4 Common Myths About Intermittent Fasting
“The key to intermittent fasting is not to eat less, it’s to eat less often.”
Dr. Pompa
There’s a lot of information floating around online on both sides of fasting. One camp says that it’s harmful, unnatural and puts your body into “starvation mode”. The other camp says it’s the ultimate health practice and you’re crazy not to do it! Who do we listen to? I’m here to clear the confusion and bust 5 common myths about intermittent fasting.
Myth #1: It’s Dangerous
One common misconception about fasting is that it’s dangerous. First off, fasting is not new, it’s an ancient practice that’s only now coming to light in mainstream health. If short-term fasting was dangerous or unhealthy, our ancestors - who were much healthier than the general population today) - would’ve had a pretty slim chance of survival back in the day. Secondly, it’s always important to consult your doctor and make sure that fasting is right for you before going all in, especially if you’re on medication or have underlying health issues. But overall, fasting is an incredible way to boost your health and it’s completely natural and beneficial to go a few extra hours without eating. Our bodies should be metabolically flexible and able to adapt easily and efficiently.
Myth #2: I Can’t Fast With a Chronic Illness
Another myth is that you can’t fast if you’re dealing with an illness. These people should be cautious and work with their practitioner, but it can be very beneficial. Fasting has been shown to lower blood sugar and insulin levels, help balance hormones and support cellular healing when done safely, correctly and under proper care. It also provides powerful gut-healing benefits by giving the digestive system time without food to heal. Start slowly with a short 12-hour overnight fast.
Myth #3: It Will Mess Up My Metabolism & Inhibit Weight Loss
We’re told to eat 5-6 small meals a day in order to keep our metabolism revved up and lose weight, but this doesn’t actually make sense when you think about it. If you’re trying to lose fat, putting food into your system all day long doesn’t allow you to tap into your fat stores for energy, because you’re constantly giving it a steady stream of energy (calories) from food, usually from carbohydrates. Intermittent fasting can actually speed up your metabolism due to the natural increase in cortisol, the ability to lower insulin levels and by helping your body utilize stored fat as fuel instead of sugar! I touched on this more in my last article, 5 Powerful Benefits of Intermittent Fasting, so go check it out if you missed it.
Myth #4: Intermittent Fasting Will Make Me Lose Muscle
A common misconception in the fitness world is that you won’t be able to gain muscle while intermittent fasting. On the contrary, science shows us that practicing intermittent fasting can be a great tool for muscle growth! When we intermittent-fast, this increases human growth hormone (HGH), so working out in a fasted state can actually help you make gains! Fasting boosts the stress hormone cortisol, which is healthy short-term and can give you more energy for your workouts once your body has adapted to it.
Additionally, research shows us that even during longer fasts, such as 3 days to 1 month, the body switches into ketosis, where it burns fat as fuel, resulting in a healthier body composition and increased mental function.
Give fasting a shot and experience the benefits for yourself!
Asher Kleiber
Registered Holistic Nutritionist™
Sources:
The Complete Guide to Fasting by Dr. Jason Fung
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