2 week fasting may lower diabetes, stroke and heart illness risk, according to a study
According to a new study, fasting for 14 weeks and eating within a 10-hour window may help lower the chance for diabetes.
Also
known as intermittent fasting, fasting on several eating schedules has
become quite the trend among numerous celebrities, who swear by fasting
to help them feel and look better.
Even though
some fasts can be quite strict, a new study done shows, eating within a
10-hour window isn't just doable, but also offers advantages like
improved cholesterol levels and pound shedding.
How can fasting help us improve our health?
In
a period of 12 weeks, the 19 participants in the trial, most of who
were obese people, experienced BMI, weight and body fat reductions and a
lot of them had better blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels.
Prior
to the study, the participants were on a path towards diabetes,
however, the research team offered an opportunity to help them prevent
it.
Unfortunately, according the American Heart
Association, 47 million individuals in the US have metabolic syndrome, a
group of symptoms that usually precede diabetes.
And,
1/3 of the adults have at least 3 of the 5 major risk factors of the
metabolic syndrome, i.e. high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high
triglycerides, low levels of good cholesterol and belly fat.
When
a person has been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, there's still time
for intervention; however, once they become diabetic or take several
medicines, including insulin, the reversing is much harder.
The
participants didn't consume anything for 14 hours per day. In the
remaining window of 10 hours, they could eat whatever, however and
wherever they wanted.