What is Intermittent Fasting? Understand how to do it, how it works, and how to lose weight effectively!

Intermittent fasting has been attracting attention in Japan since it became popular among foreign celebrities. Intermittent fasting has been attracting attention among trainers because of its ability to help people lose weight while preserving muscle mass. In this issue, we will focus on “Intermittent Fasting” and introduce how to do it and its effects.

What is Intermittent Fasting?

Intermittent” means “limited time” in Japanese, and “fasting” means “fasting,” which is well-known in Japan. Thus, intermittent fasting is “fasting for a limited period of time. The biggest advantage of limited fasting is to make the body feel like it is starving and consume fat as energy. The detailed effects are described below, but the secret of its popularity is that it is easy for anyone to start, and compared to forced dieting, it allows fat loss without excessive muscle loss.

5 Pleasant Effects of Intermittent Fasting

Here we will introduce five typical benefits of Intermittent Fasting. Please pay attention to the fact that it not only helps you lose weight, but also leads you to a healthy body from the inside out.

Benefits of Intermittent Fasting (1) “Accelerates fat burning!

The most promising effect of Intermittent Fasting is weight loss. It is said that in order to lose abdominal fat, which is difficult to lose, it is important to create the illusion of starvation in the body, so intermittent fasting is quite effective. Along with the effect of not eating for a long period of time, which makes it easier to give the body the illusion of starvation, there is also the benefit of reducing total calorie intake by limiting the amount of edible time. Another point that should not be overlooked is that weight loss can be achieved while eating foods of one’s choice to some extent, making dieting less mentally painful.

Effect of Intermittent Fasting 2) “Activates brain function and mentality!

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein involved in human memory, learning, and cognitive abilities, is said to be activated in a fasted state. Intermittent fasting may also increase the levels of dopamine and other scientific substances involved in mood, so people who are regularly stressed and in a bad mood will likely feel the effects of fasting. Of course, if you consume a lot of fast food during the eating time, it will not only affect your diet but also your mental health, so you need to be careful about the type of food you eat.

Effect of Intermittent Fasting (3) “Blood sugar levels are stabilized.”

It is said that blood glucose levels may be stabilized by adopting intermittent fasting. It is important to watch blood glucose levels when dieting. When blood glucose levels spike, a large amount of insulin is secreted, which helps glucose that would otherwise be used as energy to turn into neutral fat. Therefore, it is important to suppress the rapid rise in blood glucose levels in order to prevent fat gain. Other foods with low GI values can also help prevent a rise in blood glucose levels, so it is a good idea to be conscious of eating brown rice rather than white rice, soba noodles rather than udon noodles, and so on.

Effects of Intermittent Fasting (4) “Inflammation in the body is reduced.

According to a study conducted by an overseas university, one month of intermittent fasting suppresses the body’s inflammatory cells and affects the white blood cells. Inflammation is a reaction in which cells are eliminated due to viruses, bacteria, or physical damage, and if this becomes chronic, it may lead to various health problems. Therefore, it is important to enhance the body’s defense instincts through the effects of intermittent fasting in order to maintain and improve health. However, not all symptoms will improve with intermittent fasting, so those with chronic symptoms should consult a medical professional before starting the program.

Effect of Intermittent Fasting (5) “Time is made more efficient with less eating!”

Intermittent fasting saves time and money simply because it eliminates the need to eat three meals each day. Some people who are intermittently fasting do not do it to lose weight, but rather to make the most of their time. The fact that they can float several hours a week by spending less time eating, cooking, and shopping is a major point. In addition, it is a great advantage for many people to be able to save money or put it into other funds because they will inevitably spend less on food. The time and money saved can be used for hobbies and exercise to make the most of your daily lifestyle.