Does
intermittent fasting decrease your metabolism? According to research, the basal
metabolic rate remains constant or slightly increases during a fast.
However,
eating constantly but at a significantly reduced calorie count, such as
"I'm going to eat 1000C over 3 meals and 2 snacks today" (rather than
"I'll eat 2000C in 3 meals today and fast tomorrow") significantly
lowers your BMR over time, giving rise to the misconception that ALL forms of
not eating lower metabolism.
The
medical professionals who support fasting believe that insulin causes the body
to store fat and is released when we eat.
When
we eat frequently but reduce the calorie count, the insulin that we are
constantly releasing by eating all the time will continue to do its job,
attempting to store fat.
But
how can it do that if your metabolism is at 1600 calories per day and you're
only eating 1200?
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Reduce
your metabolic rate so that you have enough food to store fat and run your
body. You now have a "sluggish metabolism," and you hit a plateau,
lower your calorie count again to get past it, and repeat the cycle.
When
you don't eat at all, whether, on a 16/8 plan or a few days once or twice a
month, your insulin stays low, which means there's no incentive to store
fat.
With
nothing coming in, you first go through the sugar stored in your liver, then
you break down a little protein (but not your muscles—your body recycles old
protein first, and the increase in HGH during fasting prevents muscle loss
anyway), and finally, you switch to burning fat.
Your
body doesn't care if the fat it burns comes from your diet or is stored in your
body.
If
you're overweight, this means your body now has access to a plethora of food
that insulin was previously preventing it from accessing, which it can happily
throw on the burner of your metabolism.
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There
is no need to lower your BRM because keeping insulin levels low has unlocked
the door to all the food your body has stored for just this occasion.
It
also has no idea that you chose not to eat, and that food will be available as
soon as you decide. It simply knows that this is what it has been preparing
for.
Doctor Jason
Fung points out that for most animals, a metabolism that drops when you don't
eat at all makes no evolutionary sense because you need the most energy to go
out and find food when you haven't eaten.
He
makes the point that if we became progressively weaker as we went without
eating, we'd never have the energy to get more food, creating a terrible
feedback loop in which we'd all died.
FAQs Related To Does Intermittent Fasting
Decrease Your Metabolism
Does the 16/8 fast slow your metabolism?
On
the contrary, 16/8 fasting does not slow your metabolism; in fact, it may
temporarily increase it!
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Does intermittent fasting interfere with
metabolism?
According
to the research, intermittent fasting does not interfere with metabolism, but
rather makes it more efficient.
Does intermittent fasting improve metabolism?
Intermittent
fasting via a time-restricted eating pattern allows for a consistent period of
fasting daily, which alleviates circadian rhythm disruption and improves
metabolic balance.
What happens to metabolism during fasting?
Fasting
relies on three types of energy metabolism: glycogen, lipid, and amino acid
metabolism. The pancreas secretes more glucagon as blood glucose levels fall
during fasting. This action also reduces insulin secretion, which decreases
glycogen storage of glucose.
Does metabolism slow during intermittent
fasting?
It
is not a lack of calories that causes your metabolism to slow, but rather the
loss of weight. "It's unjust, but it's reality," he says. "Yes,
your metabolism will slow, but this is due to your body sensing weight loss.
Your metabolism will slow regardless of how much weight you lose."
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Does fasting for 16 hours slow your
metabolism?
Weight
loss is frequently associated with intermittent fasting. However, according to
Newgent, many people gain weight because they overeat during non-fasting times.
She also mentions that "any prolonged fasting can eventually slow down
your metabolism."
Which intermittent fasting is best for
metabolism?
Two
to three high-fiber, protein- and good-fat meals (two main courses with a small
snack in between) work best. This is the most comfortable form of intermittent
fasting (especially for beginners) and can be easily maintained over time.
How long do you have to fast to reset your
metabolism?
Ketones
are molecules produced by fatty acids. (If you're familiar with the ketogenic
diet, this may sound familiar.) Our metabolism shifts after 8 to 12 hours of
fasting, replacing glucose with ketones as our new source of energy.
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