Fasting may help to prevent type 2 diabetes and heart disease

Fast Break

I’m no fan of starvation diets. But a day without food never killed anyone. And believe it or not, it can do your body a lot of good.

According to a new report from researchers at Aston University in the U.K., fasting might actually help to prevent type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In fact, they believe that intermittent fasting could be as beneficial as bariatric surgery in the battle against obesity.

Needless to say, it comes with significantly less risk, too.

In this context, we’re simply talking about restricting caloric intake for a couple of days a week. Not only is this safe, the researchers say, but it’s a whole lot easier to stick with than day after day of long-term dieting.

This report appeared in the British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease. Meanwhile, future clinical trials on the benefits of fasting–specifically against type 2 diabetes–are currently in the works.

And I, for one, will be looking forward to the results.

I’ve always been a fan of short fasts–just 24 to 48 hours, with plenty of water–as a simple way to clean out your body. I even fast once a month myself.

These brief “breaks” give your insides a chance to rest. And they allow your body to focus solely on the task of filtering the junk out of your body.

Source:
“Intermittent fasting: a dietary intervention for prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease?” British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease. March/April 2013; 13(2): 68-72


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