Fasting might be good for your healh, research says
Mimicking starvation for five days per month could reduce the effect of aging and help fight certain diseases like hypertension, according to a new study published Wednesday.
In a study of 100 participants, half ate normally for most of the month but then consumed between 700 - 1,100 calories per day for five consecutive days in what researchers called a "fasting-mimicking" diet. Participants, most of whom were overweight but not obese, repeated the fasting process for six months. The other half of participants ate normally.
By the end of the study, dieters lost an average of 5.7 pounds (2.6 kilograms). Weight loss was not the only benefit researchers noticed ? health metrics such as blood pressure was also reduced.
The research was funded by the National Institute of Aging and the National Cancer Institute and published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The research was led by scientists at the University of Southern California.
"Body weight, BMI, total body fat, trunk fat, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, insulin?like growth factor 1 (IGF?1) and C-Reactive Protein (a marker of inflammation) were significantly reduced, particularly in participants at risk for diseases, while relative lean body mass (muscle and bone mass) was increased," researchers said in the study. "Low levels of IGF-1 are associated with a lower risk of cancer and diabetes. No serious adverse effects were reported."
Fasting diets in which dieters consume only water or a very low amount of calories, are becoming popular, but researchers note those extreme diets are dangerous and difficult to maintain.
They believe the "fasting-mimicking" concept is safer and easier for dieters to endure. The team now wants to conduct a much larger study, especially because they found that those with the greatest risk of obesity-related disease received the biggest benefit.
"A larger study is needed to replicate these results, but they raise the possibility that fasting may be a practical road to a healthy metabolic system," researchers wrote.
Related News
Top Foods for Calcium and Vitamin D
A Beginners Guide to Sun Salutations
5 Common Mistakes that May Ruin Your Skin
10 Natural beauty tips for face you must try
Ways to Use Honey for a Glowing Skin
Eating Carbs and Fats Before a Workout? Read This
Those who consume fruit and vegetables have a 40% lower risk of an incurable lung disease
Expert reveals the snacks you should eat, according to your body type
Most Read
★Daylight Savings Time: That miserable time of year when many mourn loss of one-hour sleep
★Do you want to be paid for sleeping well at night?
★10 Ways To Use Sesame Oil For Beautiful Skin
★The Key to Healthy Aging
★Everyday Medications You Should Never Take When You Exercise
★The Brilliant Food Combo That Helps You Burn More Fat
★How your make-up bag could wreck your health
★Tips to Even your Skin Tone Naturally
★Ways to Use Honey for a Glowing Skin
★Research reveals surprising health benefits of chewing your food
★10 Surprising Things That Can Cause You to Lose Muscle
★What dangers are hidden in your pillow?
★7 Healthy Hacks for Your Pumpkin Spice Latte
★Guinness World Record for bearded woman Harnaam Kaur
★Does ginger gene offer key to younger looking skin?
★Weight-lifting and protein shakes rich in growth hormones may make you bald
★The Benefits of Yoga Beyond Flexibility
★Skinny jeans and big fluffy hoods contribute to back pain
★10 Natural beauty tips for face you must try
★How you should wash your face?
★The Beauty Benefits of Exercise
★Hair removal injuries rocketed NINE-FOLD since 1991
★Ideal exercises to keep your heart healthy
★A Beginners Guide to Sun Salutations
★Mushrooms could prevent risk of Dementia, scientists say
★The Best Breakfast Foods for Weight Loss
★Working It Out: The future of work and digital
★The best skin care quickies men with oily skin can get
★Losing Weight in Hot Weather Made Easy
★Mans lips exploded after he became 'addicted' to fillers
★Top Foods for Calcium and Vitamin D
★Women found to appear up to 20 years younger if they stay out of the sun
★5 Reasons Cheese is Actually Good For Your Health
★8 Fruits that Burn Fat: Include Them In Your Diet For Great Health Benefits
★Sari saga from Bengal
★How to exercise outdoors, when the smogs a killer
★This is how many calories your tea and coffee habit is adding to your diet EVERY DAY
★Recycling temple waste along the Ganges with Help Us Green
★Soda, pizza and salty food up liver disease in kids: Study
★Teenagers use social media posts to appear attractive to friends
★5 superfoods to combat hair loss
★6 Best Oils for a Naturally Clear and Glowing Skin
★Vitamin reverses aging in organs and muscles
★Using Kalonji Seeds for Weight Loss
★Best and Worst Drinks for Weight Loss
★6 Best Oils for a Naturally Clear and Glowing Skin
★10 Weight Loss Tips to Make Things Easier (and Faster)
★The Diabetes Diet
★How To Achieve The Perfect Nail Shape
★WHO says strawberries may not be so safe for you
