Different approaches to intermittent fasting, which can be a helpful tool for achieving your health goals. There are three popular methods:

• Alternate-day fasting - This approach involves eating a normal, healthy diet one day and then either completely fasting or having a small meal (usually fewer than 500 calories) the next day.
• 5-2 fasting - With this method, you eat a regular diet for five days a week and then fast for two days per week.
• Daily time-restricted fasting - This approach allows you to eat normally but within a specific eight-hour window each day. For example, you can skip breakfast and have your first meal around 11 a.m., then have dinner by 7 p.m.

Now, you might wonder what benefits intermittent fasting can bring to your health. Recent research suggests that it may have some short-term advantages for weight loss.

When you fast for a short period, your body enters a state called ketosis. This happens when the body doesn't have enough glucose for energy and starts breaking down stored fat instead. As a result, it produces substances called ketones. Combined with consuming fewer calories overall, this can lead to weight loss. Studies indicate that alternate-day fasting can be as effective for weight loss as a typical low-calorie diet.

Intermittent fasting also influences metabolic processes that can potentially reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar regulation, and enhance the body's response to physical stress. Some research even suggests that it may benefit conditions associated with inflammation, such as arthritis, asthma, and multiple sclerosis.