{"id":52546,"date":"2019-01-21T10:00:27","date_gmt":"2019-01-21T15:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-well.ca\/?p=52546"},"modified":"2026-07-02T15:21:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T19:21:44","slug":"everything-to-know-about-intermittent-fasting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/well.ca\/blog\/everything-to-know-about-intermittent-fasting\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About Intermittent Fasting"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]There\u2019s a lot of buzz around intermittent fasting (IF) and with good reason. Research suggests some notable positive effects including aiding in weight loss, lowering inflammation, improving autoimmune conditions, reducing cravings, and improving gut health (to name a few!).<\/p>\n

And while the concept may seem overwhelming at first, intermittent fasting can actually be a lot easier and sustainable than other popular eating plans. So how do you get started, what should you expect, and what are some of the health benefits you may experience? Read on to learn more!<\/p>\n

What is intermittent fasting?<\/h4>\n

Put simply: Intermittent fasting is a pattern of eating. It\u2019s not a diet, caloric restriction, or specific meal plan. And while there are many different IF plans, the main premise is that you restrict your food consumption for certain hours of the day and leave a window where you completely abstain from food.<\/p>\n

While intermittent fasting shortens your eating window, it\u2019s not about calorie counting or starvation. Instead, think of it as a purposeful choice to eat at certain times of day to help promote improved well-being.<\/p>\n

There are several different fasting protocols that includes everything from 16- to 24-hour fasts, and more prolonged fasts as well. The good news is that there\u2019s no hard conclusion on which one is best, so you don\u2019t have to go \u201call out\u201d to experience some of the potential health benefits.<\/p>\n

What could intermittent fasting look like for me?<\/h4>\n

If you want to start an IF protocol, I recommend a daily \u201cmini-fast,\u201d which means waiting at least 12 hours between dinner and breakfast every day \u2013 for example, if you eat dinner at 7pm, you would then have breakfast no earlier than 7am the next day.<\/p>\n

This practice gives your body a full 12-hour fasting window, which is enough time to properly digest and assimilate the food. It\u2019s also enough time to see benefits such as weight loss, improved metabolism, and mental clarity.<\/p>\n

After you\u2019ve mastered the 12-hour fast, you can try to increase the fasting window to 16 hours a few days per week. However, I don\u2019t recommend a prolonged fast (more than 16 hours per day) without medical supervision.<\/p>\n

And even if you can\u2019t commit to a fast every night, aiming to do it whenever possible can still be beneficial.<\/p>\n

What are some of the health benefits of fasting?<\/h4>\n

Studies have shown that fasting is associated with a wide range of health benefits, such as improved mental clarity, increased energy, and even boosted longevity.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the top suggested health benefits:<\/p>\n