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I'm a big fan of intermittent fasting, but this article lacks any kind of proof on many of the cited benefits: > Benefit #2. It helps with calorie restriction
by m00x 9y ago
I'm a big fan of intermittent fasting, but this article lacks any kind of proof on many of the cited benefits:
> Benefit #2. It helps with calorie restriction
No study cited that proves this. Only cites studies about the benefits of "proof" that caloric restriction helps longevity, but really is just a correlation.
> Benefit #3. It helps you lose weight and body fat
No study cited, follows up with "believe me, it worked on me".
Cites this study: "Alternate day calorie restriction improves clinical findings and reduces markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in overweight adults with moderate asthma."
That's incredibly specific and shouldn't be generalized to the general population.
>Benefit #5. It helps your cells clean and repair themselves
Cites studies made on rats/mice. Although that's a good indicator it might be mirrored in humans, it proves nothing.
> Benefit #7. It regenerates the immune system
Study was made on 3 day fasts, and not intermittent fasting.
It would nice if he pointed out those are potential benefits instead.
- ktRolster 9y agoI've found there is one very real benefit of fasting: it makes food taste better.
- nicolashahn 9y agoIf it tastes better because of your appetite, then that's basically just sacrificing some pleasure of not being hungry for the pleasure of the taste of food, like hitting your head against a wall because it feels so good when you stop. (disclaimer: I practice IF but take issue with this one claim, at least without the stipulation of hunger)
- wahern 9y agoIf you fast for several days, by about the 3rd or 4th day your sense of smell becomes much more sensitive. It's an interesting and memorable experience--almost like developing a super power--but for some reason whenever I describe this experience to people they don't seem to put it in the "pro" column.
- jraby3 9y agoThat's actually one of my favorite things about extended fasts. My sense of smell turns into a superpower.
- buserror 9y agoI do the same, and I experience the same. In fact I find what the OP propose of the 'skipping breakfast' to be the worst effort/benefits fasting method. The first day of a multi-day fast is always the hardest, after that it get a lot easier, and you get these benefits. I also get a mental 'high' on day 3+4, but it goes down after that.
- munchbunny 9y agoI occasionally fast. Maybe 3-4 times a year for 2-3 days. I find that it's very useful for controlling your snacking impulse, because it makes you aware of the impulse. It also makes me more mindful of the process of eating. I don't think it ever really made the food itself taste better, but it was a good reset for the hedonistic treadmill.
- stinos 9y agoCame here to post the same things. This article is yet another example of what seems to me a trend on the internet blog-scene in recent years: people trying to prove their point by cherry-picking studies (or pseudo-scientific articles) which actually don't even prove the point trying to be made. It's like they discovered that if their stuff gets read by more critical-minded folks, those people expect proper science to back up claims, and they want to address that. That's a Good Thing, but: they set out to look for that science, and don't find proper peer reviewed studies which completely agree with their view. Then, instead of admitting their theory isn't backed by science (e.g. because it's too general, or just not proven, or just wrong) they collect articles/studies which are sort of related but in fact don't prove their points. I really wonder if they do this willingly, or just don't realize that is not how scientific evidence works.
- Singletoned 9y agoHe also states: > There is no scientific evidence to suggest fasting does any of the above... You can never know that there's NO scientific proof for something because you can't even know for sure that you've read all the studies.