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Here’s How Intermittent Fasting Impacts Your Body

From weight loss to boosting cognition, intermittent fasting may offer a natural approach to improving health for some.

ByAllison Futterman
Credit: Kmpzzz/Shutterstock

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In the mid-1960s, a Scottish man named Angus Barbieri fasted for more than a year. For a total of 382 days, he survived on liquids, vitamins, and some yeast, ultimately losing 276 pounds. He undertook the fast (under medical supervision) to lose weight in his pursuit of better health.

The practice of fasting for health benefits dates back to the fifth century B.C.E. when Hippocrates recommended fasting for certain illnesses. By the 1800s, fasting was being studied for its potential health effects.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is the practice of restricting eating to certain times, also known as time-restricted eating. After a substantial time without eating, the body uses up its glycogen (sugar) stores and starts burning fat.

This process is known as metabolism switching. This leads to increased ketone levels, which stimulates weight loss. In addition to weight loss, IF can positively influence other aspects of health.

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  • Allison Futterman

    Allison Futterman is a Charlotte, N.C.-based writer whose science, history, and medical/health writing has appeared on a variety of platforms and in regional and national publications. These include Charlotte, People, Our State, and Philanthropy magazines, among others. She has a BA in communications and an MS in criminal justice.

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