Individuals who are underweight, struggling with weight gain, under 18 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding should not attempt an intermittent fasting diet, as they need sufficient calories on a daily basis for proper development.
Some people should steer clear of trying intermittent fasting: Children and teens under age 18. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. People with type 1 diabetes who take insulin.
Intermittent fasting is safe for many people, but it's not for everyone. Skipping meals may not be the best way to manage your weight if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. If you have kidney stones, gastroesophageal reflux, diabetes or other medical problems, talk with your doctor before starting intermittent fasting.
If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or you have a history of eating disorders, you should avoid fasting of any kind. Kids and teens shouldn't fast either.
In the long term, intermittent fasting can lead to diminished alertness and awareness because the body doesn't consume enough calories during a fasting window to provide adequate energy. Fasting could also lead to dizziness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
Potential Drawbacks of Intermittent Fasting
Other side effects can include insomnia, irritability, headaches, and nausea. For many, IF also may not be sustainable for the long term. Some may find it challenging to fast while keeping up with family and social obligations.
Intermittent fasting can help healthy, active older adults lose those last few pounds that they can't seem to drop. Fasting lowers insulin levels, which sends signals to the body to stop storing extra calories as fat. Also, intermittent fasting targets belly fat, which is generally the most difficult fat to lose.
One word of caution, though: Fasting can lead to an electrolyte imbalance. This can make the heart unstable and prone to arrhythmias. “So whenever we prescribe certain diets, including a very low calorie diet and protein-sparing modified fast diet, these require medical supervision.
Metabolic switching through intermittent fasting results in improved metabolism, increased health span, and increased longevity through multiple processes [16,30].
The benefits of a 16-hour fasting schedule are the same as a 12-hour fasting. They include weight loss, aid in the cellular repair process, improved sleep, improved digestion, increased mental health and clarity, and reduced insulin resistance.
Although intermittent fasting may provide weight loss and other health benefits, there are certain people who should not follow this eating method, including women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people with diabetes and those with a history of eating disorders. It's also not appropriate for people under age 18.
Intermittent fasting can have unpleasant side effects. They could include hunger, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, decreased concentration, nausea, constipation and headaches. Most side effects go away within a month.
If you don't eat for 10–16 hours, your body will go to its fat stores for energy, and fatty acids called ketones will be released into the bloodstream. This has been shown to protect memory and learning functionality, says Mattson, as well as slow disease processes in the brain.
For most people, there are no serious dangers involved in eating one meal a day, other than the discomforts of feeling hungry. That said, there are some risks for people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Eating one meal a day can increase your blood pressure and cholesterol.
For example, studies have found that people who regularly fast more than 16 or 18 hours a day have a higher risk of gallstones. They're also more likely to need surgery to remove the gallbladder. Eating for 12 hours and then fasting for 12 hours is likely safe for most people, Longo explains.
Scientist have long known that periodic fasting can help promote a range of health benefits including reducing the severity of chronic inflammation, immune system regeneration, alleviating side effects of chemotherapy and even promote longevity.
Intermittent fasting affects cholesterol levels due to the change in metabolism from glucose to ketones. When this occurs, the body begins using lipids rather than storing them. Lipids move out of the cells, travel in the bloodstream, and go into the liver to be made into ketones.
Skipping meals, such as intermittent fasting, can lower blood pressure. The effect appears to be temporary, with blood pressure returning to its usual levels after fasting. 8 Low blood pressure while fasting also appears to be independent of dehydration, which can lower blood pressure.
Older adults who are thinking of trying it should proceed with caution. If not closely monitored, fasting for seniors can lead to additional health problems even though there is no specified age documented for successful intermittent fasting success.
Though it might not be as easy for seniors to lose weight as it is for younger people, intermittent fasting is still an effective weight loss strategy for seniors. Besides, it can help improve their health and overall well-being with reduced age-related concerns.
Intermittent fasting is a great method for aging family members to lose weight and maintain their health. It's easy to follow and requires no special equipment or diets. The best part about intermittent fasting is that you can follow this with other methods like eating healthy foods or exercising regularly.