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How does fasting induce fat loss? What are the benefits of intermittent fasting apart from weight loss? In the fasted state, your body converts your fat stores into ketones, a fat-based energy source. Put another way, you burn your fat as fuel (a state called ketosis). In addition to fat loss, intermittent fasting has other health benefits. Keep reading to learn about the health benefits of intermittent fasting.
What is the best intermittent fasting schedule? How should you time your fasts for maximum effectiveness? There are many things to factor in when deciding on which fasting schedule suits you best: your lifestyle, work schedule, how long you can go without food, etc. As a starting point, you may want to begin with time-restricted eating (TRE) and move to a more advanced alternate-day fasting (ADF) schedule once your body has acclimated to extended periods of not eating. Here’s how to time your fasting cycles using the TRE and the ADF approaches.
Do any diets actually work? Why does food- or calorie-restrictive dieting not work in the long term? According to Gin Stephens, the author of Fast. Feast. Repeat., dieting for weight loss doesn’t work in the long term. However, decades of contradictory advice about how and what to eat for weight loss has created immense confusion, a tangle that she calls “diet brain”: When you no longer have any clue how to eat “properly.” Here’s why dieting doesn’t work in the long term, according to Stephens.
What is time-restricted eating (TRE)? How does TRE compare to normal eating in terms of weight loss? Time-restricted eating is a way of dieting where you fast for most of the day (and night) and feast for a few hours. Scientists are on the fence with regards to whether time-restricted eating benefits weight loss. Some studies found that TRE has a significant effect on weight loss, while others found that it doesn’t make much difference compared to normal meal taking. All in all, it seems to depend on how long you spend in the fasted state. Keep reading to learn
What causes a mass food shortage? Are famines easy to prevent? In Development as Freedom, Amartya Sen says that all famines are avoidable. While it’s commonly assumed famines are caused by an imbalance between population and food supply, it’s actually a result of government failure. Read more to know how to prevent famine through government intervention and assistance.
What do carbohydrates do for your body? Should you avoid eating carbs altogether? Many diets require you to cut out carbohydrates (carbs) to lose weight. But carbs play some important roles in the body, apart from providing energy. Moreover, not all carbs are villains. Keep reading to learn what carbs do for your body.
Do you experience extreme hunger pangs when fasting? How long does it take for hunger to dissipate? It’s normal to experience constant hunger during fasting, especially in the beginning stages. As your body gets used to going without food for extended periods, you’ll begin to tune back in with your natural appetite signals. However, getting there will take time—in most people, these signals have been messed up by constant feeding. While your body is adjusting, learning to eat intuitively will help keep hunger at bay. Here are some tips on how to control hunger during fasting.
What are the benefits of alternate-day fasting? How often should you alternate between fasting and eating normally? Alternate-day fasting (ADF) has been shown to promote weight loss and improve overall health. There are several alternate-day fasting schedules, including 5:2, 4:3, and “True ADF,” which means alternating up-and-down nonstop. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of alternate-day fasting and how to time your ADF for maximum effectiveness.
Where does the process of digestion begin? What are the key organs involved in the digestion of food? We tend to think digestion happens in the abdomen, but it actually starts in the mouth. When we eat food, the mouth begins to break it down by releasing saliva and chewing. The mouth also protects us from unwelcome bacteria that we encounter in everyday life. These functions take place in two places: the salivary glands and the tonsils. Keep reading to learn about the stages of the digestion process.
What are the three macronutrients? What is the function of each? The building blocks of the food you eat are called macronutrients (macro- meaning “large”) because your body needs them in large quantities. Macronutrients fuel your body with energy and build important structures such as hormones, muscles, and DNA. Keep reading for a better understanding of the three macronutrients’ roles in your health.