This isn’t a pro-fasting article…
This is a pro “live your life the way you want” article…
Can eating just ONE meal per day actually help you get ripped and lose stubborn fat?
There were two studies done, one by the National Institute of Aging and the other by Agricultural Research Service, examined groups eating one meal per day with a group eating three meals per day. The studies were done over 2 8 week durations.
Here’s what the researchers said
The first study analysis showed that consuming a one-meal-per-day diet, rather than a traditional three-meal-per-day diet, is feasible for a short duration. It showed that when the volunteers were ‘one-mealers,’ they had significant increases in total cholesterol, LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol and in blood pressure, compared to when they were ‘three-mealers.’ The changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors occurred despite the fact that the one-mealers saw slight decreases in their weight and fat mass in comparison to when they were three-mealers…
Further analysis of the study group showed that when the volunteers were one-mealers, they had higher morning fasting blood sugar levels, higher and more sustained elevations in blood sugar concentrations, and a delayed response to the body’s insulin, compared to when they were ‘three-mealers
Ahh so this illustrates that 3 meals per day is BETTER for our long term health. Correct but that doesn’t prove that 3 is better than 1.
For starters, who can rally eat just one meal per day for 8 weeks? I can’t. That’s DUMB and it doesn’t prove that eating 3 times per day is better than eating once. Let’s look at the various benefits of intermittent fasting.
- Fasting turns on various life extension genes
- Fasting decreases oxidative stress, protein and DNA damage and blood pressure
- Fasting improves body composition and insulin sensitivity
- Fasting improves digestive issues.
The most exciting benefit, however, is that fasting turns “on” numerous genes that are otherwise “shut off” when we consistently eat. Examine some of the popular intermittent fasting approaches, like the 12-16 hour fast in Eat Stop Eat. They all advise periods of “regular” eating. You’re not fasting 24-7.
Personally, I believe that “grazing” or eating 4-5 meals per day with a few healthy snacks thrown in is the best option. That being said, results stop at a point. This is where the “one meal per day’ diet might be handy.
Numerous intermittent fasting studies have shown fasting isn’t really about total calories. It’s about cyclical calorie deprivation. Drops and increases in calories. When you hit a plateau and you aren’t getting results, the one per day diet with one large meal may potentially get you over the hump.
It’s that radical of a change, that when done once per week, should yield positive results.
