Intermittent fasting is all the rage these days when it comes to the weight loss and fitness community. Given the large number of people including celebrities who swear by it, it’s not surprising why this diet is getting a lot of attention. The practice of intermittent fasting strictly follows an eating cycle that involves a phase of fasting and non-fasting over a defined period. During the fasting phase, the dieter purposely rejects food to ensure the body can adapt and benefit from this period of no food intake. Intermittent fasting is actually an umbrella term much like how plant-based diet refers to several eating plans. One kind of fasting technique is the 12-hour fast, wherein individuals are encouraged to eat within a 12-hour window only. Another technique calls for an alternating day fasting. Whichever fasting technique is used, the end goal of practitioners is still the same: to deplete the body of carbohydrates at certain times in order to burn fat and eventually lose weight. Unbeknownst to many, the practice of intermittent fasting actually comes with certain downsides and dangers. Center for Discovery has highlighted the different reasons why intermittent fasting is not for everyone even though so many famous personalities and trusted fitness experts rave about its health benefits. Apparently, although intermittent fasting is really effective when it comes to shedding pounds, it could also lead to sudden weight gain, lower energy stored, difficulty in sleeping, and even organ damage when taken to the extremes. This eating plan is also dangerous for underweight individuals, people below 18 years of age, and pregnant women who are breastfeeding. The fasting cycle is found to lower calorie intake, and insufficient daily calories could affect these people negatively. Even people who are not underweight and pregnant could also experience the negative effects of intermittent fasting that include hunger, dehydration, fatigue, and irritability. They may also have the tendency to overeat during the non-fast phase of the cycle. Furthermore, research studies on intermittent fasting’s positive effects were mostly done on animals, as per Men’s Health. Because of this, McGill University professor Howard Steiger, whose research focuses on eating disorders, said, “There hasn’t been a long-term study establishing that intermittent fasting has good outcomes.” Source
