THE SKINNY ON FASTING
Muscular Development|October 2021
NUTRITION PERFROMANCE
Michael J. Rudolph
THE SKINNY ON FASTING

Like most good memes, old wives’ tales die hard, especially when they seem plausible and do no apparent harm. One of those sticky old wives’ tales I heard from my Mom throughout much of my childhood to persuade me and my two brothers to eat our breakfast was “breakfast gets the day’s work done.” I’m sure Mom had the best of intentions and was simply trying to get my two brothers and me to eat our healthy breakfast as we probably didn’t want to do anything except go outside to play. Now, I’m not saying my Mother was wrong, just inaccurate, especially considering a rash of recent scientific studies that show skipping breakfast, or even a few meals a day, every so often seems to distinctively promote enduring health benefits while also providing a terrific way to lose body fat. In fact, this dietary approach, known as intermittent fasting (IF), has become the latest diet craze. Yet, unlike many fads, IF is likely here to stay as science has uncovered several very important health benefits brought on by IF that are triggered by evolutionarily conserved, adaptive cellular responses that improve glucose regulation and bolster the body’s resistance to stress, while also suppressing inflammation throughout the body, altogether promoting health and wellness. IF has also been shown to promote substantial fat loss while uniquely maintaining lean body mass when combined with resistance training, unlike many hypocaloric diets that instead tend to promote the loss of body fat and muscle.

Different Fasting Approaches Provide Different Benefits

This story is from the October 2021 edition of Muscular Development.

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This story is from the October 2021 edition of Muscular Development.

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