The popular diet trend is generally safe, but some STUDIES suggest that time-restricted eating can lead to heart problems.
a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, says this type of diet isn’t for everyone.
It’s not for everyone
There are several ways to do intermittent fasting. The 16:8 method is the most popular. This involves eating for eight hours a day. Many people on this diet do so by skipping breakfast.
“In fact, intermittent fasting has become popular because studies on fruit flies show that they actually live longer when their calories are restricted. However, we are not flies,” explains Dr. Lopez-Jimenez.
Time-restricted dieting may promote weight loss, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. However, some research shows that this practice may increase cardiovascular risks.
“This recent study showed that people who practice intermittent fasting are twice as likely to die from heart disease or die in general than people who do not practice intermittent fasting,” says Dr. Lopez-Jimenez.
The reasons behind the risk factors are unclear, so it is suggested that you consult a healthcare professional before attempting intermittent fasting.
The three most popular intermittent fasting methods are:
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Alternate day fasting.
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5:2 Fast. Eat normally for five days and restrict calories for two days.
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Daily time-restricted fasting.
IMSS warns of possible damage to health
In 2023, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) warned the insured population about possible health damage from the practice of the alternative diet known as intermittent fasting spread on the internet and social networks by so-called life coaches, which “is promoted without scientific support or supervision by health professionals.”
Intermittent fasting is a dietary therapy treatment option based on seeking periods of fasting or food restriction for weight control, but among its disadvantages is that, by putting the body in a calorie deficit situation, it is not a long-term option and can generate side effects such as hunger, irritability, nausea, difficulty concentrating and anxiety, explained Lilia Hernández Alvarado, Nutrition Delegation Coordinator of the Decentralized Administrative Operation Body of the IMSS in Zacatecas.
“Intermittent fasting is different from what we recommend as a healthy diet. We base a healthy diet on the healthy eating plate, which includes three food groups: cereals such as rice, bread, tortilla; the red group, which are proteins of animal origin, chicken, fish, eggs, milk and cheese; and legumes, which are vegetable proteins such as beans, broad beans, chickpeas, lentils and soy; the third group is fruits and vegetables that will provide us with vitamins and minerals,” she said.
Older adults and children are at greater risk
Hernández Alvarado said that the basis of a healthy diet is to include a food from each group to cover a person’s nutritional needs.
She also stressed that the practice of intermittent fasting can be particularly risky in adults over 70 years of age, children and adolescents.
“It is also not recommended for people with a history of eating disorders, or people who suffer from anxiety or depression already diagnosed by a mental health specialist. We are not going to recommend it to people with chronic kidney disease because they have a completely different metabolism of fats and proteins, due to the nature of their disease,” she said.
The IMSS specialist pointed out that intermittent fasting aims to provide few calories, less than the person expends during the day, so that the body can use other nutrients such as fats as the main source of energy and thus achieve weight loss, in body measurements and percentage of fat mass; however, she pointed out that each organism has a different impact, so it is important to receive specialized attention when seeking weight loss.
“There are several alternatives lately, such as intermittent fasting, the ketogenic diet, the vegetarian diet; the recommendation for the general population is to eat a healthy diet, and then, considering the characteristics of our patient, we will be able to adapt some of the therapeutic options as long as they are well monitored by a nutrition specialist, with scientific support,” said Hernández Alvarado.
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