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Thursday, July 31, 2025

Intermittent Fasting

 Intermittent fasting (IF) is currently one of the world’s most popular health and fitness trends. Some people claim it’s helped them lose weight, improve their health, and simplify their lifestyles.

There is also some research that has linked IF to better cognitive function, heart health, and digestion.

learn more about intermittent fasting and how to do it safely

What is intermittent fasting (IF)?

Intermittent fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It’s currently very popular in the health and fitness community.

IF doesn’t specify which foods you should eat but rather when you should eat them. This means it’s not really a diet — it’s more accurately described as an eating pattern.

Common IF methods involve fasting for 16 hours and having an 8-hour eating window. Some people do 24-hour fasts twice per week.

Fasting has been a practice throughout human evolution. As a result, humans evolved to be able to function without food for extended periods of time.

People also commonly fast for religious or spiritual reasons, including in Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism.

Intermittent fasting methods

You can practice IF in several different ways, though they all involve splitting the day or week into eating and fasting periods.

During the fasting periods, you won’t eat anything. You can usually drink calorie-free beverages like water, herbal tea, and black coffee.

These are the most popular methods:

  • The 16/8 method: Also called the Leangains protocol, this involves an 8-hour eating period and a 16-hour fasting period. Some people do this by skipping breakfast, but you can also do the reverse and skip dinner or eat early.
  • Eat-stop-eat: This involves fasting for 24 hours once or twice per week. Because this is a slightly more advanced version of fasting, you should only try this if you’re pretty comfortable with the practice.
  • The 5:2 diet: With this method, you consume only 500–600 calories on two nonconsecutive days of the week but eat as usual the other 5 days.

For many people, reducing their eating period also reduces the number of calories they eat on a daily basis. Over time, this can contribute to weight loss.

How it affects your cells and hormones

When you fast, several things happen in your body on the cellular and molecular level.

First, human growth hormone (HGH) levels go up and insulin levels go down. Your body’s cells also change the expression of genes and initiate important cellular repair processes.

Here are some changes that occur in your body when you fast:

  • HGH: Your levels of HGH increaseTrusted Source. This can help with both fat loss and muscle growth.
  • Insulin: When you fast, insulin sensitivity improves and levels of insulin decreaseTrusted Source. Lower insulin levels make stored body fat more accessible.
  • Cellular repair: When fasted, your cells initiateTrusted Source cellular repair processes. This includes autophagy, which means cells digest and remove old and dysfunctional proteins that build up inside them.
  • Gene expression: Fasting can causeTrusted Source changes in the function of genes related to longevity and disease prevention.

A very powerful weight loss tool

Weight loss is the most common reason that people try IF. By reducing the amount of time you can eat, you’ll likely consume fewer calories without realizing it.

Additionally, IF can affect hormone levels and aid in weight loss.

In addition to lowering insulin and increasing HGH levels, IF increases the release of the fat-burning hormone norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Because of these changes, short-term fasting may temporarily increaseTrusted Source your metabolic rate.

According to research, IF can be a powerful weight loss tool when done safely. A 2020 systematic review of studies on people with overweight and obesity showed rates of weight loss ranging from 0.8% to 13%Trusted Source of participants’ starting weights. However, most of these studies were small and done over a short period of time.

Keep in mind that the main reason IF helps with weight loss is that it makes it easier to eat fewer calories overall. If you eat massive amounts during your eating periods, you may not lose any weight at all.


Health benefits

Studies have found that IF may have benefits for weight management and overall health. However, keep in mind that much of the existing research includes, small, short-term studies. This means researchers need more information to understand how IF can help with sustainable, healthy weight loss.

Here are the main health benefits of intermittent fasting:

  • Weight loss: IF can help you lose weight and body fat without having to consciously restrict calories.
  • Insulin resistance: IF can reduceTrusted Source insulin resistance, which happens when your body doesn’t respond properly to insulin, increasing your blood sugar levels. Managing your blood sugar can protect you against type 2 diabetes.
  • Inflammation: Some studies show reductionsTrusted Source in markers of inflammation, a key driver of many chronic diseases.
  • Brain health: Studies in rats have shown that fasting increasesTrusted Source the brain hormone BDNF and may aid the growth of new nerve cells.

Keep in mind that research is still in its early stages. Many of the studies were small or short-term or conducted in animals. Many questions have yet to be answered in higher quality human studies.



No gym, just 21-21-21: How to lost over 10 kilos in just 2 months with this simple 3-step formula

 A simple lifestyle trick called the 21-21-21 rule.


What Is the 21-21-21 Rule?

Forget detox teas and extreme diets, this method breaks down the fitness journey into three 21-day phases, each with a unique focus. It’s designed to slowly reshape the mind and body without stress.

Phase 1: Move Before You Change

For the first 21 days, there was no focus on weight loss. Kapil just moved, light jogging, stretches, yoga, and basic exercises. It was like a throwback to school PT sessions. No weights. No pressure. Just a way to reconnect with his body.

This phase helped improve flexibility and reduce swelling. It also taught one key lesson: You don’t need a gym to start moving.


Phase 2: Eat to Nourish, Not Just Fill

Next came food. But there were no bans, no saying goodbye to carbs or forcing strict diets. Instead, Yogesh encouraged clean, home-cooked meals. More veggies. More protein. Less fried food. Eating at regular times. That’s it.

Kapil’s biggest challenge was irregular eating, thanks to late-night shoots and an unpredictable schedule. This phase helped fix his digestion and cut out bloating.

The secret? Consistency in eating better beats intensity in cutting out food.


Phase 3: Mind Over Mood

The last 21 days focused on mental blocks, late-night snacking, poor sleep, and emotional eating. This phase helped Kapil see how everyday habits drain your energy without you even noticing.

True weight loss isn’t just physical. It’s mental. Breaking unhealthy routines is just as important as changing your plate.


Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical or fitness advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.



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