Intermittent fasting has become a popular diet, but is it for everyone, and is it sustainable? LSU nutritionist Elizabeth Gollub said the diet, which allows for 500 calories or fewer to be consumed on certain days, gives dieters more liberties than usual.
“It’s just much easier to eat with your family, to have the foods your family does, to still go out and socialize so it fits into people’s lives a lot better than some of the other diets,” Gollub said.
The diet allows individuals to decide when and how they’ll fast based on their personal schedules. Gollub said it has shown to improve blood pressure and glucose control.
“So it is very good theoretically for metabolic health. Whether it’s a long-term diet or not we don’t know,” Gollub said.
The diet isn’t recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women, shift workers, those with Type 1 diabetes, or people with certain health conditions. Gollub said those who are also underweight shouldn’t fast.
“And there are types of people, myself included, who need to snack frequently and feel that they need to so this doesn’t for them,” Gollub said.
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