to become apparent.
That wasnt a bad thing.
Other benefits may also exist.
IF may be able to provide benefits regardless of whether weight loss occurs.
But cholesterol and blood pressure in and of themselves dont matter the most as health outcomes.
This is one strategy among many.
You should also do it under the supervision of your doctor or a registered dietitian.
I would recommend that anyone with a history of disordered eating not try IF.
It is unknown how IF affects the menstrual cycle, so tracking how it affects you is important.
Its not for everyone, and is one among many preventive methods that may improve your health and longevity.
Othermethodsinclude not smoking, eating a healthy low-salt and low-cholesterol diet, and engaging in routine physical activity.
These other methods of disease prevention have much more human scientific evidence behind them than IF does.
