Fast Fix?
Marie Claire - UK|November 2017

From the 5:2 to Monday juicing, fasting diets promise huge health benefits. But does the science stack up? Charlotte Haigh investigates the pros and cons of going hungry

Charlotte Haigh
Fast Fix?
Everyone from Beyoncé to Miranda Kerr has raved about the advantages of fasting, and in some studies science backs up its incredible health benefits. Restricting calorie intake for intermittent periods has been shown to increase energy, reduce internal inflammation, lower blood pressure and shrink fat around your middle – all factors linked with conditions from heart disease and cancer to dementia. It could even have an anti-ageing effect, too, by rebooting your body’s cells and switching on youth-boosting genes – not to mention the obvious weight-loss benefits. In some studies, even when overall calorie intake was the same, people who fasted for set periods lost more weight. ‘One of the quickest ways to resensitise cells to insulin (the hormone that helps your body use the energy in food) is through fasting, so it’s good for conditions caused by insulin resistance, like pre-diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and PCOS [polycystic ovary syndrome],’ says nutritionist and fasting expert Stephanie Moore*. So far, so amazing. But the research is in its infancy and fasting isn’t for everyone. ‘A lot of the studies have been done on animals and we need more research to see if the effects are the same in humans,’ says Dr Michelle Harvie, a research dietitian who has studied calorie restriction for preventing breast cancer. Still, the science is sufficiently promising for one researcher, Dr Valter Longo, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California, to have adopted a fasting regime himself. ‘Fasting may be an old concept,’ he says. ‘But now there’s science to back it up. Twenty years of research proves the body responds in a range of positive ways.’ We explore the benefits of four modern methods to fast.

THE PART-TIME FAST

What is it?

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2017-Ausgabe von Marie Claire - UK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2017-Ausgabe von Marie Claire - UK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS MARIE CLAIRE - UKAlle anzeigen
Uma Thurman
Marie Claire - UK

Uma Thurman

‘I Managed To Stay In The Business That I Love All My Life, And I Know That’s Not A Given. I Can’t Not Feel Lucky About It, No Matter What The Downsides Can Be’.

time-read
8 Minuten  |
November 2019
Pollution Proof Your Life
Marie Claire - UK

Pollution Proof Your Life

From your daily commute to your wood-burning stove, you’re unwittingly inhaling a variety of toxic substances. But you can take action to reduce their impact, reveals Claire Thorp.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2019
We Love Lucy
Marie Claire - UK

We Love Lucy

From a star-making turn in Bohemian Rhapsody to a leading role in sassy new Netflix show The Politician, Lucy Boynton is ready for her close-up. Here, she tells Jane Mulkerrins about her life-changing year.

time-read
7 Minuten  |
November 2019
Human Touch
Marie Claire - UK

Human Touch

Connecting with others can have a confidence-boosting effect, support skin health and help you live longer. Here’s why the wonders of physical contact really matter...

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 2019
Facing The Floods
Marie Claire - UK

Facing The Floods

Photographer Gideon Mendel has spent 12 years capturing the extreme rise in flooding across the globe. Here, he tells Marie Claire about the devastating human impact.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2019
'Learn How To Please Yourself First' –and Other Sex Tips From Our Mums
Marie Claire - UK

'Learn How To Please Yourself First' –and Other Sex Tips From Our Mums

Three mothers and daughters explain how talking openly to each other about sex, identity and pleasure has strengthened their relationship and enriched their love lives

time-read
9 Minuten  |
September 2019
10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being
Marie Claire - UK

10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being

From cortisol-free fitness to stress-busting diets and calm skin, Fiona Embleton reveals ten mindful ways to approach health and well-being

time-read
6 Minuten  |
May 2019
Sex Crimes on Campus
Marie Claire - UK

Sex Crimes on Campus

This month, thousands of female students will head for university, but many will become the victims of sexual assault and harassment.Polly Dunbar investigates the alarming rise of college rape culture.

time-read
7 Minuten  |
November 2016
Fight The Fear
Marie Claire - UK

Fight The Fear

Approximately ten million people in the UK suffer with a debilitating phobia. When Charlotte Haigh’s fear of flying threatened to damage her mental health, she took action…

time-read
6 Minuten  |
December 2017
Celine Dion
Marie Claire - UK

Celine Dion

‘Growing Up, I Used to Feel Awkward and Insecure. I Remember Not Feeling or Looking My Best’

time-read
8 Minuten  |
December 2017