Currently, intermittent fasting is one of the most popular health and fitness trends, particularly among people who want to lose weight. It is an eating pattern in which an individual does not eat for certain hours each day or week.
If you are thinking of incorporating intermittent fasting into your lifestyle, you may want to know if it is right for you and which fasting approach you should opt for.
Let’s talk about some common approaches to intermittent fasting and who can benefit from it.
Approaches to Intermittent Fasting
There are many approaches to intermittent fasting. The three most common are alternate-day fasting, 5:2 fasting, and daily time-restricted fasting.
Alternate-day fasting involves eating a normal diet one day and fasting another day. On the day of fasting, you may consume one small meal with less than 500 calories. Studies have shown that alternate-day fasting is as effective at losing weight as a typically low-calorie diet is.
The 5:2 fasting approach involves eating a normal diet five days a week and then fasting the next two days of the week. The third common approach (daily time-restricted fasting) involves eating a normal diet with 8 hours window each day and fasting for the remaining 16 hours.
Who Can Benefit from Intermittent Fasting
Generally, intermittent fasting is considered safe for most people, and they incorporate this approach into their lifestyle without experiencing adverse effects.
However, as with other dietary and weight loss approaches, it is not suitable for everyone who is looking for ways to manage weight. Since it involves skipping meals, it’s not beneficial for you if you:
- Are pregnant.
- Are breastfeeding.
- Have underlying medical conditions like kidney stones, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux, and other medical condition.
- Are taking medications that need to be taken with food?
- Have a history of eating disorders or have disordered eating patterns.
One best way to determine if intermittent fasting is right for you is to see your concierge medicine doctor. Your concierge medicine doctor will take into account various factors such as your overall health, age, underlying health conditions, lifestyle, and goals to determine if it is for you.
If intermittent fasting is not suitable for you, your concierge medicine doctor will recommend other dietary strategies such as balanced meal plans, mindful eating, and other strategies to help you achieve your goals. They may also collaborate with your dietician and nutritionist to develop an individualized plan for you.
Intermittent Fasting in NYC
If you are considering intermittent fasting and want to know if this is right for you, visit our concierge medicine doctor, Dr. Tina Sindwani, for a thorough evaluation. Our concierge medicine understands your unique needs and goals and offers the best care customized to your lifestyle, health conditions, and needs. Dr. Tina Sindwani is available 24/7 via phone calls, email, and text to address your needs.
If you would like to make an appointment with our concierge medicine doctor, call us today at (646) 820-7101.