Yes! Fasting can improve and speed up weight loss but according to studies, it may not work for everyone. There are popular diet routines of intermittent fasting based on 12 hours and 16 hours periods of fasting. While some diets instruct only water to be drunk during the fast, others may allow a zero calorie beverage.
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One should realize that there are other methods of weight loss just as good and fasting isn’t necessarily better than others. Weight loss can also be achieved by reducing daily calorie intake along with some exercise.
In support of fasting, however, one study found that those who were obese and observed routines of intermittent fasting for a year lost a little more weight than those observing traditional diets. The results then proved of little statistical significance.
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Another study found that it could be harder to maintain a fasting diet over time for weight loss because those who observed such a routine were more likely to stop their weight loss efforts in comparison to those on a traditional diet that included counting calories. The limits of fasting depend more on lifestyle than its physical effects. Some nutritionists feel that the biggest concern was binging after the fasting diet where it was easy for people to start overeating after the fasting period.
Experts also found that fasting could induce a false sense of security in people to do away with healthier and positive eating habits on the days they didn’t fast.
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But!! All said and done, as there are pros and cons to everything, and since you read about the negative side of fasting, the positive side is that fasting for one day can bring you immense health benefits.
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Besides weight loss, research has found that fasting for a day (24 hours) can improve cardiovascular health. Fasting with water only fast improved metabolism, and reduced the risk of diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD). Fasting decreased the levels of TMO or Trimethylamine N-oxide that is produced by intestinal bacteria which increased the risk of CAD.
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