There are hundreds of diets out there and all of them state that they will help a person lose weight and be healthy. This can make it tricky to find one that works. One diet that has recently gained in popularity is the intermittent fasting diet. Most traditional diets will provide guidelines about what foods to eat and what foods to avoid. An intermittent fasting diet does not limit the types of food a person can eat. This is one of the reasons that it is more appealing to some people. Let’s take a look at how intermittent fasting compares to some of the other popular diets.
Calories
Many diets require a person to count calories or to at least consider the number of calories that they are eating. On a time restricted intermittent fasting program it is possible to eat the recommended number of calories within the time frame that a person is allowed to eat. Typically, a person who is on a time restricted intermittent fasting program will have a six to eight hour window in which to eat.
An alternate day fasting program means that there are certain days that a person will not eat at all. This means that the caloric intake will not meet the recommendations from the USDA. However, for people who often consume too many calories, alternate day fasting provides a better way to meet weekly calorie goals.
Variety
One of the biggest draws to an intermittent fasting diet is that a person is allowed to enjoy any type of food that they like. Intermittent fasting plans do not have recommended food groups and a person is allowed to eat whatever types of foods that they enjoy. This is different than most diets that tend to restrict certain types of foods and recommend eating more of certain food groups.
While this is seen as a draw for some people, there is a downside. With an intermittent fasting plan there are typically no guidelines for healthy eating provided. This means that people who tend to eat a lot of processed foods are more likely to continue to do so. A person who continues to eat an unhealthy diet while also fasting intermittently, may not experience the health benefits and weight loss that people who eat healthier while also fasting experience.
Convenience
When it comes to dieting, the main reason most people fail is because the diets that they try are simply not convenient for their lifestyle. With intermittent fasting, a person will still be able to eat the foods that they enjoy, the only thing that is limited is the time or the day in which they eat. This can make the diet quite easy to follow for most people.
Other diets may come with meal plans and shopping lists to make it convenient to follow. For those that can control the amounts that they eat, this can be a very good plan to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Overall, fasting diets have shown promise, especially for those that struggle with following a strict diet. However, it is important to note that just fasting for certain times and still making poor food choices does not lead to a healthier lifestyle.