3 Benefits of Intermittent Fasting Why Celebs and CEOs Swear by It
MENTAL ACUITY
Tom Hardy, Christian Bale, Chris Hemsworth, Liv Tyler, and Beyonce — all of these celebrities have used intermittent fasting (IF) to meet their fitness goals. Fasting dates back thousands of years — in fact, one of the most popular fasts is called the “Daniel Fast” because it mirrors Daniel’s abstinence from food as portrayed in the Old Testament. This ancient trend is gaining popularity in the nutrition community. Here are three ways IF might benefit you. One of the most common misconceptions about fasting is that you can’t eat any food. The truth is that we all fast for a period of time each day while we’re asleep; intermittent fasting simply extends that fasting period. After eating, your body transitions to a fed state where your food is used for fuel. However, after 8–10 hours without food, your body enters a fasted state in which your body burns stored fat for energy, which leads to weight loss and more muscle definition. With intermittent fasting, you fast for a specified period — typically 16 hours — and eat all of your meals within an 8-hour period. WEIGHT LOSS
Fasting has become popular among the Silicon Valley crowd in recent years due to the endorphin rush and mental acuity associated with IF. When food is scarce and you haven’t eaten, your brain sends endorphins into your bloodstream to make you more alert. Your brain then digests information more efficiently. This is thought to be a holdover from our hunter-gatherer days, when we had to be alert enough to find food or we’d starve to death. CEOs in the nation’s tech capital have begun using this strategy in recent years to increase their productivity.
BOOSTED IMMUNE SYSTEM
According to researchers at the University of Southern California, fasting essentially flips a regenerative switch in the body. “It gives the ‘okay’ for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system,” says Valter Longo, Ph.D., director of the USC Longevity Institute. “Fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system.”
Take a Break
SUMMER GRILLED HALIBUT Ingredients
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4 boneless, skinless halibut fillets, about 5 ounces each 1/4 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
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1/2 cup hearts of palm, drained
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Basil leaves, for garnish
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Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
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1 lemon
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2 pounds mixed tomatoes, sliced
Directions
1. Lightly oil grill grates and heat grill to medium.
2. Grate 1 teaspoon lemon zest onto halibut fillets. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Grill halibut, turning just once, for about 5 minutes on each side.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, hearts of palm, juice from lemon, and oil. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Garnish salad with basil. Spoon salad over grilled halibut. Serve.
Inspired by Bon Appetit Magazine
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