Written By : Komal Tiwari
Post edit date :11/03/2023
Is intermitted fasting suitable for everyone, does it work for each one and can it be made into a lifestyle to be carried on ever after?
These days the Intermittent Fasting (IF) is selling like hotcakes on internet. It is doing rounds on various social media handles sharing its benefits, benefits and only benefits.
What about its dark side?
First of all let me shed some light on the Intermittent Fasting for those who are new to this term .It is a diet routine which has periods of fasting with no food followed by periods of unrestricted eating. To put it simply at one time you are eating then you are fasting for 4 to 5 hours or so .This fasting window varies from few hours to whole day depending from person to person.
It claims to address all the issues like blood pressure and high cholesterol etc. It also claims to hike fat loss in body.
IF‘s popularity on internet has inspired good number of people to incorporate it in their routine for losing weight.
But is it suitable for everyone? Does it work for each one? Can it be made into a lifestyle to be carried on ever after? What happens when the IF chapter closes in the person’s life? What if people are always preoccupied with the food on their mind during Intermittent Fasting? What if it gives them eating disorders for the rest of their life?
Fasting undoubtedly is a wonderful way to detoxify our body naturally and to give a boost to our digestive health. People fast once a week, once in a month or so and it’s absolutely fine. Reasons of the fast maybe any, it may be religious, spiritual or weight loss or whatever. Fasting is known in our culture since times known. But Intermittent Fasting is entirely a different concept. It’s strongly not recommended for people who are obese and a trying to lose extra fat. Prolonged periods of fasting will fluctuate their blood glucose levels which are extremely a serious issue. When their eating window is open they are more prone to overindulgence in food. Also, most of the times, the obese people have lesser control on their will power. Same is true for the diabetics. Longer periods of starvation can disturb blood glucose levels causing havoc on the patient’s health. Intermittent fasting tests your control on yourself.
Intermittent Fasting is a restrictive kind of eating pattern. When your fasting window is on, you can’t eat even if you are feeling extremely hungry. In such circumstances the mind would always be preoccupied with the thoughts of food, which can distress our entire system.
The people suffering from advanced diabetes or the ones who are under medication for the same, the pregnant or nursing mother or the people with history of disordered eating should never give it a try unless they are being closely monitored and observed by their physician. It may take a toll on the person’s metabolism and result in metabolic disorders.
It may lead to early fat reduction but long-term consequences could cause serious effects to the person’s health. The intermittent fasting may damage the pancreas and have detrimental effect on the insulin function in normal people. And the aftermath could be diabetes and many other serious medical conditions.
Whether it’s for weight loss or a health issue, one should always follow the approach that is sustainable!
Any diet which is prohibitive in nature gives you instant but short-lived health benefits and is not viable, is a caprice and fad diet.