Fasting refers to a period of time where little to no food is consumed, but a new form of fasting referred to as "intermittent fasting" has gained popularity in the diet world, alternating between short periods of fasting and periods of regular food intake.
The most common types of intermittent fasting 5:2 and 16:8 and differ in their daily approach.
When compared to traditional dieting, research suggests that intermittent fasting:
Research suggests that the effect of intermittent fasting has the same or less negative effects on metabolism compared to traditional dieting. The reason why many think intermittent fasting improves metabolism is due to less loss of lean body mass and greater fat burning. Short fasting periods cause the body to tap into fat stores and burn a greater percentage of fat mass for energy.